Howard 'Kayo' Smith ~ "Good Fighter - Bad Breaks"

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ April 16, 1977

The Aladdin Hotel and Casino ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

Attendance ..... { 1530 }

Round 1

Howard {202 lbs.} and Earnie {209 lbs.} met at Center-Ring.

0:04 > Howard fires off quick left-jabs, but misses.
0:05 > Earnie sends out '2 left-jabs but comes up short.
0:08 > The fighters clinch at Center-Ring.
0:12 > Both fighters measure each other at Center-Ring {Earnie is on the left, and Howard is on the right}.

0:18 > Earnie and Howard are both looking to counter.
0:26 > Each land light left-hands, as both are looking for an opening.
0:28 > Howard leans in, and fires an overhand-right that grazes Earnie's chin.
0:29 > Earnie fires a straight counter right-hand, but Howard ducks as the punch goes over his head.

0:29 > Howard moves to his left and circles Earnie.
0:32 > Howard fires out a spearing left-hand, but misses.
0:35 > Earnie attempts to throw a long straight right from the outside.
0:35 > But, Howard beats Earnie to the punch, and lands a 'hard' straight left-hand into his face.

0:37 > Earnie comes back with '2' left-jabs.
0:39 > Howard counters with his own left-jab.
0:41 > Earnie misses high with another long right-hand.
0:43 > Howard lands a decent 'left-right' to Earnie's face.

0:45 > Howard fires a hard left-hook at Earnie's chin, but misses.
0:46 > Earnie is short with a left-hook.
0:47 > Earnie paws with '2' left-jabs.
0:49 > Howard moves 180* to the other side of Center-Ring {left side}.

0:58 > Earnie flicks out '3' light left-jabs but they all miss.
1:00 > Howard sends out '2' measuring left-jabs, but they both fall short as he moves in close.
1:01 > The fighters clinch at Center-Ring.
1:02 > Earnie drapes his left-arm over Howard's neck, and forces him backwards to the left-side Center-Ropes.

1:04 > Earnie holds Howard with his left-hand, and slams a few right-hands into the body.
1:05 > The Referee - Richard Greene 'slaps' at Earnie's left-hand and tells him > "Let him go Earnie."
1:07 > Earnie uses his head, and leans on Howard, as he pushes him backwards into the front-left Corner.
1:10 > Both fighters lean on each other, but neither are punching while in close.

1:15 > Howard sends out a left-jab, then follows up with a quick double 'left-right' to Earnie's head.
1:17 > Earnie lands '3' soft left-hands, and looks for an opening.
1:21 > Howard fires out a quick 'right-left'.
1:22 > Earnie comes back with a hard-right, and then leans on Howard keeping him 'pinned' in the front-left Corner.

1:28 > Earnie fires in a 'big' left-hook into the right side of Howards's body.
1:31 > Earnie comes back with a sharp right-hand to the head.
1:33 > Howard comes back with a sharp 'left-right' to the head.
1:35 > Earnie backs off, and steps back out to Center-Ring.

1:37 > Howard moves in close.
1:38 > Earnie drapes his left-hand over Howard's neck, and shoots in a short right-uppercut to Howard's jaw.
1:39 > Howard moves back 1-step, and leaves his right-hand low.
1:40 > Earnie comes in with a big-sweeping left-hook that catches Howard flush on the right-side of his jaw.

1:41 > Howard reels backwards to the back left Neutral-Corner.
1:43 > Earnie follows, and 'wings' a big right-hand at Howard.
1:44 > Howard ducks, as Earnie tee's off with a left-hook.
1:45 > Howard falls onto the middle Rope strand.

1:46 > Earnie wings in a right upper-cut, and follows with a hard 'left-right' into Howard's head.
1:48 > Howard tries to punch back.
1:50 > Earnie slams in a 'left-right' into Howard's face.
1:53 > Howard tries a 'left-right' while he's on the Ropes.

1:54 > Earns slams in a short right-cross into Howard's jaw as he sags to the lower Rope-strand.
1:56 > Earnie adds in a 'left-right-left-right' as Howard is pinned on the Ropes
1:58 > Howard is sagging on the lower Rope-strand, but does not go down.
1:59 > Referee - Richard Greene jumps in, and pushes Earnie away.
2:00 > The Referee gives Howard a 'Standing 8-Count'.

2:03 > Howard walks along the back Ropes, and looks toward his Corner {back right Corner} for instructions.
2:08 > The Referee - Richard Greene completes the '8-Count' and asks Howard > "Are you OK."
2:10 > Howard says > "Yes, I'm all-right."
2:12 > The Referee - Richard Greene gives Howard a few more seconds.

2:13 > The Referee waves at both fighters, telling them that they are clear to continue.
2:14 > Earnie, who was waiting in the front-right Corner, moves quickly to Center-Ring.
2:15 > Howard moves out as well.
2:16 > Earnie sends out a 'lead' right-hand, along with a 'left-right'.

2:18 > Earnie comes back with another fast 'right-left-right'.
2:19 > Howard is 'stunned', but tries to counter Earnie with a 'left-right'.
2:20 > The action is heated, as Earnie forces Howard into the back-center Ropes.
2:21 > Earnie tags Howard with with a big chopping right-hand to the jaw.

2:21 > Howard 'sags' along the lower Ropes, as Earnie tries to tee off on him.
2:22 > The Referee moves in quickly, and pushes Earnie away, to issue another 'Standing 8-Count'.
2:23 > Howard falls down on his 'haunches', but is up immediately.
2:29 > The Referee completes the '8-Count',
2:30 > Richard Greene asks Howard > "Howard, are you all-right."

2:31 > Howard responds > "I'm all-right. Yes, I'm all-right."
2:35 > Richard Greene gives Howard a few more seconds, before waving for the fight to continue.
2:36 > Earnie, who was in the front-right Neutral-Corner comes bolting out to Center-Ring.
2:37 > Earnie comes straight at Howard who is on 'shaky legs'.

2:37 > Howard steps out, and clinches Earnie at Center-Ring.
2:38 > Earnie ducks under Howard's left arm, as Howard puts his left-arm over Earnie's neck.
2:40 > Earnie breaks free, and slams a left into Howard's body, and a right to the shoulder.
2:41 > Earnie comes back with a quick 'left-right' to the head.

2:42 > Howard tries to grab Earnie.
2:42 > Earnie fires in a hard 'left-right' to the head, and the right-hand catches Howard flush.
2:43 > Howard stumbles forward towards the front-right Neutral-Corner.
2:44 > Earnie follows, and throws a right-hand at Howard who goes flying by him.

2:45 > Howard goes down on his right-knee, as his upper-body crashes into the middle-Ropes.
2:48 > Howard is up at the '3-Count'.
2:49 > Howard leans back into the Corner, and speards his arms, and drapes them over the top Rope strands.
2:54 > The Referee - Richard Greene completes the 'Mandatory 8-Count'.

2:55 > The Referee asks Howard >"'Do you want to continue." > as Howard spreads both arms and drapes them over each Top Rope strand.
2:56 > Howard is slow in reacting.
2:58 > Richard Greene grabs at Howard's arms, and says > "Howard, are you all-right. Can you go on."
2:59 > Howard nods 'Yes', as he brings both gloves up under his chin.

3:00 > The Bell sounds ending Round 1.
3:02 > Howard walks along the right-side Ropes and back to his corner, 'still dazed' but aware of where he is.