Earnie Shavers vs. Howard Smith ~ 'Championship Qualifier' - Winner Gets Muhammad Ali

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ April 16, 1977

The Aladdin ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

This bout was billed as a 'Heavyweight Championship Qualifier'.

Earnie Shavers {Age; 31 years, 8 months} brought in a record of 53-5-1 {51 KO's}
and was at the 'peak' of his career.

Howard Smith {Age; 30 years, 3 months} came in with a record of 24-1-0 {18 KO's}
and was coming into his own as a Heavyweight Challenger.

[Max Power]

Saturday ~ April 16, 1977

The Aladdin ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

This bout was billed as a 'Heavyweight Championship Qualifier'.

Earnie Shavers {Age; 31 years, 8 months} brought in a record of 53-5-1 {51 KO's}
and was at the 'peak' of his career.

Howard Smith{Age; 30 years, 3 months} came in with a record of 17-1-1 {11 KO's}
and was coming into his own as a Heavyweight Challenger.

I will give you one thing about Earnie Shaver's Bill...

I think he beat Muhammad Ali in that fight. I think he did more than enough to win throughout the fight and I think only the last 30seconds Ali was really pasting Shaver's.

But that doesn't make up for what happened the entire fight, particularly since I generally disregard anything that happened in the last 3 rounds of nostalgic fights anyway.

I don't consider beating Muhammad Ali a big deal AT ALL personally, but you probably would.

[Bill Paxtom]

Earnie Shavers

Earnie's career appeared to be over on September 13, 1975 >

That is when Earnie got 'shellacked' by Ron Lyle in Denver, Colorado.

It was a brutal war, that ended with Earnie on the canvas and counted-out in Round 6.

But Earnie rebounded and won '4' straight, which set him on a new path.

* November 13, 1975 ...... KO 3 ......... Tommy Howard
* March 28, 1976 .......... W Dec 10 ... Henry Clark
* September 28, 1976 .... TKO 2 ....... Henry Clark
* December 11, 1976 ..... KO 10 ....... Roy 'Tiger' Williams

Earnie had been 'idle' for 5-Months while waiting for a key bout, but he was
primed and ready to 'bomb'.

[Bill Paxtom]

This bout was broadcast on CBS-TV Sports Spectacular

Howard 'KO' Smith

Was a very good boxer, who had excellent hand-speed and nifty footwork.

Howard stood at {6' 2 1/2"}, and a long reach at {77"}, which complimented
his accuurate left-jab.

And he was solidly built at 205 lbs., but with a 'lean' Cheetah-like frame.

His power-punch was a quick right-cross, that he liked to unload during
the Middle-Rounds of a bout, as he lured his opponent in close.

Howard was the California State Heavyweight Champion, which he won on
June 8, 1973 - but later relinquished the Belt in 1975.

Howard had some quality wins;

* June 8, 1973 ......... W Dec 12 ............. Jack O'Halloran
* November 9, 1973 . W Dec 10 ............. Steve 'Iceman' Carter
* March 13, 1974 ..... KO 6 ..................... 'Irish' Tony Doyle
* August 14, 1974 ... KO 6 ...................... Jack O'Halloran
* May 8, 1975 ......... KO 5 ...................... Larry Middleton
* June 15, 1976 ...... W Split-Decision ...... Johnny Boudreaux
* January 15, 1977 .. W Unan. Dec 10 ..... Henry Clark

But, Howard had 'continous' problems with his right-hand, which he broke
'8' separate times during his career, which kept him idle for spells of;

* {6 Months}
* {8 months}
* {6 months}
* {5 months}
* {5 months}
* {6 months}
* {11 months}
* {7 months}

The continuing 'problems' with the right-hand, kept Howard Smith out of many
'decent' money bouts.

In Howard's 6-Year career {starting on May 8, 1971}, the 'California KO Kid' only
had '26-Bouts'.

[AdamGB]

Fuck off.

[Bill Paxtom]

This bout was broadcast on CBS-TV Sports Spectacular

Howard 'KO' Smith

Was a very good boxer, who had excellent hand-speed and nifty footwork.

Howard had height at a 'shade' under {6' 3"}, and a long reach at {77"}
which complimented his accuurate left-jab.

And he was solidly built at 203 lbs., but with a 'lean' Cheetah-like frame.

His power-punch was a quick right-cross, that he liked to unload during
the Middle-Rounds of a bout, as he lured his opponent in close.

Howard was the California State Heavyweight Champion, which he won on
March 13, 1974 - but later relinquished the Belt in 1975.

Howard had some quality wins;

* June 8, 1973 ......... W Dec 10 ............. Jack O'Halloran
* November 9, 1973 . W Dec 10 ............. Steve 'Iceman' Carter
* March 13, 1974 ..... KO 6 ..................... 'Irish' Tony Doyle
* August 14, 1974 ... KO 6 ...................... Jack O'Halloran
* May 8, 1975 ......... KO 5 ...................... Larry Middleton
* June 15, 1976 ...... W Split-Decision ...... Johnny Boudreaux
* January 15, 1977 .. W Unan. Dec 10 ..... Henry Clark

But, Howard had 'continous' problems with his right-hand, which he broke
'8' separate times during his career, which kept him idle for spells of;

* {6 Months}
* {8 months}
* {6 months}
* {5 months}
* {5 months}
* {6 months}
* {11 months}
* {7 months}

The continuing 'problems' with the right-hand, kept Howard Smith out of many
'decent' money bouts.

In Howard's 6-Year career {starting on May 8, 1971}, the 'California KO Kid' only
had '19-Bouts'.

__________________________________________________ _______________

Howard only had 1-Bout in 10-Months, and that was a recent 10-Round Decision
over Henry Clark on January 15, 1977.

Before that win, he was 'idle' for 7-Months.

[Bill Paxtom]

Howard Smith

'The California KO Kid'

Was managed by Harry Kabakoff from September 1974 thru 1976.

But hooked up with Bob Biron 1976, who also managed Ken Norton.

[brocktonblockbust]

@maxpower @Max Power this is a true ATG, look at his moves, his shoulder movement while throwing combinations. Do yoiu think Wlad could deal with that shoulder movement?

[Bill Paxtom]

Excellent Post Triple 'B'

Earnie was 'primed' and tuned up for this bout at The Aladdin.

Earnie {Age; 31 years, 8 months} was ranked as the #6 Heavyweight,
opened up on the board as a 'slight' {7-5} Betting Favorite here.

Earnie was inked for a $75,000 Fight Purse.

Howard Smith, who was ranked as the #7 Heavyweight signed for a
$50,000 Fight Purse.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnie Shavers >

"Howard is a good boxer, no doubt. I boxed him back in May 1974 in San Jose,
California when I was out there for a bout. He was the only guy who could stand
up to me at the Gym."

"My plan is simple, to pressure him with body punches, and to slow him down.
He's fast in there, and I've got to take away his speed."

[Master]

Why on earth would you not count the last 3 rounds? @Max Power. Those were championship rounds which separated the true greats from the also ran’s.

Remember this was not the best Ali and he still suckered and out hustled a puncher like Shavers.

[Bill Paxtom]

'Shavers and Smith to Trade Bombs at The Aladdin'

Earnie Shavers, who opened up at a {7-5} Betting Favorite, has now
been bumped up to a {2-1} Favorite.

[Bill Paxtom]

Manager - Bob Biron

This is great opportunity for Howard. He's getting $50,000 for this bout.

We have big plans for Howard after this. We have a potential $250,000
pay-day to take on Muhammad Ali after he dispose's of Earnie.

We're ranked #7, and after Saturday, we will be looking for a Championship
bout.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ April 16, 1977

The Aladdin ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

Attendance ... { 1530 }
__________________________________________________ ________________

"Shavers Unleashes Power, Stops Smith In 2"

~ Hard-Hitting Shavers Eyes Big-Name Foe's ~

For the first-half of Round 1, California's Howard Smith did what he said he would
do. Jab, and move away from 'bald-headed bomber' Earnie Shavers.

The 30 year-old West-Coast boxer jabbed, and moved smoothly around the outer
perimeter of the Ring.

But, just past the mid-way point in the session, Shavers {209 lbs.} unleashed a
crisp right-cross to the chin of Smith {202 lbs.}.

Immediately, Smith looked 'stunned' as he backed up.

From there, Earnie {Age; 31 1/2} moved quickly, and picked his shots as Smith
wobbled after each hard-punch.

Then, Shavers assaulted Smith mercilessly with vicious 'lefts-and-rights' as he battered
the California boxer into the Ropes.

With the badly dazed Smith near defenseless, Referee - Richard Green jumped in and
pushed Earnie away, as he issued Smith a 'standing 8-Count'.

The action resumed, and Shavers came in with bombs. Smith teetered after absorbing
the first barrage from Earnie.

Again, Referee - Richard Green jumped in and issued another 'standing 8-Count'
as Smith fell down on his 'haunches'.

After the 'count', the Referee waved Earnie in.

Shavers continued to dish out punishment as Smith was reeling along the Ropes. Then
just before the Bell, Smith was toppled to the canvas.

But, Smith got up, and made it back to his Corner.

Coming out for Round 2, Smith offered up only weak punches as he did his best to
avoid getting tagged by the pressing Shavers.

But Earnie waited, and looked to pick his opening.

Then at the {2:06 Mark} it came. Earnie slung a 'vicious' right-cross to Smith's face,
and the California boxer fell back into the Ropes, then fell face first into the canvas.

Referee - Richard Green counted out Howard Smith @ 2:18 of Round 2.

[Max Power]

Why on earth would you not count the last 3 rounds? @Max Power. Those were championship rounds which separated the true greats from the also ran’s.

Remember this was not the best Ali and he still suckered and out hustled a puncher like Shavers.

If a fighter manages to KO an opponent in round 13+ in a nostalgic fight that's fine but when I'm comparing it to a modern boxer, I think it should be dismissed as an "overly-late KO".

In my opinion if the boxer failed to KO his opponent in 12 rounds, in modern times it would be scored as a decision.

Not being able to KO the opponent in 12 rounds is a sign of failure of plan and skills and any KO in round 13+ is most likely a stamina gas related KO (as visibly most are), nobody plans to KO an opponent in such a late round. By then energy and skills and power have degraded.

Also, an overlooked and even more important implication is that for all the talk about modern boxers not being able to fight 15 rounds anymore, fighting only 12 rounds actually PENALISES modern boxers somewhat here because if you made modern boxers fight 15 rounds, the KO ratio's would become even higher for them because there would be 3 extra rounds of opportunity for them to score KO's.

[brocktonblockbust]