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]

[brocktonblockbust]

[AdamGB]

No.

[Fenster]

@brocktonblockbust

@Bill Paxtom

ONE! That is ONE and only ONE Earnie Shavers thread is allowed on this board until further notice. Stop being naughty. Thanks.

[Bill Paxtom]

Witness

Boxing Judge - Bill Kipp

"Jeez, that kid Smith took a beating."

"It was the most vicious right-hand punch that I have ever seen."