Howard Smith vs. Larry Middleton

From BoxRec
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Larry Middleton 207 lbs lost to Howard Smith 200 lbs by KO at 2:58 in round 5 of 10

  • Date: 1975-05-08
  • Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Referee: Dick Young

"Howard Smith's right hand was bruised and badly swollen after knocking out Larry Middleton in the 5th round Thursday night at the Olympic Auditorium, but it wasn't completely healthy before the fight either. Smith, a 2-1 favorite, nearly ended the fight in the 1st round when he nailed Middleton with a crunching right to the jaw, then followed seconds later with another right that put him on the canvas. "I hurt my hand when I knocked him down," Smith said, "and I was looking for the one shot to end it." Several almost did - at least two rights in the 2nd and another in the 3rd. But the one that did came in the closing seconds of the 5th. It was a short right that caught Middleton flush on the chin. He went down with a thud, landing flat on his face, rolled over and was counted out by referee Dick Young. Official time was 2:58 of the 5th." -The L.A. Times

  • Howard Smith was a substitute for Pedro Lovell, who was scheduled to fight Middleton on May 14th at the Anaheim Convention Center, but withdrew due to a stomach ulcer.
  • Smith revealed he had chipped a bone in his right hand 6 weeks earlier while sparring with Ken Norton in New York while Norton was preparing for his bout with Jerry Quarry.

Post fight comments

  • "His right hand had a big knot on it, but we couldn't turn down the fight." -Harry Kabakoff, Smith's manager, on accepting the fight.
  • "I've been sharper, but I'm very satisfied." -Howard Smith
Retrieved from "https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php?title=Howard_Smith_vs._Larry_Middleton&oldid=363668"