Kevin Howard was a tough as nails fighter that was brought in as target practice for Ray Leonard in 1984. Before that he was out boxed by Marlon Starling and lost a unanimous verdict to Mark Medal, a pretty good puncher in his own right. After the bittersweet Leonard episode he lost to future light middle champ Robert Hines and said goodbye to the sport after being battered by and up and coming Simon Brown, a future two-division champ with solid skills, snap and true KO power. Whatever became of Howard? :huh
Just looking through his record I noticed he lost twice on the way up to Roger Stafford. Another future "world" champion. He definitely fought the best of his time.
That's what I mean. A long time ago he fought some of the best fighters around his weight class of his generation...and probably for peanuts. Today he could be laboring in some factory or driving a truck and the vast majority around him would have no idea of who he was, what he did and how hard it was for him to have made it as far as he did. Think about it. He is a classic historical footnote, all but forgotten.
Yes, I know what you mean. You'd think he must be remembered somewhere though. He's got that knockdown over Leonard. Look what knocking over Ali did for Cooper.
turpinr sent me a Ring mag from 1982 and Kevin Howard was a top contender at the time just after losing to Stafford i think. Was touted as a possible top contender for afew years to come
However, unlike Cooper, Howard did not have the love of his country. Leonard was the golden boy and Howard was viewed as a mere detail for Ray's return.
