Howard Smith - beat Mike Weaver twice, once by ko. He was ko'd by Earnie Shavers and retired shortly afterwards. Had a short career 17-2 Jeff Merritt - scored a first round ko over Ernie Terell in the early 70's, supposedly broke Earnie Shavers jaw in a sparring session. Lynn Ball - ko'd Ron Lyle in 2 rounds, was ko'd by Michael Dokes in 1 for a minor belt, also had a short career I think he finished at 18-5. Anyone know anything about Smith, Merritt, and Ball?
Jeff Candy Slims Merritt was a good heavyweight , but never got such great breaks cash wise as many of the later Don King heavys got. Don had Jeff as his first proper signed heavy and exploited him quite a bit to get his own name in lights.. Jeff had a mixed bag record and left boxing as pauper.. Like many others that King brushed aside.. (David Bey, James Broad, Dokes.) Many turned towards drugs and lived out unfulfilled lives.. Dokes is now in the penetentiary.... Bay is almost an invalid and cant walk correctly, James Broad is sadly dead and died penniless in Henderson Bus depot whilst living on greyhound busses travelling to keep warm onboard night time busses.. Merritt was once seen outside the Mirage Hotel before the Ruddock v Tyson fight hollering at people about how the two fighters were getting over 2 million each and King let him leave the game penniless.. Security simply moved him on saying that he was an imposter and that he had few loops loose...
a lot of people had wins over Weaver when he was coming up Rodney Bobick was one also, Smith was being touted but he was nothing special, Merit was a lanky puncher, early starter but folded when he stepped up. He looked like he was going to be good. Ball was a live journey man
