HELO/EHLO not getting to smtp server

Hello
I am trying to send email through the ESP8266.
I managed to log into an smtp server but the HELO/EHLO does not seem to get to the server.
Could anyone help me out?
Thank you
Gabe

#include <AltSoftSerial.h>

AltSoftSerial esp8266; // 

#define SERIAL_BUFFER_SIZE 32                             
#define DEBUG        true

#define ssid        "xxxxx"
#define password    "yyyyyyyyyy"

#define server    "smtp.ipower.com"
#define port      587


#define publicIP    z.z.z.z

int led = 13;
int v = 0;

void setup()
{  
  
    
  pinMode(led, OUTPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600);
  esp8266.begin(9600); // your esp's baud rate might be different 

  sendData("AT+RST\r\n",2000,DEBUG); // reset module
  sendData("AT+CWQAP\r\n",2000,DEBUG); // Quit Access Point
  sendData("AT+CWMODE=1\r\n",1000,DEBUG); // configure as access point
  
  String cwjapSend = "AT+CWJAP=\"";
    cwjapSend += ssid;
    cwjapSend += "\",\"";
    cwjapSend += password;
    cwjapSend += "\"\r\n";
  sendData(cwjapSend,8000,DEBUG);
  
  sendData("AT+CWJAP?\r\n",1000,DEBUG);
  sendData("AT+CIFSR\r\n",1000,DEBUG); // get ip address
  sendData("AT+CIPMUX=0\r\n",1000,DEBUG); // configure for multiple connections
  
  String cipstartSend = "AT+CIPSTART=\"TCP\",\"";
    cipstartSend += server;
    cipstartSend += "\",";
    cipstartSend += port;
    cipstartSend += ";2\r\n";
  sendData(cipstartSend,3000,DEBUG);
  
    String ehlo = "HELO z.z.z.z\r\n";
     String cipEHLOSend = "AT+CIPSEND=";
     //cipEHLOSend += ",";
     cipEHLOSend +=ehlo.length();
     cipEHLOSend +="\r\n"; 
  sendData(cipEHLOSend,3000,DEBUG);
//  esp8266.print(ehlo);
  sendData(ehlo,3000,DEBUG);
    

} 
void loop()
{
 if (esp8266.available())
 Serial.write(esp8266.read());
 if (Serial.available())
 esp8266.write(Serial.read());

}

String sendData(String command, const int timeout, boolean debug)
{
    String response = "";
    
    esp8266.print(command); // send the read character to the esp8266
    
    long int time = millis();
    
    while( (time+timeout) > millis())
    {
      while(esp8266.available())
      {
        
        // The esp has data so display its output to the serial window 
        char c = esp8266.read(); // read the next character.
        response+=c;
      }  
    }
    
    if(debug)
    {
      Serial.print(response);
      Serial.flush();
    }
    
    return response;
}

void beep()
  {
  digitalWrite(led, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(50);               // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(led, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  }

This is what I get

OK
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Vendor:www.ai-thinker.com

SDK Version:0.9.5(b1)
Compiled @:Dec 25 2014, 21:50:58
ready
AT+CWQAP

OK
AT+CWMODE=1

OK
AT+CWJAP="xxxxx","yyyyyyyyyy"

OK
AT+CWJAP?
+CWJAP:"xxxxx"

OK
AT+CIFSR
+CIFSR:STAIP,"192.168.0.12"
+CIFSR:STAMAC,"18:fe:34:9d:2e:1d"

OK
AT+CIPMUX=0

OK
AT+CIPSTART="TCP","smtp.ipower.com",587;2
CONNECT

OK

+IPD,68:220 ESMTP Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:51:39 -0400: UCE strictly prohibited

OK
AT+CIPSEND=21
> HELO z.z.z.z
+IPD,85:421 bosauthsmtp10.yourhostingaccount.com: SMTP command timeout - closing connection

OK
CLOSED

OK

The process stops after > HELO z.z.z.z and stays there for several minutes until the disconnect message from the smtp server.