Ken Norton verus Joe Louis' opposition...

Agreed..

Norton's prime was probably from around 1973-1978. During this time he trouble the hell out of Ali three times, and may have possibly beaten him twice, depending on how you score fights... He beat Quarry, Young, an undefeated Bobick and a few other halfway decent opponents... Asside from Garcia, the only men who really knocked out a fully developed Norton were Cooney, Foreman, and Shavers - three of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history, and two of which fought him when he was between 36-38 years of age... Ken was in spectacular shape for most of his prime fights and a skilled fighter with better than average power... I'd say he beats the vast majority of Louis's 25 title challengers, with maybe the exception of one or two slips here or there.

 

That's basically what I meant as well. No I did not think that Norton was capable of holding it together for 12 years and beating 25 opponents, but against any one of those guys head to head on a good night, he'd probably triumph.

 

He actually was down twice and nearly stopped by LeDoux, which ended up stealing a draw for LeDoux (although I thought Norton's early lead should have been big enough for him to win regardless).

I can excuse him for his post-Shavers performances, seeing as what Shavers' power can do to someone (just look at what it did to Jimmy Ellis, for example), but I don't think he has an excuse for the Shavers loss itself. He still was rated as #1 HW contender at that time, and had shown little, if any apparent signs of decline. Plus, Shavers was around the same age and at the same stage of his career.

 

T think Ken could take almost everyone cept Walcott jus Have feelin Joe would take him. Also Max Baer ,Schmeling 50/50, otherwise Ken was very very good top 25 all-time.

 

I thought we were supposed to be respectful to contenders of all eras.

I think Galento was a real tough cookie, hit like a truck, and while he was managed by Joe Jacobs he got his act together and had a pretty good run for a couple of years.

Maybe he brutalizes Norton like he did with Lou Nova.

 

If the fight was held in Jersey i can practically guarentee a Galento victory

But in any case Norton really seemed to kinda shut down and give up against big punchers and Galento was one of the biggest. He was also very durable, pretty decent shape when he bothered and extremely rough I just don't see Norton standing up to him. Galento only knew how to go one way and that was forward. Both Baer and Louis hit him with some huge shots and he just kept coming forward and both hit alot harder than Norton, I think Galento would take him out. Norton would probably beat all of the boxers Louis fought like Conn, Schmeling etc. and probably look very good doing it.

Charles would beat him tho and Walcott would give him a very close fight.

 

Ken Norton v Johnny Paycheck ??

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyOfljbIg8A&feature=related[/ame]



Lorenzo Paycheck

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBiyX9oDgNE[/ame]

 

Ken Norton would beat A LOT of the men Louis defended against. He'd also beat a lot of the men Ali or Holmes defended against too.

He'd have his work cut out with Lou Nova, Tommy Farr, Arturo Godoy, Buddy Baer, Jersey Joe Walcott, Tony Galento etc.

 

I'm 100 percent sure Norton beats 90 percent of Joe Louis opponents

I am also 90 percent sure Norton beats 100 percent of Joe Louis opponents

 

Among Louis's title opponents:

Lou Nova should be strongly favoured to beat Norton and so should Buddy Baer.

Tony Gallento and Tami Maurellio would be verry dangerous matches for him.

The opponent that would ultimately prove too much for him however, would be the schedule. That is the Joe Louis opponent who beats prety much anybody.

 

Not saying he wasn't a badass. Hit like a truck, iron jaw, fought his heart out, and was a mean, mean SOB. Anybody who decks Joe Louis should drink for free forever.

Saying he was a lazy, one dimensional, tub of goo. Can this be disputed? I thought that was fact.

 

I would dispute the 'tub of goo' remark.
He was a stocky, squat kind of guy, carried a bit too much, drank too much beer for a fighter, and his weight varied.
He was way out of shape for Max and Buddy Baer (244 - 247 pounds), but 20 pounds lighter for Lou Nova (224), and not exactly disgusting at 233 for Joe Louis.
"Two Ton" was just a nickname after all.

I don't think he was any worse for carrying a spare tyre than guys like Witherspoon or Mercer or Peter, and I mean when those guys were contenders.
I'd reserve 'tub of goo' for the shouldn't-really-be-licensed fat guys like Gabe Brown.

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Are we actually questioning the quality of Joe Louis opposition? Being that I feel it's moderate/weak I think Norton takes most of them out with relative ease.

 

Of course, Seamus made the thread. :deal