Ken Norton v Frank Bruno

... or a fat out of shape Tim Witherspoon.


With Bruno, most of the men he beat were bums or has-beens.
I mean, forget his losses - who are his best WINS ?
Fat Coetzee, Oliver McCall, fat old Bugner, over-the-hill Carl Williams, badly washed-up Ribalta, .... Pierre Coetzer ??

 

I like Frank and was actually acquainted with him back in the day (coming from London, being a similar age & involved in the London amateur scene & attending all the significant pro shows), but I must ask the question; although Frank was an obviously very strong and powerful individual, who did Frank actually stop/ko who was top world class at the time he fought them?

Bruno was largely too slow of foot and thought to convert his power into stoppages in world class - power is no good if you can't land it.

I think Bruno's only chance against Norton would be to come out blasting as he did against Gerrie Coetzee and hope to catch Norton cold - I concede there is a small chance of this being successful, IF Frank had the self-belief to do that, which I am unsure he would have. However, Bruno usually boxed steadily behind his jab, using the jab to try to set up his bombs - this would suit Norton imo. Alternatively, who is to say that Nortn wouldn't come out as he did against Bobick and be successful that way? Remember Bruno's fight against Cummings...

The likely outcome for me would be that Bruno comes out and boxes steadily with a few even rounds at first while Norton works Bruno out, gradually Norton ups the pace, doubts seep into Bruno's mind about his stamina as he can't stay with the pace Norton sets and Norton takes over, stopping Bruno on his feet against the ropes late on, or unhinging Frank with a big overhand right and a drum roll of punches...

 

Bruno did not fight like Bobick and was a much more durable fighter . Bobick was stopped twice @ d 1st rd , Bruno ? 0 despite fighting Tyson*2 , Lewis , McCall , Carl Williams , Tim Witherspoon , James Smith . A much more formidable opposition than Bobick's .

 

I agree that Bruno was a more durable fighter than Bobick, but I also feel that it's not out of the question that Norton could land a shot that could "freeze" Bruno the way that Cummings' right hand did...I would say that Norton's power stands well in comparison to Cummings' power...

 

And this is an example of his shavers-esque power?

Not nit-picking at you in particular but im forever reading and hearing about this power Bruno had. When did he ever demonstrate it? Or should i say, when did he ever demonstrate it against a 'live' opponent? I dont doubt he had decent power but i feel its grossly overated

 

Didn't Bruno stop Cummings ?

 

I think it's a better example than Shavers' inability 2 even floor a somewhat diminished Ali or Jerry Quarry . Norton & Chuvalo KOd Quarry , Shavers couldn't .
Bruno wasn't n accurate puncher like Shavers was and I think both Shavers' boxing and punching techniques were better , but in regards 2 who hit harder , it's hard 2 believe that Shavers had more power in his punches , what he had more were leverage , timing and maybe accuracy , Bruno relied much less on punching and much more on fouling (close range holding and rabbit punching) , but if both men landed their best straight punch on some1 , i guess Bruno's was harder .

 

Yes he did, but that's not the point. My point is that as Bruno could be rendered senseless by a single right hand from Norton, it's quite possible Norton could do the same...do you not concede that this is a possibility?

Further, a significant contributory factor in Bruno winning the Cummings fight is that Cummings' right hand landed a mere split second before the bell to end the opening round...Floyd did not have time to follow-up. If he had time to land even one more shot, I have very little doubt Bruno would have been stopped or knocked out, and Bruno would have suffered the same fate against Cummings as Bobick did against Norton and Tate, i,.e. "L KO 1" on his record. Have you seen the tape? Bruno was absolutely filleted by the punch.

 

If Cummings had landed that punch just 2 seconds earlier it would definitely be 1st round KO loss for Bruno.

But anyway, of course Norton has the power and punch to KO Bruno any time in the fight.
Bruno has enough power to KO Norton too, but as has been said he had trouble landing the finishing blow at the highest level. He landed hurtful clubbing punches but he was predictable, and the top guys weren't easy to crack with such predictable pattern of attack.

Norton was just better.

 

I think i watched it but not sure , i m sure that i didn't watch it more than once and not in d last 4 months .

 

frankenfrank - it's worth watching, it's quite shocking the impact the punch has on Bruno, he stands stock still like a statue...completely out on his feet...

I remember watching it live at the Royal Albert Hall in October '83...

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Frank 'Stiff-n-Strong' Bruno drops Ken Norton once or twice
or even three times.

But Kenny had just enough resiliency to withstand the slower lumbering-types.

I'll take the 'Marine' by a Decision, albeit close.

 

Bruno, at the highest level was not relaxed enough to beat truly great fighters. However, Norton himself really froze against a raw George Foreman. I dont think Norton can stand in front of Bruno either. Norton was a big Hitter himself if he gets past 6 rounds then there is no doubt Ken takes it. However, Bruno of the bugner and carl williams fight was a good enough boxer to outbox Norton. I just think Bruno would gas out late on if he didnt knock Kenny out like all the other big punchers did.

 

Im sorry mate but this post is all over the place and i dont even know where to begin. Not being disrespectful or anything.

Look, if you ask 100 people on the Classic forum 'Who hits harder? Shavers or Bruno?' Id wager at least 90% would go for Earnie. The other 10% would be made up of 'johnny opposites', nuthuggers, or just plain ol' 'guys who dont know their stuff'