Ken Norton vs Evander Holyfield

I'm not sure on this one .. a terrific match up .. could go either way ..

 

EH takes it.

 

I take Holyfield by decision. Physically and style wise a very even matchup, but the difference being Holyfields fighting heart.

 

Great matchup, Man what a tough one to call, I would say the deciding aspect, now we are talking prime for prime, Holyfield, only because he had the better chin, Norton's not gonna get him outta there, That would Frustrate Kenny to now end! Still Norton was a goog fighter 5-5 vs The (a current at the time)-Top Ten, ALI X3 Foreman, Holmes, Young, Quarry, Bobick, Kirkman and ****ey.

One more reason I go with Evander he took on much more top ten elite.:rasta

 

The Real Deal.

 

I think Norton could do a decent number on him with his own killer jab and huge reach but somehow I cannot discount Evander stunning him at some point and Norton freezing up .. Evander was not anywhere like a Foreman or Shavers w power but he was very fast w a nasty double left hook and he could catch him like Garcia did .. a very even , interesting fight ..

 

Ali, Holmes and Foreman. Three all time top ten. Pretty tough stuff.

 

I will go for Norton in a great fight.

 

I sympathize with this. Ken's style would have made for a super exciting fight with Holy imo. Holy didn't have the ko power to floor Ken, and Ken could give on the inside.

 

Though I rank Holy quite higher as an ATG, I think it's possible Ken could knock him down and take the decision.

 

Ken Norton broke into prominence with his jaw breaking fight against post prime Muhammad Ali, on March 31 1973, in San Diego, California. He would drop the next two meetings with Ali, get kayoed by George Foreman, in 2 rounds, in 1974. He would beat Jerry Quarry, by TKO 5, in 1975. He would win the vacant WBC World Heavyweight Title, defeating Jimmy Young, on Nov 5 1977, by split 15 round decision, then lose it to Larry Holmes, by split 15 round decision. Evander Holyfield defeated Mike Tyson twice, in 1997. Ken would beat Holyfield by a majority decision, tight crab defense, solid jab, and chopping right hand. He would suffer a knockdown, but would have enough gas in the tank to secure the victory.

 

Norton would be a real tough go for Holyfield. His jab would be very difficult for Holyfield to fight through. BUT as another poster noted Holyfield could nullify Norton's jab by getting in close ... Tough , Tough fight to say who would win. But I'll lean towards Norton by a hair in a split dec victory. As long as he's not fighting a devastating and renoun puncher Norton would be hell for damn near every fighter in history

 

Ken really did have one of those jabs that would have won him many more fights than he actually did imo. I never quite got why he used it so sparingly...had he employed it more against Larry he might have won that fight (and this is coming from the world's biggest fan of Larry).

 

Holyfield on steroids or not? If Holyfield doesnt get to use his magic potion then Id pick Norton comfortably. If Holyfield gets to use his juice like he did for most of his career its a 50/50. I think its close due to styles more than anything. Norton is ridiculously overrated and his actual winning accomplishments are relatively meager but Holyfield doesnt have the style that would trouble Norton as much as some of the monsters from Norton's own era. Norton's biggest problem was that he couldnt fight going backwards. He wouldnt have to worry about that against Holyfield. Itd likely be a tactical fight with a few fireworks sprinkled in and would come down to the wire.