Spinks vs Norton in 1978 for WBA and WBC belts

Leon Spinks scored a sensational win over Muhammad Ali in February 1978. The winnwe of the fight had to fight the #1 challenger Ken Norton.

The WBC sanctioned Ali-Spinks after both fighters agreed that the winner, which was Spinks, would sign for a Norton fight by April 7. The WBC stripped Spinks of the title on March 18 and awarded it to Norton, saying Spinks was avoiding a fight with Norton and dealing in bad faith with the WBC.

On April 11, Ali and Spinks, who was still the WBA champion, signed for a rematch.

What if Spinks defended his title vs Ken Norton? How the fight would've ended?

As Norton seems the clear favourite in this match, does it mean Norton-Ali 4 was set in case of Norton's win? And what outcome of Norton-Ali 4 is the most likely?

 

Norton would handle an early blitz by Leon then start backing him up and taking him out with a hook over hand rt combo

 

Norton should handle Leon, but what if Norton can't hurt him, it might be the same he did to Ali. If the same Leon that showed up for ali shows up, I think I'd pick Leon

 

Norton would have decimated Leon as he did Bobick. And then he would have beaten Ali.

 

Norton spanks Spinks.

 

Norton should win. Just a better all around Heavy, even though Leon had his one shining moment.

 

Spinks could hit and Norton was no spring chicken. You would have had to go with Norton but a ko win by Spinks would not have surprised me.

 

Good analysis ^. There for a few fights, Leon was a "if only: "no drugs", "better management", no hangers-on, etc", and we might have seen Leon defend his title a few times until Holmes came on the scene.

 

Norton a class above for mine.

 

Ali's biggest nightmare was Spinks making his mandatory against Norton. Ali knew Norton would bomb him out fast and then Ali would have to fight Norton a fourth time if he ever wanted to regain the title .. Ali used all his political capital to go on television time and again and lobby for the rematch immediately , claiming how he gave one to Liston ( obviously ignoring the fact that he never gave one to Foreman ) .. Ali and the money drove the rematch and the WBC stripped Spinks and the rest is history .. I see that Norton blasting Spinks out fast .. again, no one knew it more than Ali.

 

Norton would have stopped spinks before the 5 th. Spinks at that point would also probably have underestimated Ken, so wouldn't have trained hard. Ken on the other hand would be be starving for the title. Resulting in a beating for Leon.

 

Before, I probably would have said Norton would kayo Spinks in 4 to 5 rounds. Now, in the battle of marines, I think Leon could kayo or stop Ken in 13 rounds. Why? If the fight was a few months immediately after Ali I, Leon would still have the drive and intent. He was a real warrior, much more than Ken, and with that type of win, possibly give Ali second thoughts of fighting him again.

 

Few today understand Spinks was highly thought of from his great Olympic performance in 1976. Certainly a huge underdog fighting Ali but his grit and his punch were unquestioned. Norton on his downside (which he was post Ali 3) vs Spinks at his best a Spinks ko win would not surprise me.

 

Remember though, this Norton is the same one that gave a young atg one of the greatest fights of his life. Holmes had to pull out everything to win. Norton still had enough to destroy Leon imo.

 

Yes but Norton stated later that after fight 3 he no longer had the same passion for the fight game. I could see the best Spinks doing him in with his pressure and right hand at this stage of his career.