Just How Great a Heavyweight Was Ken Norton?

Where is the proof of this gym KO ? That aside, little doubt Quarry was a shell in 75.

If Norton had the glass jaw to the dismissive degree you state than Ali and Holmes are both feather fisted. Thirty nine rounds w Ali and 15 with Holmes and china chin was never dropped.

I completely disagree with your opinions of Ali - Norton 3 and Norton - Young.

 

It is not about excuses for me. I met Norton I liked him. Big guy. Ok fine-If he admitted he gave up years before fighting them and that is why he lost, ok I guess put him in the top 10 of all time heavyweights.

 

The tough question we all have to face when rating Norton, who is widely considered as the 4th best heavyweight of the era (which doesn’t say much for the era considering his resume) is does he deserve to be rated over fighters that actually made it to the pinnacle of the division?

 

I must say I'm a little bit perplexed that Norton seems to be almost given a pass by some that he couldn't handle bangers!

 

He doesnt make my top ten but he would comfortably be in my top 40.

 

I heard about Quarry knocking Norton out in the late 80s from a I met that had fought as a light heavy. He had sparred with Prince Mamah Mohammed at the Main Street gym, and trained there for other fights. It was, apparently, something that was common knowledge around that gym.

 

I personally believe Norton was a great heavyweight (top 25). He beat Ali decisively in '72. And arguably beat him twice. His win over Jimmy Young is underrated imo. Young was at his best. He had schooled Ron Lyle and George Foreman back to back. Foreman is an all-time great and Lyle was one of the best heavyweight contenders of 1970s. Norton also beat Jerry Quarry, although Quarry was past his prime. I give Norton a lot of credit for his performance against Holmes too. Norton was past it but he still showed a heart of a champion and put up a great fight. No one gave Holmes a tougher fight in his prime. Norton was an intelligent fighter who always showed up in great shape. He didn't have a granite chin but he had a massive heart. He's a difficult man to outbox if you don't aren't a big puncher. I can't see Norton being outside top 25. He has a win over the greatest heavyweight of all time. That trilogy should be enough imo.

 

Could be but sparring KO's are folklore all over the place ..

 

I tend to see Norton as a bit of a stylistic foil for boxers, and a fighter lacking versatility against different styles.

I see Jack Sharkey as a much better all round fighter for example.

 

The president of the West Coast Boxing HoF says that he personally witnessed it.

 

Can’t see how it’s possible he could made anyone’s top 10 unless it’s the 1970s top 10 they are talking about.

 

your alone ....ali outboxed norton in the 2nd fight and won easily ....great boxing by ali

 

I don't see him as a great fighter......his glaring weakness against big strong punchers is too much to over come his win against the older Ali was good but the truth is he was a huge heavy for his time he could box and bang somewhat but IMO rhythmic boxers like Ali who liked to time fighters who got in a rhythm will always be thrown off by Norton styles....a big strong guy with next to no athletic rhythm but a herky jerky spastic style that was near impossible to time...these guys always throw wrenches into boxers styles and yes Holmes was a rhythm fighter who liked to time his opponents. Kens issue with punchers was his hyper-sugar footed style dragging his back leg like a brace for balance and nothing else....he could not move effectively against punchers unlike Ali and others his movement was limited he wasn't KO'd by featherfisted fighters

 

I don't see how he gets rated high at all. For what? Ali? He had a good career, but totally overrated if he is ranked as a great heavyweight. Sometimes guys can trouble older legends. It doesn't mean you rank them as a great fighter. He had an iconic name being in big fights. So did Mancini.