Ali's comments after the third Norton fight

Here are the numbers:

Norton out jabbed him 94 - 71 on jabs connected.
Norton out connected on the jab 33% to 21%
Norton landed more power punches , 192 to 128
Norton topped him on power punch land rate , 55% to 35%
Norton outlanded him in total punches, 286 to 199
Norton's total punch land rate topped Ali 45% to 28%

Other than being out jabbed, out punched and being landed on at a higher rate in both departments, I can see your argument for an Ali win.

 

I quoted the AP, UPI, official judges and the WWS panel, all of which you call revisionist history, you told your opinion of the fight, mine is he won the second and third that being equal.

 

Agreed, the :UPI which had it razor close and a 8-7 win for Ken was as almost all cards were, a one round win one way or the other, the AP, the judges and many viewers also having it a one round win for Ali.

 

Well, not only did the judges and the WWS sports panel disagree with you (Norton was there live and very suprised) so did many writers and fans, we all had an opinion of the fight, you also.

 

Yeah I had Holmes winning that fight also.

 

One of the New York writers said:"If Ali won that fight last night...then the Japanese won World War ll ". Ali was "winning" these fights at this stage because of who he was...not for what he was doing in the ring!!!

 

Ali was the only fighter I recall who got credit from the judges moving but not landing any real punches.

 

So how do you justify your opinion of the third fight equal when Ali was decisively outjabbed and outpunched? Unlike the fan/writers of the day you now have over forty years of time to take off the rose colored lenses. Ali got the decision on name alone and even most of the writers who scored it close did so out of nostalgia.

 

Because Ali was at the absolute height of his popularity as a cross over hero and one of the most recognized and famous men on the planet at the time .. everyone loved Ali and that impacted many scorecards. He clearly lost to Young two fights earlier but revisionism made it justified ... absurd stuff really. Long term it worked against him as he fought longer , too more beatings and hurt himself ..

 

So Norton in your book loses a decision in a fight where he not only dominated in jabs landed but dominated in power shots landed because in two minutes of a final rond Ali does his dance and miss pitter pat punch routine ? Do you realize the jabs landed and power shots landed in Norton's favor were not even close ? You are basically proving my point, giving Ali rounds because he was Ali. I'm not here to convince you .. just making note of it .. You can't give Ali the fight based on effective aggression, punches landed or ring generalship.

 

Did Pep have alot of disputed decisions?