Lets say that Tex Rickard dosnt with to match Ken Norton with Jack Dempsey for the title, because he does not see the fight as furthering his interests. He therfore orgainises a title eliminator between Ken Norton and Luis Firpo hoping that Firpo will eliminate Norton. Obviously if Norton wins he just wont give him the fight anyway. Does the ruse work?
Norton wins and wins easily. Firpo displays the worst set of skill of any contender I've ever seen film off. For his time he was big and strong, for Norton he'd be of average size.
Yes but he might just have the right skillset to get the job done here. He had serious power and could be prety unpredictable.
Could go either way. Firpo not only could hit but was also an incredibly courageous heavyweight. His skill set however was sorely lacking. As was written days before he fought Dempsey Firpo had “only a rudimentary knowledge of the finer points of the game”. Norton the far greater boxer but tended to fail vs the biggest punchers he faced. Pick em
Norton would stop Firpo in 1 or 2 rounds. Firpo doesn't have any advantages. Telegraphing punches to the extent that Luis did would be make him very vunerable. Kenny would see them coming.
Ken Norton is the obvious favorite because of his battles with Ali and Holmes and taking both men deep. However Norton was KO'd by Jose Luis Garcia, young but still, he was also KO'd by Foreman and Shavers (beat up badly) An older Norton KO'd in 1 by Cooney and dropped 2X in his fight vs Ledoux. I think most of the reason was as long and Ken could come forward and press, he was strong and unorthodox - he had non-rhythm style that troubled rhythm fighter like Ali- Holmes and Young but if the fire power of his opponent passed the tipping point and he could be hurt & confused. Firpo was wild and could punch so while I favor Norton I would not be surprised if the Wild bull hurt Norton and changed the game plan- Firpo would sense Norton being hurt and would pursue - he has a wild mans punching chance. Norton simply had trouble with ( 1) men he could not back up (2) Guys that could punch (3) Rhythm breakers hate non-rhythm fighters Norton more controlled and systematic but Firpo could change all that with his wild attack - Firpo live underdog - Norton big favorite that could be upset
Bill Miske, Frank Moran, Harry Greb all KO'd Homer Smith before Smith went 10 with Firpo. Shortly afterward, Sargent Ray Smith (13-18) KO'd him in 1 and Wills did the trick in 2. Altogether he was KO'd 15 times. But not by Firpo.
Norton didn't do well against big punchers like firpo but Norton was 30 times the boxer and probably as good of a puncher. Put those smaller gloves on him, take out the neutral corner and 3 knock down rule and Norton might actually kill him. I got Norton early knock out in a one sided @as whoopin.
