Ken Norton in the 1990's

Not good.

 

He isn't beating Tyson or Lewis. Both are two 'scary' for him, he'd freeze up and get KOed. Bowe may do something similar, but I think that's a short war of attrition, won by Bowe's chin and size. Holyfield KOs him IMO, but that's definitely a great fight.

He'd probably win a rematch with Foreman. Mercer, Moorer, Cooper, Morrison, Tua, Ike ect; are gonna be stiff tests, and probably amazing fights. Norton wins some and loses some.

He'd do much better in the 80s IMO, vs all the Ali wannabes. So yeah, he'd be in the mix, but he'd be fighting a lot more Punchers.

 

He'd fare well but wouldn't be the champion (like he wasn't in his own era).

 

91.Foreman destroys Norton

 

Similar to Michael Moorer

 

George Foreman couldn't destroy Alex Stewart.

 

I don't think he'd be in a position to get dropped twice. He was much better than Stewart, and had much better head-movement and foot-work. And yeah, I think if it came down to getting up from those KDs, I think he could.

 

To be fair, this fight is a complete fluke. Foreman almost stopped him but for some strange reasons he started to get huge facial injury. I doubt that fight proved how limited Foreman was.

 

I don't think it's a fluke at all, Stewart showed heart against a big puncher, and came back to IMO earn a draw. Foreman shows his brilliant jab, his power (and therefore lack of finishing ability) as well as a brilliant chin. However, Foreman struggled when the quicker guy got in his bike, put combinations together and countered over his jab.

Old Foreman is very overrated IMO anyway, though. We are talking about a guy who lost to an AIDS ridden Morrison, lost every round vs Moorer before the KO, and should've lost to Shultz. His performance vs Holyfield is also overblown, as he really only won 3 rounds or so. He may have wobbled Holy, but Foreman was more hurt than Evander was in that fight.

 

I agree with your overall point - old Foreman is overrated. I still love watching his fights though, he had such a nice style!

 

Still it's pretty impressive that a 45-year old had big powerful sluggers half his age like Morrison and Briggs running for dear life.

 

I'd like to see Norton-Holyfield.

 

In my humble opinion

Norton vs..
Tyson w ko 1 Norton
Lewis wko 2 Norton
Bowe wrsc 8 Norton
Old Foreman wko 6 Norton
Moorer l ko 10 Norton
Old Holmes lun 12 Norton
Mccall wpts 12 Norton
Bruno w ko 5 Norton
Mercer l 12 Norton