Prime Larry Holmes vs. 1973 Ken Norton

How would Holmes have fared against the prime hungry version of Norton who fought Ali twice in 1973 ?

 

I personally think because of their styles, Holmes-Norton would always have been competitive. In 1973, Holmes was not as advanced as the fighter he became years later, but he may still had the skills & quality to beat Norton.

Holmes has said for a long time that while he was Ali's sparring partner, he knew how to beat him, would get the better of him, etc. I personally think Larry was kept a secret to a certain degree years before he actually won the title. If he'd have been given a shot before 1978, I think Holmes would have won the title earlier.

I reckon it goes all the way to the wire like their actual encounter did.

 

Holmes 1980 outpoints Norton 1973....

 

I'll clarify, I didn't intend to ask how a 1973 version of Holmes would do.

I'm talking a prime Holmes (1978-'82) against a 1973 Norton.

 

I see this as very close to there '78 encounter. Possible draw.

 

I would personally take Holmes, around 1980, over Kenny who beat Muhammud. Larry was in better shape than Ali who I feel lacked proper conditioning. Muhammud never could beat Kenny anyways even when he was in shape.

I see Larry drilling his way to victory, punishing Kenny late in the fight with wicked crosses to the head.

 

I think the Holmes of late 1979 and 1980 could take Norton. His muscle wouldn't be torn so his left would be 100%, not 60%, and Norton would have a tougher time with the faster and harder jabs comming at him. Basically same fight, just with Holmes winning a ud.

 

There are a few things that should be noted here:

A. Holmes did not reach his peak until 1980-1982

B. Holmes fought Norton with an injured arm

C. Norton was coming off one of the best winning streaks of his career, hence could have been very close to his prime despite his age.

D. While Norton gave great boxers hell, great boxers did the same to him in reciprocity.


I think A peak Holmes who defeated men like Cooney, Berbick and Shavers between 1979-1982, could have repeated his performance against a 1973 Norton. Sure, It might have been a better Norton, but it would also have been a better Holmes, if we actually compared them in their true primes. In addition, a 1973 Norton was pretty much a nobody until he upset an unsuspecting Muhammad Ali, therefore could have been in the developmental stages as well.

Norton had stylistic advantages that would always give Holmes trouble, but Larry was simply in a higher class of fighter at the end of the day.......

 

This is how I see it. I also feel Holmes would have bested Ali, Foreman or Fraizer in 1977, and any one of these fights happened, Holmes is a sinch for a top five all time great.

 

Larry would beat Ken in a very close fight.

 

I'd take Holmes buy a little wider margin but definitely not a blowout. It seemed like Norton had a threshold as far as the punching power of his opponent and Holmes wasn't quite the puncher (although a pretty good right hand) to knock Norton out. Norton fought some huge punchers and didn't fare well.

 

Larry uses that strong jab to win 10 out of 15 against Ken for that UD.

 

Well we all know the Norton that fought Holmes was not prime so are we talking about a prime Holmes vs a not prime Norton or are we talking the Homes of the Cooney fight vs the Norton of the Ali fights....who wins that one.....very close call maybe closer than their actual fight

 

I knew in my loins that it would be ThinBlack when I saw the thread from a defunct poster.

 

I wonder how much this torn muscle thing really affected Holmes. Larry seemd to be punching hard,fast and often with both hands in the Norton bout.