Ken Norton's Chin

Right on. What people never account for is with Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney is this: Foreman also knocked out Frazier and Lyle. Lyle has never been accused of a paper chin, and usually Joe isn't either. Also, Shavers knocked out Ellis, Young, and Bugner all real fast, but for some reason they're "tough guys" and Norton's not. Cooney knocked out equally washed-up Young and Lyle, both of whom are tough, but Norton's chinless. It's ridiculous. Look at the bombs he took from Quarry and Cobb.

 

I never thought his chin was bad, his style is just pretty useless against power punchers

 

His chin is definitely underrated. I'll give it a solid C - maybe C+.

 

Really, all pressure fighters are useless against power punchers. Pit the best of 'em against Foreman: Marciano, Chuvalo, Frazier, Norton-the result would be the same every time. Foreman TKO.

 

He didn't just look useless against Foreman, Cooney, and Shavers. He got bounced around by the significantly lighter Garcia as well, decked in the first round, and staggered multiple times before getting knocked out later in the fight.

Chins in boxing are as dynamic as the different types of punching power. It's not something you can just apply blanket rules too. Norton seemed to struggle moreso against aggression than power in general. His crab defense just wasn't very effective against it and was more adapt at absorbing punches while moving forward, then while moving side to side, backwards, or cornered.

Norton's best performance against a puncher is actually Bobick, who he just jumped on and didn't give a chance to mount anything.

 

This. Norton’s chin wasn’t bad at all, but he like Frazier foolishly underestimated Foreman and paid dearly for it on fight night

Standing directly in front of Foreman and not using angles or staying in close so Foreman doesn’t have room to punch is asking to get demolished.

Even Larry Holmes himself , who had a very good chin would get demolished by Foreman if he stood directly in front of Foreman like Norton did and barely threw any punches.

 

good post

 

Norton and Frazier were simply made for losing to Foreman. They don't get started until the fifth. Np except George has made no plans for it to last more than two...

 

The man went the distance with Jimmy Young. Jimmy Young hit George so hard he made George believe in God. I think we can shut the book on this one.

 

Norton tended to freeze vs big hitters, that was his biggest problem. As far as his chin, it wasn't bad or good. Probably just below average is best.

For example Ali hurt Frazier a few times. He didn't hurt Norton once. Holmes who finished most of his title opponents, took Norton the distance in a hard fought contest.

 

Norton was 16-0 and new little to nothing about Garcia (Who did?). A classic case of inexperience, getting caught cold in the first round and never quite recovering.

A more experienced and stronger Norton returned the favor to a just as aggressive Garcia, with interest, in their rematch.

 

I too have always felt that the notion of Ken Norton having a “weak” chin was overstated. He actually took a lot of direct hits from men who could punch. And some of the guys who stopped him were exceptional punchers

 

Ken Norton was kayoed by Jose Luis Garcia on July 2 1970 in round 8. He was then blasted out by George Foreman in 2 rounds on March 26 1974 in Caracas, Venezuela in a bid for the World Heavyweight Title. He was also kayoed by Earnie Shavers, later by Gerry Cooney in the geriatric stage of his career. Muhammad Ali was never known as a feared puncher, Jimmy Young though quick and awkward, lacked any kind of a punch. He defeated a youthful George Foreman, who lacked the stamina to go beyond round 5 with anybody. Ken was also very awkward with his style but his style left him open to a big right hand. He was even staggered by Jimmy Young in their Nov 5 1977 bout, in the WBC title eliminator. But he was a very talented fighter and actor.

 

The match is on YouTube. Norton abused an out of shape Garcia, pushed him backwards, hurt him early and kept him on the ropes. Just another example of needing to press the action.

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