Anyone Give Norton A Chance Against Vitali??

He was an arm puncher

 

Bloody hard arm puncher.

 

fair response. I disagree with some points but I’ll take it.

 

Ken Norton had a slightly longer reach than Vitali. He was able to match Ali jab for jab, which is why he gave Ali so much trouble. And Norton's overhand rights that blew out a few folks would certainly be a punch that would give Vitali trouble.

Vitali didn't face many fighters who could jab with him. Lennox Lewis could. And Lennox pealed the whole left side of Vitali's face off with basically his jab alone in under seven rounds.

On the other hand, Norton fought arguably the two best jabbers in heavyweight history - in Ali and Holmes - and matched them punch for punch.

Over 12, it's basically a toss-up. But for the reasons above, I would give Norton a slightly better chance of beating Vitali.

If it's scheduled for 15, depending on how bad Vitali cuts, Norton might even stop a blind Vitali with those overhand rights.

 

Bingo!

 

Good analysis, once Norton takes away Vitali's jab he'll be open to the overhand right. Could be the Lewis fight all over with Vitali a bloody mess after 8 or 9. I have always thought Vitali was overrated , he beat such limited fighters.

 

Well the major flaw in your sanders argument is that Norton was completely shot when he fought Cooney and Sanders fought nothing like Cooney. Sanders waited to land a big left from the south paw stance while Cooney was an aggressive body attacker whose main ko punch was the left hook. Cooney was 6'6 and Sanders 6'4 so I have no clue how you thought sanders was taller.

Sanders is certainly not more skilled than Norton. Faster and harder hitting? Sure, but those are athletic qualities, not skill. Norton outboxed Ali and Young and narrowly lost by SD to Holmes, 3 of the most skilled boxers of all time at HW. Sanders has nothing remotely close to that other than stopping a young Wladmir which was more about power than skill. Stamina is no comparison. Norton could go to war for 15 rounds still having snap in his punches up to the last round. Sanders was slowing down and sucking air in 6 rounds with Vitali and Rahman.

Yes Hide was fast but in terms of actual accomplishments and overall skill level it wasn't like he was a whole huge tier above Shavers and certainly not superior to 70's Foreman. Hide had a weak chin and Norton has just as much of a chance stopping him. Seriously, name me one performance of Hide at HW that makes him vastly superior to the guys who stooped Norton in his prime. You're confusing talent with actual skill and accomplishments.

None of the guys Kirk Johnson beat were as good as Norton. That's not even debatable. Norton is as high as top 15 and rarely lower than top 30 on most people's list. Kirk Johnson isn't even on most people's top 50, let alone his opponents.

 

Norton had an excellent chance. Vitali is a big arm puncher. Not a knockout puncher like his brother. It's a distance fight barring Kenny's underrated jab cutting up Vitali.
Norton had a good defense and he could bother VK with that crouch, cross armed defense and his quickness and counter punching.
I favor Norton.

 

Vitali is a big ugly arm puncher. Norton's hands are gonna be so much quicker. This dude was matching Ali's quickness. Vitali already doesnt have the greatest coordination but he is gonna be slow as Molasses

 

Vitali SD12.

 

Vitali had an excellent trainer in Fritz Sdunek who trained and improved many fighters. I just never understood why he could not help improve Vitali's technique.

 

Vitali TKO 8-9. If he boxes it's a more difficult fight, where he wins narrowly or loses on points to Norton. It's Vitali's fight to lose imo.

 

It is awful