Norton is the better boxer, but Wilder has too much dynamite in his mitts, plus a significant height and reach advantage.
I know norton doesn’t match up well with power punchers but there’s huge gap in skill here. Wilder is off balance, not good defensively, has no boxing skill, and has no idea how to handle pressure. He also doesn’t know how to fight on the inside. The only way wilder is winning this is by catching norton coming in, but if norton can avoid that right hand I’m seeing a tko win for him.
I agree, Toney. Norton was too skilled for Deontay. But Deontay certainly had a puncher's chance. Norton TKOs Wilder in 7 or 8 at the latest.
Ironically, I think they both have some tools to make the night utterly miserable for the other. On one hand, Norton's skilled pressure will absolutely give Wilder fits. But if Wilder does connect, he could easily change the fight on a single shot, and could do so even later into the fight if he's down on the cards. I lean towards Wilder pulling off what looks like a fluke win while Norton commands the fight up until a hard straight right finds its way through his defense. But I'd be cheering for Norton, and I would not be the least bit surprised if he pulls it off in the way you've detailed.
Norton stops him. I see Kenny getting on the inside, breaking that body and then the rest will fall. As mentioned here, Wilder does have a geniune puncher's chance. Wilder is in my view probably a Top 5 All time puncher of all time. However, and as I have already said before his 2 fights with Fury, Wilder never really learnt how to box, lacking fundamentals.
This is a very good match up. Both men seem to have eachother's foil, and they both seem troublesome for one another stylistically. I think I like Norton here though, tentatively. Sure, 12-15 rounds is a long time to not get blasted out by that right hand, especially when most of it is spent getting inside Wilder's reach. I do think his jab and strength is enough to offset Wilder's horrendous balance and set up Norton's power punches. Wilder, while a tremendous puncher, doesn't really back people up, which is what you needed to do vs Norton.
I think Wilder nails Norton and takes him out. Norton was the more talented guy, but I don't think he could have taken the power.
To me the fight is close, mostly because Norton is moving forward throughout the fight and Wilder can’t load up. I have Norton winning via TKO and slightly ahead on the cards. Wilder gets an 8 count in the 11th and is stopped after he is downed again.
I like Norton more...but I don’t see him beating Wilder! I like Wilder to stop him between 5-8 or so.
