Peak Ken Norton vs. Peak Jimmy Ellis

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Jan 6, 2021.


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  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think this would be a fascinating bout and a good one all the way. Ellis liked a fast start, and I think that's all Norton would need 2 make it into a good fight. Ellis was a good fighter, I love him, but he didn't have the power to beat Norton, and Norton had superior stamina to Ellis imo. It would probably be similar to the Ali-Norton II bout I would imagine. Ellis would make it more of a brawl than Ali did. Ellis would have success in the opening 3 rounds, but Norton would come on like a classic pressure fighter and I think win a comfortable MD. Most of the basis 4 my decision 2 go w/ Norton are:
    1) stamina-Norton completed 3 15-rounders, and he looked great in all of them, esp. later on. Ellis on the other hand did 2 15-rounders, the Ellis one we cannot accurately judge. Aside from that, I can never recall Ellis looking 2 impressive past a 10th round.
    2) Ellis' most clean-cut loss in his brief heavyweight prime was 2 Frazier, who was a pressure fighter. Whether u think Frazier and Norton were similar or not, u cannot deny that of the men who troubled Ellis in the late 60s and in the 70s (Patterson, Frazier, Ali, Shavers, Bugner, Lyle), Frazier was the only pressure fighter, which is clearly what Norton is. Norton has the tools 2 exploit Jimmy's worst problems.

    The one thing that makes me not go w/ Norton 100% is Ellis' unpredictability. When Ellis fought Martin and Bonavena, he was a boxer-brawler. But then when he fought Quarry, he was all boxer. Then when he fought Chuvalo he did a Holyfield-style hit-and-run performance. Against Shavers, the puncher. Ellis' versatility I think could possibly earn him a close victory. However, I still go w/ Norton.
     
    William Walker, Jan 6, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 6, 2021
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  2. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Norton by 7th round tko (and I'm being generous). Ellis was a decent boxer with a good right hand but he couldn't have kept Norton off him. The first few rounds would be Ellis', but he'd be doomed from the fifth round until the end.
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Jan 6, 2021
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Jan 6, 2021
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  3. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hmmm...tbh I hadn't imagined anyone being that generous w/ Norton.
     
    William Walker, Jan 6, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 6, 2021
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  4. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Norton by TKO 10th. His defense was tighter and he was stronger.
     
    ETM, Jan 6, 2021
    ETM, Jan 6, 2021
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  5. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Norton, thr stronger guy breaks him down.
    Kenny by ko before 9.
     
    Fergy, Jan 7, 2021
    Fergy, Jan 7, 2021
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  6. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Perfectly even fight.

    While Ellis was a "poor man's" version of Ali, and Norton showed he could take a boxer like Ali's jab away by jabbing with him, Jimmy Ellis was a "much better" inside fighter than Ali. Watching Ellis really plant his feet and dig hard shots to the head and body against opponents was always impressive to me. Michael Hunter - the current heavyweight - reminds me of Ellis in that regard. Just really digs in up close.

    Norton was good on the inside if he could pin a guy on the ropes and work, but Ellis could fight on the inside in the center of the ring.

    Depends on if Ellis can keep his back off the ropes and the fight near the center of the ring. I think he could do that against the back foot-dragging Norton.

    Toss-up.
     
    Dubblechin, Jan 7, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 7, 2021
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  7. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    It would look like the Jimmy Young vs Ken Norton fight on Nov 5 1977. Young appeared to out box Norton early, but Ken won down the stretch. His body work would take down the mobility of Jimmy Ellis. Norton by TKO 10.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 7, 2021
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 7, 2021
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  8. BoxxyMcBoxface

    BoxxyMcBoxface Member Full Member

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    If Norton gave Ali problems, he definitely would have given Ellis even more.
     
    BoxxyMcBoxface, Jan 7, 2021
    BoxxyMcBoxface, Jan 7, 2021
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  9. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ah ... that's the trap. When Norton gave Ali trouble boxing from the outside, Ali would cover up and go to the ropes. Young did, too.

    Ellis was an excellent inside fighter. If Ellis could floor Bonavena with a hook, he could give Norton problems. He'd just have to keep spinning off the ropes.
     
    Dubblechin, Jan 7, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 7, 2021
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  10. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Does anyone know, where there ever plans 4 these two 2 fight? Ellis was still fighting a lot of big names from '73 to '75, and it's a tad surprising he never fought Norton.
     
    William Walker, Jan 7, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 7, 2021
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  11. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    I've always considered guys like Ellis and Quarry to just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Both really good boxers who's opposition was pretty elite. If these 2 guys were in their prime in the 90's, 2000's, or even right now their careers would most likely had gone very differently.

    Norton IMO is on that list of the elite in that time. Norton was just too good and too strong for Jimmy. I don't see Ellis making it to the 6th or 7th rounds.
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 7, 2021
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 7, 2021
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  12. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Norton only lost to Foreman and Ali in bud prime and gave Larry Holmes as good as he got, well almost when he was definitely past his best. Ellis obviously isn’t comparable to Foreman stylistically, but the fact he was at least 2 or 3 levels below Ali & Holmes I would have to favour Norton by a late stoppage.
     
    Webbiano, Jan 7, 2021
    Webbiano, Jan 7, 2021
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  13. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    good point; It's funny, I just unfollowed u yesterday (not cuz I didn't like u; I just don't talk 2 u that much). Already thinking about following u again.
     
    William Walker, Jan 7, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 7, 2021
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  14. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    There's also cruiserweight to bring up. If cruiserweight had existed around the time Quarry and Ellis were fighting, they would have dominated.
     
    William Walker, Jan 7, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 7, 2021
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  15. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    That Holmes fight was incredible! Fun fight to watch.
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 7, 2021
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 7, 2021
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