How Good A Performance Was Norton, Going The Distance With Holmes?

It was an 8. Kenny put up a great fight.

 

Holmes wasnt a big puncher. His reign was very underwhelming too.

 

If a 10/10 is something like Ali-Williams, Louis vs. Schmeling II / Max Baer, Tyson vs. Spinks or maybe Dempsey vs. Willard, then I think 8/10 seems to fit for Norton here.

 

Ken put up a great fight. Especially as he was past prime.

 

It was an amazing performance. At least an 8-9 out of 10.

 

Great effort and IMO added to his legacy.

 

He was always in a position to punch, The most damaging punches come from momentum outside the stance. Norton never left his guard unless it was pressed, He was always ready to parry the jab and he was really difficult to draw out and counter if you had an arsenal almost made up of all straight punches, he may not win against these types but was almost never in trouble truthfully against them. If you pressed the issue and took him out of his comfort range he fell apart. Ken really was not very ring savy and never learnt to cope against the type of fighters that feasted on him.

 

I dont think the fight was that close certainly not a split decision imo. Manny rounds Norton did nothing other then walk forward while being peppered with punches with that said he still did better than expected but i wouldnt classify his performance as a great one.
Also think this fight is overrated it has a great final round and some good action here and there but for most of it Holmes was in control.

 

Probably 9-10. Ken Norton was 35 years of age and nearing the end of his career. He was facing one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and showed up in possibly the best shape of his career to wage war.

 

Honestly if Norton was younger I think he'd have beaten Holmes with the same effort.

 

I thought in the fight Norton actually looked. He gave a great effort, but to, he looked like he was on the downside of his career.......which turned out to be true.

 

10. It was a great performance.