Floyd Patterson Versus Ken Norton

I’ve gone back and forth on this one. Both men were vulnerable to big punchers but I don’t know if either had the type of tools needed to make the other fold. Probably be a good boxing match

 

I like Kenny's size and strength over Floyd's speed and combination punching. Floyd has his moments but Kenny's body attack and pressure grinds Floyd down.

 

While Floyd Patterson had the better skillset, the quicker hands and the better left hook, Ken Norton was hell of a body puncher with an awkward defense. This fight could turn out to be a tactical contest by both combatants, the hand speed by Patterson could befuddle Norton early in the contest. But the body punches by Norton could negate the snap in Floyd's rapid combinations by mid fight. Ken's body work begins to control the pace. Ken Norton by a split decision in a contest that resembles Norton's slim victory over Jimmy Young on Nov 5 1977.

 

Norton hit plenty hard enough to stop Floyd imo.

Patterson is flashy early on and wins the first 3 with some good lefts and defensive strategies. By the 5th he is visibly slowing (Norton's stepped-into jabs and body punching aren't helping). By the 6th Floyd is taking heavier and heavier fire. In the 7th Norton finally gets his full swing on and starts bombing hooks and overhands. Floyd goes down twice, gets bounced all over the ring and mercifully stopped late in the round.

 

While I like your post, I remembered that Floyd Patterson withstood bombs from George Chuvalo in Feb 1965 and Oscar Bonavena in Feb 1972, and defeated both.

 

I’ll be the odd man out then & pick Patterson - though I’m certainly sympathetic to most of the points being made here in Norton’s favour.

Some of Patterson’s later, post-title performances tell you he was better than many estimate. Very winnable fight for Norton certainly, but I fractionally lean to Patterson’s handspeed, combination punching, & deceptive power - though either man can hurt the other.

Patterson SD15.

 

At the beggining I was kinda undecided, but after a little thinking I am placing my bet on my man Norton.

Both were vulnerable to a big punch, but I think Patterson was way more vulnerable. A guy who got decked seven times by Ingo has the label "fragile" tattoed all over his chin.
Furthermore, Patterson is the smaller fighter here and his cute gazelle punches are not going to stop Norton, who would be all over Floyd.
Sure Floyd has a puncher's chance and a very slim chance of outboxing Norton; but in my opinion a bigger, smart and unorthodox fighter as Kenny was is going to be too much for Patterson.

This fight most probably goes the distance, but Norton is money here and wins by UD.

 

Maybe. Sounds realistic. Close fight. Could go the other way, too. I don't see either man winning by KO.

 

Fifteen rounds? Wow, very punishing bout. I think Floyd would like to take Norton out in the first four rounds but I'm not sure he can do it. Norton is awfully strong. I'm glad this fight never took place. I'm too much of a Floyd fan to want it.

 

Same here, I remember the Norton vs Young fight on Nov 5 1977. Many in the media claimed that Jimmy Young would stop Ken Norton because Young dropped and decisioned George Foreman on March 17 1977 and Foreman flattened Norton on March 26 1974. I knew different because styles make fights, Foreman in the Young bout was post Zaire. I won $10.00 from a classmate on the Young vs Foreman fight.

 

If it were Patterson vs Young I'd be extremely confident. Patterson would take Jimmy apart easily. I have no doubt. But Norton poses problems for Floyd. To win he'll
need one of the best efforts of his career. I'm not saying he can't do it. But it'll be grueling and if it's a 15-rounder it's gonna take a lot out of my guy. This must be post-Cus. He wouldn't take this match.

 

Nah, I don't see this happening. I see it going the distance, a battle of attrition. I'm plenty worried, I admit that.

 

I can't put it any better. Just the scenario I envisage.

 

If Norton H2H didn't realistically lose to Ali, I doubt he would lose to Patterson, considering Patterson isn't a big hitter.