Who Else Could Kenny Norton Beat...?

Yeah Weaver would have a puncher's chance. Norton-Witherspoon would be a really good bout.

 

Good observation. But I don't think he could beat today's big 255 pounders. Norton really was a big cruiserweight.

 

Big John Tate and Michael Dokes.

 

He was a better puncher than Foreman or Shavers. His punches were sharper and faster and more accurate. Not as heavy but just as deadly and more likely to land. I don't think Ken Norton would stand much of a chance against the great Joe Louis.

 

Yes, he was approximately of their caliber.

 

Great points, Magoo! But didn't Larry have an injury going into the fight?

 

I’ve read about him having a torn bicep or something

 

I think it'd be easier to ask who he wouldn't beat. Because that list is going to be much smaller than the greats he could beat which is most of them.

 

Tony Tubbs would be dangerous

 

Wilder has been as light as 213

 

In shape, yes.

 

If they fought a trilogy of 15 rounders, I'd favor Ken Norton to come out ahead of a heavyweight Holyfield.

 

Muhammad Ali stopped George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston (twice), Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry (twice), Ron Lyle, Jimmy Ellis, Floyd Patterson (twice), Zora Folley and Cleveland Williams ... he could punch.

Larry Holmes stopped Muhammad Ali, Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Bonecrusher Smith, David Bey, Leon Spinks, Renaldo Snipes ... he could punch.

Jerry Quarry stopped Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster, Thad Spencer ... he could punch.

None of them stopped Norton. Norton was only stopped four times in 50 fights, two at the very end of his career. That's not bad at all.

In fact, Norton stopped Quarry, broke Ali's jaw and beat him, and went 15 rounds with Holmes and lost a one-point split decision.

So, I'd say Ken Norton had a good chance to beat every man who ever held a heavyweight title.

If he could beat Ali and take Holmes to a 15-round split decision, and they are two of the best who ever did it, Norton was big enough, had a great power jab, and had the KO punch to do fine against anyone.

The Klitschkos hated to be jabbed, as did Ali and Holmes. They didn't like jabs coming back at them. It hrew them totally off.

On a good day, I could see Ken beating Ali, Holmes, and either Klit. Fury, too.

Ken's jab is underrated. It kept him on equal footing with Ali and Holmes more than anything else.

 

Holmes and Holyfield come to mind. He was past his best and that fight with Holmes was real close. Roll the clock back on him a few years and he'd win at least 1 out of a trilogy with Holmes. Same goes for Holyfield.