Why did Ken Norton's jab trouble Ali so much but Liston's didn't?

Everything I've seen lists Norton, Ali, and Holmes as 6'3". Could be a bit off I know, but I haven't seem them billed differently?

I also see Foreman billed as 6'3", but standing next to the others, you can see he's a bit taller. He's probably a legit 6'4".

Modern day, there's no way that Fury is 6'9". I've seen pics of him standing next to Lennox Lewis and he doesn't look that much taller than Lewis. (side note, I found a hilarious pic of Lewis standing next to Pac, Jones, and Khan where he looks like freakin' Shaq compared to them)

 

Back in the day, when Ali (then Clay), was introduced as an up and coming fighter, the announcer said, 'Clay, 6'2½'', Banks blablabla'. You can find it on you tube. As a boy in the mid 1970', I remember Norton being billed as 6'2½'' in the magazines, when there was no internet. I have no interest in manipulating the truth. Foreman was introduced as 6'3'' and that, I believe, is correct. You know, promoters and tv-stations have a common interest in making the fighters slightly bigger in order to sell the fights. We could go on and on. No way was Frazier 5'11½', he was around 5'10'' or so, the same applies to Mike Tyson. When Norton met Holmes in 1978, he was billed as being 32 years old, when he actually was 35 years of age. Best regards, Niels.

 

Tyson is probably 5'8"-5'9".

I remember Holyfield originally being 6'1, and then he somehow later became 6'2 and 3/4.

 

With steroid use, Evander's head swelled up like Barry Bonds, like a balloon. That accounts for his height increase.

 

Their is zero chance Tyson was 5'8". Even 5'9" is a stretch. I'd estimate 5'10".

 

Longer jab means more reach, more reach means trying to maximize it, which means a longer distance for the fist to travel, for someone like 60's Ali against someone with far less speed like Norton that means he's got days to move and counter, 60's Ali makes a fool out of Norton

 

I'll say Tyson was between 5'9'' and 5'10'' - If you study his fights you will learn, that he was very small overall, but muscular for sure...

 

This is an interesting question, first off, Liston is more textbook, Ali found it easier to read, also, Norton is better as a pressure fighter and he used the jab in a pressure kind of way, he wasn’t bothered about being in the range of Ali’s punches, as long as he could land himself, Liston was on the outside too much, also not changing levels to set up the jab, no feints, Norton was more deceptive there, he’d lean to his right to seem out of range and pop the jab from the position, and like I said, it makes it easier for him to land it if he’s not bothered about being in range himself, Norton also has a great right over the top, so whilst he’s leaning to the right, you’re worrying about the right over the top, and it makes it easier for him to land the jab because he’s got you preoccupied with the threat of the right over the top.
At the end of the day, it’s different styles and with this said, I absolutely would not pick Norton to beat Liston.

 

I've been within 3 feet of Tyson he is more 5'10" than 5 '8" or 5'9".

 

Bar the usual reasons, it's far easier to jab with somebody to frustrate them and break their rhythm. Especially if you have a drilled rear hand defense, like every crossguard user would. Liston would likely, age aside, try to more dominantly control the fight with his jab which is a harder endeavor.

Also, it's pre against post exile Ali. Different pros and cons. Once he took away Ali's jab, Kenny could force engagements on his terms against the more stationary opponent. Liston would still find his version of Muhammad moving and circling.

Best fighters against '66 the Greatest would be a Sandy Saddler type of fighter. Reaching, clawing, mauling, and occasionally leaping in fighter with murderous punch and a granite chin. That, or a well-conditioned counterpuncher elite enough to catch the less-experienced but more athletic Ali while he is leading or countering himself. Staying on your toes makes it more painful to get hit, as there is less control over your entire mass and you don't get to bend with or brace for the shot.

 

Speed

 

If this was true, Patterson would’ve given Ali fits.