Andy Ruiz Jnr vs Ken Norton (12)

Bobic definitely does as well as Stander and probably Ali. Ruiz has cement feet, and Norton is better in the pocket when Quarry pressed him all the way to the ropes. Ruiz has educated pressure and his feet move slowly because he's obese, Norton can beat him, Ruiz doesn't have foreman power or footwork, and Ruiz has much wider hooks than Quarry

If you want to get technical thats a temple shot, not even a shot on the chin, He couldn't hurt a 40 year old Arreola, drop Parker, ko Liakhovic, put away Lawrence, and couldn't take out a geatric legless Ortiz, his legs were gone and Ruiz almost lost that fight. But anyhow it was a good win, Nortons resume is better

Luis Ortiz was actually shot unlike Quarry. He had no legs was is probably about 50 years old. Ruiz dropped him 3 times because Ortiz could barely stand but andy couldn't finish him because he's not a big puncher, got outboxed for over half the fight and the knockdowns saved him from losing a decision. Norton is just fine.

 

I can get behind Povetkin or Ibeabuchi stopping Norton, but Ruiz ? I can't see him having a good chance. Someone like Samuel Peter probably has a better chance at beating Norton due to his sheer power

 

Stander may (or may not) have hit harder than Ruiz, but good gracious, look at the man box.

Bobick you have a better argument for.

 

Yes but the head butt he'd suffered earlier had clearly affected him throughout the bout. Without it, he wins imo.

 

Norton should have won the title vs Ali 3 but was robbed.
On the contrary, Joshua was always the A fighter in all his fights with everything in his favor, including who he fought and when. He was also excellently positioned as Martin's first defense, lol.

 

For me, the best version of Parker is the most recent one from 2023 to today, with much more desire and attitude for victory than in previous versions.

 

Ali was nothing special by 76 if we're being honest. BTW Norton would get smoked for the title in 77 by Shavers under this alternate history.

 

A lot of it is due to opponent selection (past prime and out of shape). Ruiz is still the best h2h fighter he beat.

 

If the headbutt weren't called a knockdown and the round were scored for Parker, it would've been a draw. Whyte was also allowed to hold excessively in the 12th.

 

He didn't fight anyone like Ruiz at all. I know what Ruiz can do and his limitations. Ruiz couldn't convincingly beat a shot dinosaur with no legs just because Ortiz was more skilled simple

 

He couldn't replicate the same success against a glass chinned Liakhovic and got outboxed by a fossil with lego legs. Norton can do better than that. Ali would clear Ruiz resume. joshua would get wiped by at least 2 guys on Nortons