Usyk Against Norton..A close run thing?

Norton has everything needed to beat Usyk.

 

Norton was a tough guy no doubt. My opinion on Usyk beating him is not a knock on Norton. I just don't see him beating him.

 

Norton could be quite relentless. His disciplined, forward-moving offense, heavy punching and frequent attacks to the body, make him a genuine threat. He also wouldn't fade in the second half.

Norton would likely look very effective against Usyk for all 12 rounds.



Norton W UD 116-112

 

I think it's a similar close coin-toss to his fights against Ali and Holmes.

 

Well if there is a top 20 and you’re 1-5 and Bob is 20…

 

70s nostalgia is strong with this one

 

Feints, angles and moving… so literally every fighter?

 

Yes. Oleksandr is a great fighter at this time. He has made a believer out of me. If he hangs around, somebody will get him. Whoever it is needs to move to his own left, consistently and forcefully!

 

Norton did have the overall skills and style in particular to give Usyk a tough fight.

When Norton achieved his own rhythm, he could get great leverage and power behind his barrage of punches.

One such, single punch taken by Randall Cobb…saw Cobb himself rate as being no less in power as compared to the single best shots he took from Earnie Shavers.

Usyk is a giant killer no doubt but move him back from the slow moving behemoths and and put him up against similarly sized and far better skilled ATGs or excellent fighters of the past, the mission becomes that much more difficult.

Norton also had a terrific jab which could cause big problems - if Usyk could negate that jab all well and good - but it’s not a lock that he could render Norton’s jab to the point of being impotent.

I’m not of the group that believes Usyk is necessarily weak in the body - but Norton knew how to attack the body also - he doubled up no less than concrete abs Ali within a single shot to the bread basket……

 

It's incredible how fresh he still looks at 38 years old. He had 350 amateur fights with most of those fights at the highest international level and he won his first world title in his 10th pro fight.

 

Controversial decision!I have it 116-112 the other way.I’m surprised by a lot of these comments,Usyk is one of the most beloved fighters on this forum.

 

He hasn't always been. A few years ago, the suggestion that Uysk was a special fighters was met with mockery on the classic forum. Things change though when you have a world champion that has fought and beaten the two best fighter's in his division not once but twice each and on their home turf.

Ali and Louis will always be considered the greatest heavyweights ever. They simply transcended boxing and have earned that high praise. Usyk is in an era that is far less appealing and boxing simply is not as popular as it was in other era's. All he can do is figjt the best of his era and that is exactly what he has done. He simply has a skillset that we have never seen at heavyweight.

 

Usyk has always had a strong following from certain quarters, and this has widened as his exposure has increased.

There's not a lot to dislike, really. However, boxing has a very rich history and, outside of perspectives rooted in pure fandom, it's difficult to assign the label of 'unassailable' to him in speculative heavyweight match-ups.