Ken Norton vs Jersey Joe Walcott

This notion that Norton is somehow too big for Walcott is ridiculous. Joe Louis presented almost the same physical picture and Walcott beat him the first time.

If Norton should win it would be due to stylistic advantages and not mere size.

 

Hed be too strong for walcott, norton was a physically bigger man than louis maybe louis hit harder but not as physically strong as norton

 

Yes, he'd be stronger than Walcott and that's relevant, but Walcott's faced guys like Ray, Louis and Marciano before who are at the very minimum comparable to Norton in strength.

Louis stood 6'2" and weighed around 212 pounds when he came up against Walcott. That's an inch and 5 pounds (if that) separating him from an in-shape Ken Norton-- hardly a huge difference! Strength might contribute to the loss but strength alone is not going to win it.

 

I am not sure how important physical strength would be against Walcott to be honest.

It also has to be noted that Walcott beat some bigger men than Norton such as Hein Ten Hoff.

 

Yes you are right but that and the also norton being a very capable fighter would probably be too much for walcott,even though he was only slightly bigger than louis he was a naturally bigger man he fought holmes at 220 and was still ripped

 

It should perhaps be noted that Walcott himself was no slouch in the physical strength stakes.

I forgett who it was but one common sparring partner said that the only person he ever faced who was stronger than Walcott was Sonny Liston.

I have picked Norton here for stylistic reasons but I would not discount Walcotts chances against some guys as big as Norton or bigger given the right stylistic dynamic. I would give him a good chance agaionst George Foreman for example.

 

A difficult pick. This one. True, Norton was taller and heavier. But stronger? By how much? Study some of Jersey Joe's pictures and you might change your mind about Ken being way stronger. Marginally stronger would be a much more accurate definition.

Now Ken had a way with the boxer types. But while he was able to give them loads of trouble, surprisingly he was never able to dominate them. This a fact which no one seems to have noticed. The Ali, Holmes and Young fights all tell the same tale.

Now Walcott was not exactly in the Ali, Holmes or Young mold. Granted that all of them were slick boxers. But while Holmes and Young tried to model themselves on a young Ali, Walcott never heard of Ali when he was coming up!!! Jersey Joe was a real cutie who had his own style. In fact, Ali might have picked up an idea or two from ol' Jersey Joe.

Norton had good success when Ali went to the ropes or when Ali, Holmes or Young tried to jab him. He was not so successful when they were in the centre of the ring moving and boxing him. I feel that Walcott relied on the jab less than Ali and Holmes. Plus, he had more punching power than Ali, Holmes and Young. The punch which decked Marciano would at least rattle a crouching and incoming Norton, don't you think.

A boxer who could cope very well with the punching power, accuarcy and hand speed of Joe Louis should be able to deal with the power of Ken Norton.

And don't let the difference in size here bother you too much. If Jersey Joe had fought in Norton's era he would have been heavier by, say about 7 pounds. So it would ahve been a 205 Walcott vs a 215 lbs Norton. Hardly a huge difference.

By the way, Jersey Joe was comparable in size to Jerry Quarry. Now if you see how well a faded Quarry did against a peak Norton while the fight lasted, you are left thinking what might have been had Quarry been younger with all his qualities intact. Also gives you some ideas about Norton vs Walcott.

I have made up my mind. Joe Walcott close UD over Ken Norton

 

Norton had a good style, an aggressive awkward style and I think he gets off to a good start vs the boxing style of JJW However I see Walcott get more comfortable as the the first 3 rds pass and he Drops Norton with a accurate pin point punch in about the 4th. or 1st 3rd of the fight this puts Norton at bay and put joe back on his side to side slip and slide movement...Norton try again to ralley in the 6th and catches Walcott with a few but Joe comes back with a few of his own and start catching Norton with a a few power shots backing up but JJ is content on winning a UD and does not go for the KO...Walcott 7-5 ... 8-4.... 7-4-1 I saw Norton/Young and thought Jimmy edged it but Young did not have the offence WALCOTT had

 

Norton, likely by knockout, but I won't pick a round.

 

I favor Walcott by early KO.

Despite being the slickest heavy in history, Walcott seemed to struggle against tough smothering fighters; Layne upset him and Marciano knocked him out after a tough fight. An unorthodox big man, Norton was a great athlete who made up for his lack of huge ko power by frustrating jabbing boxers with his crab stance, pressuring them into close quarter wars where his volume punching would take a toll. In that sense, he is a great match up for Walcott.

Norton busting up Holmes in the Championship rounds.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHSTSh-ypcw[/url]

But unlike Ali, Young, or even Holmes, Walcott had dangerous two fisted one punch power.

Walcott doesn't let Charles take him to the cards again.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZRKASFWsWw[/url]



I think Walcott would know that a 15 round war with Norton would weigh heavily against him and like he did against Marciano, would come out with both guns blazing in search of an early knockout. Can Norton survive the early ambush? I don't know. Norton struggled on the back paddle and was prone to freezing up against aggressive punchers. I think the deceptively heavy handed Walcott stands a good chance of taking him out early. And don't give me that size crap, Norton got KOed by a 180 lb fighter he took too lightly.


Walcott's hot start against the durable Rocky

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBRilCUg90E[/url]

 

Janitor...It was Willie Reddish. Reddish, Listons trainer said "The two strongest heavyweights I have ever seen were Sonny Liston and Jersey Joe Walcott". Reddish fought Walcott back in 1938.

 

you are right if JJW starts fast he has a great chance at stopping Ken early..

 

I met Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson, Patterson,Walcott, Holmes, Dempsey,Tunney and Walcott and I was impressed with Frazier ( square think neck and Walcott, thick neck head shoulders hands....Dempsey was bigger than I thought but old still impressive but Walcott and Frazier did not look normal they were the kind of guys you would have to shoot