Why do fighters like Tommy Morrison, Michael Moorer and Ken Norton

It is necesary to take into account who these fighters were stopped by and how much of a sustained beating it took to do it.

Getting knocked down a lot is not necisarily a sign of a bad chin because it often means that you get up a lot. If you judge a fighters chin by how many times he is knocked down then a fighter who comes off the deck three times to win a fight would have a worse chin than a fighter who just stayed down and got counted out the first time he was knocked down. Also fighters with more fights against world class oponents will tend to get knocked down more than fighters who go up against weaker opposition.

You are verry fond of repeating that Joe Louis had a bad chin but the facts simply don't back it up. The only two ocasions when he was knocked out were after sustained beatdowns over the course of a fight. Nobody ever took him out with a single punch or combination as happened to Morrison, Moorer and Norton all too often. It should also be noted that half of his profesional fights were against fighters curently ranked in the top ten by ring magazine so that is an awfull lot of chances for people to capitalise on this suspect chin you refer to.

Lennox Lewis was taken out by a single punch from Hasim Ramhan but again it is necesary to make some alowace for his level of opposition. Lewis had a lot more fights against ranked oponents than men like Morrison, Norton and Moorer and he fought in an era where there were a lot of big punchers. It is probably fair to say that Lewis faced more punchers than any other lineal champion.

As for ARchie Moore his level of opposition should speak for itself. If you think you can fignd a fighter who could engage in 200+ profesional fights against that sort of quality of oposition and not get stopped then good luck.

 

I also think Tommy's approach to those respective fights was a big factor. Bentt was a no name guy that Morrison faced in his hometown. He was his usual self throwing reckless abandonement and got tagged.
Foreman was the known danger zone. I dont think anyone would have guessed Morrison could actually box like he did for 12 rounds. A lot of that had to do with Foremans incredible lack of speed, but it was still pretty suprising.
The same can be said for some of Lennox Lewis' approach to a lot of his fights. The guys he had little respect for got him into trouble at times.

 

Good points. They wouldn't be the first fighters to fall victim to that, and they certainly won't be the last.

I'm still suprised Tommy actually boxed as well as he did in the Foreman fight. Makes me kind of pissed off that I saw it and got a glimpse at what could've been if he'd focused like that for every fight. :thumbsup

 

Then I guess you won't see me telling everyone how a ban is on your wayatsch

Only kiddin chaps, this guy brings me enormous comedy value.

 

lol

Wlad has the best resume in the division outside of Holyfield. Look at the last five years. In his last nine fights, he's fought seven ring ranked top 10 hws (4 southpaws), beaten three current world champions, 4 undefeated fighters while losing only a few rounds.

Morrison is the one who is a fraud. He got blown out anytime he stepped up then fought a string of cans to build up his record. He always struggled against mediocre competition. He never improved on his weaknesses like Wlad did. The chin is just part of it...Wlad is given more acclaim cause he's just a better fighter.

 

I have seen Morrison hurt by Yuri Vaulin, Joe Hipp, Ko'd by Mercer, Lewis and Bent down 3 times, Dropped by Rudduck, no Shame but dropped 2 times by Purity and down 2 times vs Carl Williams...He had some talent but when pressured always seemed to wobble....had a decent defence at times and a very good hook but needed a chin transplant in order to fight the punchers or a set of wheel and movement like he did with the prehistoric Foreman.....

 

Tommy may have had a bad chin but it was incredibly exacerbated by virtually no fight plan. He just went after Bentt with wide haymakers leaving huge openinga. He gassed himself against the anvil-chinned Mercer rather than pace himself against what would have been a perfectly willing opponent. The only fight plan he carried out at a high level was against Foreman. Also, his focus tended to be non-existent. He partied his ass off and expected his talent to carry the day. That works at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds but not at the MGM.

 

Foreman was slow thats why he lost against younger guys that boxed him even if they werent pure boxers. Morrison got away with it because Foreman was slow. Foreman was successful against guys that stood in front of him, one the reasons Morrison was chosen in the first place. While Ill agree Klitsko doesnt have the greatest chin either Morrisons was garbage. For the record Wlad was never knocked into the next week like Morrison was on a couple of occasions.

 

I also happen to think that Morrison is better than often given credit for, but a lot of boxers party and still become or continue to be successful.
Morrison was an exciting fighter with some genuine ability, but I don't think anyone can seriously argue he was fed a steady diet of ham & eggers for most of his career.

His stamina issues and suspect chin were always his biggest problems, although Seamus makes a good point about lacking a good fight plan most of the time.

 

It was. Bentt was a powderpuff puncher.

 

:good

 

Wlad also got up everytime he was hit but I never said he had a steel chin. What Vlad does do well is follow a fight plan and he no longer looks for the KO, he waits for the KO to come. Manny Stewart taught him how to relax and he has a tight defence. Vlad has good foot movement an excellent jab and a rocket right and a very good left hook. Tommy had a hook but no plan fought a dumb fight against Mercer and Bent like Vlad did vs Brewster 1 and Sanders ( he took Sanders lightly and Sanders was avoided because he was a fasthanded, fast starting southpaw banger...but since then Vlad has been more carefull and uses his offence very well....Tommy was never consistant and not at Vlads level which is evident....something was missing with Morrison