thoughts on this matchup please? ill take baer here as norton is short on chin and when max isnt clowning hes a dangerous man, and he aint clowning in this one..
The Baer that lost to Braddock and Louis is decisioned easily by Norton. The Baer that ko'ed Schmeling destroys Norton.
Dangerous situation for Ken if this is a best for best showdown. Max had 20 round stamina to go with power from both sides. A shot Jerry Quarry failed to evade anything, yet absorbed everything a primed Norton could throw his way until succumbing on cuts. Ken has nothing to hurt Maxie with. The reverse isn't true. If this goes on for any length of time, Norton should accumulate a lead. At some point though, Max would unload a bomb, Ken's deer in the headlights, "This guy can hurt me!" realization would kick in, and his composure would crumble. Max had 15 knockouts in the first round, and 14 more in round two, while Norton was a slower starter than Frazier against anybody not named Bobick. There's no kind of assurance Ken would have a chance to produce a lead before he got flattened. Watch what Max does to Comiskey again. He's not going on the front foot to initiate the attack. Like Ingo, Max was perfectly comfortable retreating and drawing his prey in before lashing out of nowhere to knock the poor sucker senseless. Ken and Eddie Futch had success exploiting Ali's predictability. There's nothing predictable about the madcap one. Unlike the savage Dempsey, bullies Liston and Foreman, and coldly efficient Louis, Maxie's power was coupled with a lunatic mind. :silly Put Mae West or Myrna Loy in his corner as the promised reward for beating Norton, and I'd bet the rent on Maxie, even if Pam Grier was Ken's reward for succeeding.
Baer could win one out of three. He'd come to the first fight with serious intent,and stop Ken. Norton to win the next one. For the third,I make it a pick 'em fight.