What was it about Ken Norton that made him so vulnerable to certain fighters: Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney, the big lumbering Irishman? All scoring quick KOs against him. In all other losses he gave a very good account of himself, only narrowly losing to Ali and Holmes. Foreman even said once: “kinda afraid of Kenny Norton because of that physique.” What good were all those muscles?
He was old for Cooney, Foremans a monster puncher and Shavers again is a monster..I don't think his chin was as bad as made out to be..
The Cooney one was just because he was old Norton had terrific boxing ability and knowledge, which gave pure boxers like Ali and Holmes fits, but he had no chin, so guys with massive punch power like Foreman or Shavers just ran over him. Guys like Ali and Holmes didn't have the power nor agression to KO him, especially when Ali's jaw was broken. Id still say that prime Ali can KO Norton
Agreed that he was past it for Cooney. The Shavers fight was a surprise, though. We thought Shavers was done. He was supposed to be a tune up for Norton prior to a Holmes rematch. But that fight revealed that the Foreman KO loss was no fluke.
You know Ken Norton was the same age as Ali right? If you are going to say Ali was old at 29 or 30 then so was Ken Norton. Ali was in his prime up until around the Shavers fight. No boxer unless he is hurt or had tons of wars which Ali didn't have at that time would be old at 29 or 30. Ali could never knock out Norton and could never beat him either. Ali best win/wins in his career came because of luck against Foreman. Foreman didn't take Ali seriously and lost. No Ali did not lay on the ropes on purpose and Ali stated that numerous times. Ali beat Frazier once Foreman destroyed Joe and he was no longer the same fighter. Sonny Liston is highly overrated by casual fans and was past his prime.
His whacky crossed arms defence left his chin open to big punchers. Which Cooney, Shavers and Foreman were.
Norton was stiff as concrete. He just didn't have the ability to roll with shots or relax in the ring.
I’m going to have to assume that there’s some weird typo here. “Ali was in his prime up until till around the Shavers fight.”?! How do you define prime?! Is “prime” until the point that your long-time Doctor walks out on you because the CTE signs can no longer be ignored!? Ali should have retired after Manila !
In his book Norton simply stated that any man hit clean by Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney is going to get knockout out.
Norton could only fight coming forward with that "foot in the bucket stance" ,against big punchers he was all at sea because they forced him to back up.
Not even a hint of that happening. Ali met a man with belief, similar size, and good skills. He was Ali's true nemesis