Depends on when it happened. If it's prime for prime, I take Norton to put Leon on the back foot and stop him quick and easy. It's in late 77, Norton is probably still good enough to do something similar, but it'd be a real dog fight if he can't. If it's in late 1980, I take Leon. Norton by that point was seriously declined, and Spinks had just given one of his best performances vs Mercado. Stylistically, Spinks could put Norton on the back-foot and that's the place where Norton started to fold. I think that version could potentially out-do the efforts LeDoux and Cobb put in. Maybe not though, the safe bet is Norton. It'd be a great fight. RIP Leon.
I would favor Norton, and that poses another interesting question. If Norton defeats Spinks, and becomes the new lineal champion, then what happens to the lineage? I could see a couple of people holding it before Holmes got his hands on it.
Norton KO 1. Norton would have destroyed Spinks and no one knew it more than Ali .. he was petrified that Spinks would give Norton the shot he was promised as the top contender after the Ali Spinks fight and Norton would crush Spinks .. then Ali would have to fight Norton for the title and he knew at that stage he'd never win it back ..
Norton by KO. Very bad matchup for Leon. Spinks wasn't a mover or boxer, and he wasn't a big enough puncher. He was a volume guy, didn't really hit hard enough to hurt or deter Norton, would not have moved enough to get away, and Norton hit hard enough and was relentless enough that he would tee off on and eventually wear down Spinks.
I have it close. Either man by sd. Maybe a draw. Spectacular heavyweight fight from one bell to the next.
You thought that much of him and you didn't know. All over sports news, social media, thread on here. I'd get that arm sewn back on if I were you.
Which gives Leon a good chance. Leon was usually a very fast starter, you recall it cost him terrible losses at the fists of Coetzee and Holmes? I think a much more accurate view of this fight, considering both men being at their best, that Spinks takes the first three rounds. Norton steps on his gas pedal in the 4th. There would be a helluva lot of see-sawing through the next twelve rounds. Norton was a wiser boxer, with less of a tendency to mis-pace himself, but Spinks was overall, more dangerous throughout the fight. Their stamina in the late going was both great, but I think Leon's was slightly better. I may seem to be favoring Leon, but I'm not. I still think a Norton victory is equally likely. I just don't think a fast blast from Norton would be that probable. I don't even think Norton stopping Leon late is very realistic either. Leon was never stopped late cuz of his excellent stamina, and furthermore, Norton never stopped anyone past the 10th round, and when he did it was Larry Middleton. Not much of a comparison to Spinks.