Meh... Another one of those "A niche or erratic fighter from my favorite era would run though an era I don't like" threads. Pass.
I think Buddy Baer would get hammered like Bobick did. Maybe not in one, but Norton would bash him in similar fashion.
So do I. But in regards to this question, I narrowed it down to Farr, Schmeling, Nova, Baer and Walcott. Others were good like Pastor and Conn. Both did not have the kind of punch that would worry Norton. Galento's leaping left hook and rough-housing could cause problems but I see Norton slashing him to ribbons as I see him also doing to Mauriello. Godoy was durable but see Norton on points. Regarding the 5 I picked who had a chance with Norton, I don't think Farr had the kind of punch that would bother Norton. Baer had the punch and size that could give him a fight, but Buddy fought so small it was ridiculous, never taking advantage of his reach or leg span. I see him as an open target for Ken's overhand right. I think Ken and Nova would be a very good fight with Ken prevailing. Max and JJW are curious ones. Max is capable of setting a couple of counter-punching traps for Ken, which makes him dangerous. However, as mentioned in the OP, this is the fighter who actually met Louis and Max was almost 33 at the time, so I lean towards Ken. As for JJW, a hard punching counter-punching master, who was actually in his prime at 33. I believe JJW takes Ken out in this one with a counter bomb in a really good fight.
That's what I see on this list Walcott and Schmeling as might being able to beat him. Walcott would have to be very slick and Max would need to nail Norton with his right. Both have a very good toolbox to get the job done, but I wouldn't bet on it.
I saw that fight live on The CBS Sports Spectacular on Nov 5 1977. I thought that Jimmy Young had the snappier punches, he rocked Ken Norton once and gave him an abrasion under his eye. But the awkward and quicker Young connected more to the body punches of Norton. I was surprised by the verdict. But in retrospect, Jimmy's style in the past turned off a lot of judges. Remember the fight against Muhammad Ali, the year before.
Yes...there's no version of Ken Norton that Jimmy Young wouldn't have bamboozled and beaten. I grant you that it would have been close, but a win on points for Young nonetheless.
Like I wrote in a prior post, if Jimmy Young had been given the verdict, then he would have fought Larry Holmes on June 9 1978 as champion, instead of Ken Norton.
Yeah I was going to say Max, though he technically wasn't a challenger. I'd confidently favor him over Norton.
