I'm not really seeing 1 round. Norton had but a single 1st stoppage over anyone with a winning record. Bobick is considered by many to have had a glass jaw.
Relatively easy fight for Norton. L. Spinks had nothing for him. Now Michael might be a horse of a different color
Y'know, I never felt that about Bobick. What I did feel was he was the ultimate slow-starter - which is really amazing since he had a stellar amateur career. But watching him as often as I could back in the day - and using his bout with Young Sanford as a yardstick - he really wouldn't get started until the 4th round. And outside the George Chaplin bout, which was stopped on cuts, he appeared to be fodder for a fast starter. It was Norton in 1, Tate in 1 and Knoetze in 3. Just my musings on the subject of Bobick.
Norton could box a bit too and Spinks was effectively awkward. For me Norton hasn't got the punch to likely get him out in 1. Spinks was no glass chin even if it wasn't anvil. A one round crushing KO is a big big call in just about any fight. To each their own tho of course. I'm also taking into account with Bobick - 1. Bobick couldn't avoid an overhand right to save himself. 2. Bobick had very poor chin. 3. This was a grudge match. Norton was bitter and extremely determined due to what had transpired between he and Futch with regards to Frazier and adding to this Frazier was managing Bobick. Futch had predicted an early stoppage for Bobick, was claiming inside knowledge, said he had chased Norton as he knew Bobick would beat him, that Norton can't take a punch to the body, that Norton is shy of being hit and really bagged Norton's resume to be frank. He had Norton pretty wired.
He could certainly be taken out early couldn't he. Good points. I still don't think his chin was much as evidenced by how little it took him to get buzzed. Having said that he also said he went in a bit cold and not fully ready blaming Futch not spending enough time with him leading up to the fight as he had several fighters on the undercard. There was probably a lot of factors involved in that first round axing.
Norton would-be terribly pumped to fight an eight fight novice for a title robbed from him in his last fight against Ali .. I think he;'d be at least as up for it was he was against Bobick. Spink easy to hit, a pure street fighter who sprang out at the bell ready to brawl, was made for him .. I know you're big on Coetzee's power but to me his Spinks fight was about a near rank amateur who was a small heavyweight and very hittable with a decent chin for a cruiserweight getting in the ring against much more experienced bigger men .. Norton ( and many others ) would have done the same job on Leon ... Ken Norton was a very decent puncher at heavyweight when he teed off and he'd have crushed Spinks ..