Max Schmeling - Ken Norton?

Norton. Too much speed size and power

 

Max would in all likelihood smash him. Big boomer right would have Norton tumbling like a gymnast.

 

I don't think Norton was faster or more powerful than Joe Louis, so it can't be that easy...

 

Interesting matchup! I'll go with the general consensus. Max has the better resume for sure.

H2H is a tough call, leaning slightly towards Norton but I wouldn't want to bet on it!

 

Mr. Magoo’s Brain in Rich Murrieta’s body is my next thread

 

I like Max S in this matchup - crafty and a powerful sneaky right hand that could hurt Ken and keep him hurt and backing up (which Ken was never good at)
Ken's best chance would be to jump on Max early and use his strength to push Max back and not let him prepare to target the right hand and take Max out of him game

Close matchup and interesting style match up, but I give Max the edge because of his pinpoint rights

 

If you watch the first fight with Louis, Schmeling fights a very smart fight. He gives Louis a target for the jab the whole fight- because he wants Louis to throw the jab. He eats a good number of jabs but his defense against other punches is pretty exceptional.
Louis looks to counter the Schmeling right hand with a right uppercut- Eddie Futch made this his signature, he taught it to all his fighters- but Max catches in his right glove. His cross arm defense allows him to catch the Louis hook aimed at his liver in his left hand.
Kenny Norton was no Joe Louis. He wasn't as skilled, he didn't hit as hard, he wasn't as fast, he wasn't as smart.
I think that Max would hit Norton with right hands all night long.

 

Are you upset? Really, Those type of threads are rather Corny. Maybe I will remain on he Lounge than have to endure childlike Science Fiction Threads and Fan Boy Threads. Ha Ha.

 

I’m sorry

 

I think some of the stuff here is bit slanted in Schmeling’s favour.

Listing Norton’s best win as being against a post exile Ali doesn’t tell the whole story.

Post exile Ali was still an extremely formidable force, regaining the title no less and that version still reasonably calculated to prevail over many HW Champs who came before him.

Norton gave Ali hell over 3 fights, including the fittest, 212 lb version of Ali in fight 2 and Ken arguably won the rubber. An old Norton also gave another top tier ATG Holmes hell.

Not be biased in Norton’s favour, just providing some balance.

Citing the loss to Foreman is problematic - there are many who would’ve fallen to THAT Foreman - including the most durable of fighters - and several (other fighters) in fact did during George’s actual first career.

Max of course was a great fighter but he has already been well spoken up for.

His win over young Louis was huge.

A strategically clever win but one that included and relied upon tremendous durability, focus and courage - not entirely dissimilar to that exhibited by Ali in Zaire - both men (Max and Ali) still had to cop some serious licks before seeing their way through to victory.

 

No sweat, I am sorry too.

 

Excellent post.

 

I have to ask, why would being successful against a wider range of styles give you a H2H advantage when you are not stereotypical of the style they had trouble against? Null and void for me.

 

There's not a bee's dong between these two resume wise. Norton has a great win over Ali and quite a few believe he won the third bout too. If he gets that his legacy is certainly enhanced. He also went life and death with a prime but pre peak Holmes while well past his own peak and has some nice wins over contenders. Schmeling has a nice collection of wins too culminating in Joe Louis. Their wins over Ali and Louis are somewhat comparable as neither opponent was at their very best. Toss a coin or go for whatever era you might feel bias toward.

H2H i'd back Norton but it's an open affair. Norton's height and reach advantage would be backed up by an underrated jab and quite tidy footwork against non monsters. He's hardly slow with his hands either and will sport around 25 pound weight advantage with no flab to speak of. Schmeling has an excellent right hand but so did Ali and Holmes and Norton gave them no end of trouble and they also matched him physically. I could see Norton via a competitive decision or even latter type stoppage. Max is quite skilled in there and sports good variety so he'd be a live dog.

 

Oh because Max landed right hands on a plodding , walk forward in straight lines , pre-prime Joe Louis means he would easily do the same to the polar opposite , herky jerky , zig-zag moving , extremely awkward Ken Norton? ydksab