Do you consider Ken Norton a true heavyweight champion?

Initially I would have said "no". But the more I think about it, the more I sway towards yes. In my opinion he beat a good/decent Ali twice and arguably beat one of the greatest of all time in his peak Larry Holmes. I know that fight was extremely close, but that's my point. The losses to Foreman and Shavers sucked real bad however. I would consider Norton a true heavyweight champion though. He was the only guy that Ali never really figured out. That's a lot.

 

I don't consider Ken a lineal champion but he was definitely a top 5 seventies heavyweight and top 30 all time heavy in my opinion. I liked him a lot.

 

Yes he won aversion of the title so as much right to be called champion as any in the 4 champion era. Top 50 all timer

 

He was a club level guy with a good corner- nothing more.

 

Keep repeating that like a self affirming mantra to yourself, a repetitive process that is specifically employed to bypass nagging obstacles like facts, logic and critical thinking - features that your statement steers well clear of.