Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton - the true scoreline?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by themostoverrated, Feb 8, 2024.


Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton, how would you score the fights?

  1. Ali 3-0-0 Norton

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. Ali 2-0-1 Norton

    1 vote(s)
    2.6%
  3. Ali 2-1-0 Norton

    6 vote(s)
    15.8%
  4. Ali 1-0-2 Norton

    10 vote(s)
    26.3%
  5. 1-1-1 Split

    6 vote(s)
    15.8%
  6. Ali 1-2-0 Norton

    4 vote(s)
    10.5%
  7. Ali 0-1-2 Norton

    1 vote(s)
    2.6%
  8. Ali 0-2-1 Norton

    1 vote(s)
    2.6%
  9. Ali 0-3-0 Norton

    8 vote(s)
    21.1%
  10. 0-0-3 Split

    1 vote(s)
    2.6%
  1. themostoverrated

    themostoverrated Active Member Full Member

    554
    646
    Feb 9, 2022
    Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton three times and won twice. There are however those who feel that Norton got robbed once or twice. What according to you was the true scoreline? Answer the poll.

    Call it sacrilege, but I am going with Ali 0-3-0 Norton.
     
    Smoochie and Pat M like this.
  2. KINGWILDER

    KINGWILDER Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,789
    2,595
    May 11, 2023
    Have it 1-1-1, although I could see strong arguments for 2-1 either way or 3-0 Norton. Ken was all wrong for Ali and it showed in those fights. Still, considering this Ali did extremely well.
     
    Smoochie and ikrasevic like this.
  3. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,517
    10,687
    Aug 22, 2004
  4. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,574
    11,328
    Mar 23, 2019
    I have it 1-0-2. Norton clearly won the first, Ali the second. I had Norton winning the third by two points, but I can see a draw there.
     
    Smoochie, RockyJim and swagdelfadeel like this.
  5. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,105
    12,105
    Mar 2, 2006
    As did I.
     
    salsanchezfan likes this.
  6. Rollin

    Rollin Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,794
    5,975
    Nov 17, 2021
    Had it 3-0, but I could easily see it scored 2-1 either way, especially with how fantastic Ali looked in the second fight.
     
    Stevie G likes this.
  7. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    13,364
    17,916
    Oct 4, 2016
    I believe Ali solidly lost 2 out of 3.
     
  8. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,876
    3,219
    Nov 26, 2020
    I believe it turned out the way it should have turned out. Anyone who thinks it was 0-3 is just blinded by Ali dislike. I guarantee you Norton would have ramped up things in the final round at Yankee Stadium if he’d had it to do over again.
     
    Smoochie, Stevie G and swagdelfadeel like this.
  9. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

    18,311
    19,100
    Jul 30, 2014
    I agree. I still can’t believe people think Norton won the second. Norton himself admitted he’d lost.
     
    Smoochie, dmt, PRW94 and 1 other person like this.
  10. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,876
    8,015
    Jul 17, 2009
    Spot on,Swag.
     
    swagdelfadeel likes this.
  11. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,876
    8,015
    Jul 17, 2009
    In my opinion Muhammad won the second one and Ken the first and third (And Ali's my favourite boxer of all time)

    A lot of the rounds were close though. At last watch my scores for all three were as follows -

    7-4-1 Norton
    7-5 Ali
    9-6 Norton
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2024
  12. Paul McB

    Paul McB Member Full Member

    277
    512
    Apr 28, 2023
    I thought Ali won the second,Norton definitely the first and I thought he edged the third.
     
    Greg Price99 likes this.
  13. jabber74

    jabber74 Active Member Full Member

    940
    998
    Oct 5, 2012
    Did "The Greatest" truly win any of those fights really? Many do not think he did.
     
    ikrasevic and Reinhardt like this.
  14. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,876
    3,219
    Nov 26, 2020
    And I have tried and tried and tried to see the two- or three-point spread that some folks see in the third fight and I just ain’t seeing it. It was a razor close fight and Norton acting like he had it won in the 15th round is on the short list for worst moves ever by a boxer.
     
    Smoochie, Stevie G and swagdelfadeel like this.
  15. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

    18,311
    19,100
    Jul 30, 2014
    The overwhelming majority believed he won the second fight. Norton VS Ali II | Boxing News 24 Forum (boxingforum24.com)

    Ali had literally triple the number of votes for Norton (some of whom thought the poll was referring to the third fight which is why they voted for Norton).
     
    Stevie G likes this.