Ali vs Norton 3

You mean 15th round where Norton chased Ali around the ring? Finally caught him in the last 30 seconds or so. What did Ali do in that round? It should have never come down to the last round.

 

In my opinion, Ken Norton should have received the decision in his third bout with Muhammad Ali. Norton was making the fight and landed most of the meaningful blows.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Did you even watch the last round? Serious question. Ali was outjabbing him. Norton was getting anxious and throwing punches that were missing by a while. He landed NOTHING of significance until the final couple seconds of the round. I don't understand why you think this is a clear cut round for him when he ADMITTED he lost it.

 

I remember when the Sept 28 1976 fight was shown on CBS on prime time on Nov 5 1976. Jack Whittaker was the commentator. Muhammad Ali at the end of the contest looked as though he had lost, Norton looked as though he had won, before the decision was announced. Then Whittaker made a comment on how Ali was soon have to confront Father Time, which Ali did, a year and a half later.

 

That's not what a prime, top 5 ATG named Larry Holmes said, either.

 

I know it was scored close, but every time I've ever seen the Holmes - Norton fight I've scored it about 10-5 for Holmes. It must have looked a lot different from ringside.

 

Holmes took all the first 6 rounds imo. That was really dumb of Ken. However, Ken ended up showing his champion's heart again and again in that fight. I have him no. 20 ATG, above Patterson, as unpopular as that might be.

 

Number 20 ATG is a very fair assessment.

 

Yes I've watched it many times. Ali was flicking out jabs that were short, up on his toes moving. Ali was just staying away. We both know those were not solid effective punches. Norton easily slipped, blocked and parryed them.

Did you see the last part of the round? When Norton catches Ali in the corner and hurts him with 2 or 3 solid punches. The only real punches scored. Norton was the aggressor and he landed the only significant shots. So let's give it to Ali.

Again it should have never been about the 15th.

 

Norton did not hurt him at all lol

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See the footage for yourself. He landed 2 or 3 punches flush that had no effect on Ali (rest were blocked). That doesn't erase the minute and a half earlier he stood around doing nothing while Ali was hitting him with jabs.

 

You must have had seats right behind Wilt Chamberlain. You missed what happened in the ring.

 

You could argue the 2nd fight for Ali and have a decent case. This one not so much.

 

You can make a "decent case" for either fighter in this bout.

 

I gave Ali the last round because he looked really sharp with those jabs. I don't think Norton hurt him much. But each time I've watched this fight I gave it to Norton by two points. I thought he definitely did enough to win. I wonder if Ali had a psychological thing about Ken after he broke his jaw...

 

Agreed. All this nonsense about Norton hurting Ali is easily disproved by film of the fight. He didn't even look remotely hurt, or even bothered.