I watched roughly 30 minutes of selected action of the fight, with interviews from various trainers. For those who have not seen Norton vs Ali I, you should. It is seldom replayed. To say that Norton thrashed Ali is an understatement. Norton's jab was there all night. He doubled it at times, landed hard hooks to the jaw, and threw wild over hand rights. Ali landed from time to time, but his best did not bother Norton much. Norton defense was able to pick off / check some of Ali's blows, and his head movement avoided others. But what surprised me was Norton's hellacious body attack. It was on par with Frazier's. I felt that Norton had Ali in trouble a few times. Most notebably in the 7th and the 12th round. A good score card is 7-4-1, but somehow the judges had it much closer. There were no knockdowns, but that doesn't tell the entire story. Ali was dead tired from those body shots. His jaw was broken and post fight cameras show a concerned Dr. Ferdie Pacheco looking at it while Ali is stretching his jaw in discomfort. Ali was not on steady legs either, and had to be escorted back to his dressing room. I dare say if this was a 15 round match, Norton might have knocked Ali out. An Ali' apologists will say he was 8 -10 pounds too heavy. Maybe so, but as I said before Ali's had trouble with jabbers at all stages of his career. Ali also had issues with sustained energy in the 1970's. These were flaws of his that Norton explotied. Futch told Norton to go to the body, and jab when Ali jabbed. Those body shots really bothered Ali. The hooks to the jaw had Ali's covering up on a few occasions too. And remember, Norton beat Ali before Ali made his legacy by beating Frazier or Foreman.
Whilst I have little doubt that Kenny would always have given Ali severe problems because of his style and fitness, which also later was to severly test the mettle of great pure boxers like Larry Holmes and Jimmy Young, if Kenny felt he had little to fear from your armoury, he was very tenacious indeed, perhaps as a hang over from the first Garcia Match, Kenny did look a bit "Sweaty" at pre fight instructions if you carried a decent wallop and was prepared to go hunting for Kenny, Perhaps the timing was never right, but Kenny's camp never seemed to mention Mac Foster or Ron Lyle as opponents, or on the way up fellow prospect (for a awhile ) Jeff Merritt, They would of made interesting matches if it would of been possible to of made them, but perhaps not sound bisness sense, Kenny may well have beaten them, particularly Merritt, but Kenny's attitude did seem a tad more cautious against punchers,...but as stated, give him a "Boxer" who he felt could not hurt him and Kenny became a Dreadnought. Ali for his part, in regards to this 1st fight with Norton was ill prepared physically, but this was borne of being ill prepared mentally, Ali apperently spent more time on the golf course then the Gym, as i recall he has tweaked an ankle so couldnt run (was the excuse) basicaaly Ali was complacent by now, he had been on a global Roadshow, cruising past an assortment of opponents, some Quarry, Patterson and Chavalo were Ho..Hum going over old Ground...Bugner was a young Pup to cuff around, Buster Mathis was a more mature underdog to cuff around, Al Blue Lewis was an ex Spar-mate, as Was Ellis, Bob Foster needed slapping back down to Light Heavy, and Blin and Mac Foster were Holidays for the boys in Switzerland and Japan respectively, these were not untalented fighters, and Ali beat them all in a Canter...was it any surprise he felt Norton would go the same way ? Ali also suffered with painfull bersitus to the Knuckles at this time i understand, which often caused him to often Flick punches, but as long as he entertained the Fans these fights kept him in touching distence of top shape pending Mr fraziers availability, This Time Ali was Treading Water in a Whirlpool It was really an Ambush waiting to Happen, and even then, without the Jaw problem Ali may well have pulled it out... But once Norton and his camp Scented an upset was on, and Ali was unable to remove that Jackpot aroma from Kenny's Nosterils the writing was on the wall...
Norton went after Leon Spinks. Spinks refused to fight him, so Norton fought Jimmy Young for a WBC title elimination match. Norton won a close fight. When Spinks again refused to fight Norton, the WBC stripped Leon Spinks. Norton vs Holmes was set up for the WBC title match. A match with Lyle or Foster would have been very interesting. I tend to think Norton would have won both matches.
Nice description. Norton proved to be the real thing by giving a top- shape Ali all he could handle in the rematch. I personally believe Norton was kryptonite for Ali because, especially at this stage, Ali had no body attack but was always head hunting, thus exposing himself to the counter.
AREA 53 has said it beautifully. Just what I thought, always. Norton had just the style to always trouble Ali. If memory serves me right, I think both Ali and Angelo Dundee acknowledged the same thing in interviews. It is also interesting how Norton would have done against Mac Foster or Ron Lyle. Norton never did well against a real power puncher but always put up good shows against pure boxers. I think Norton might have succeeded against Foster if he did not get caught but I would not be too sure of his chances against a prime Lyle.
