Did Norton deserve a shot at Ali?

I think you may be a little mixed up here as their first meeting wasnt a world title fight, it was an NABF fight.

Regarding his shot against Foreman, yes he did lose the rematch with Ali on a SD but many thought he won the fight and he was there on merit i suppose. He was as legitimate a challenger then as there was at the time

 

No, Ali was by far and away the most deserving, but of course he got his shot in the next fight. But Quarry was quite possibly more deserving as well. Since his loss to Ali he had had a really good streak.

 

I take your point on maybe Quarry, but if Ali was most deserving, and norton beat him once and (in some peoples mind) arguabley won the second, then doesnt he deserve to be at least on the same plain as Ali regarding a title fight. And as you already pointed out, Ali got his shot in the next fight.

Bit of food for thought. lets say Norton DID beat foreman (i know, suspend your disbelief and bear with me) would Ali have got a crack at the rubbermatch straight away? If not then who? Quarry? Or would kenny have had an easy money fight first?

 

Bok,,

I think you're right. Jerry Quarry should have gotten a shot at George Foreman.

But, the money wasn't there just yet, for a Foreman vs. Ali fight.

The money for the Foreman vs. Norton fight was much less.

 

In Ali's autobiography there is this rather interesting story about Ali getting a guarantee for 5 mil for a rubber match between him and Ken if Norton should win the title. He tries to get in contact with Norton before his fight with Foreman, but just fails. Instead he tells him right after the fight and Norton breaks down and cries when he gets the news.

Ali's own take is that Norton would have beaten Foreman had he gotten the news before the fight.

 

Yeah, it was too soon for an Ali-Foreman fight. Ali had just beaten Frazier and I don't think he even would have wanted another very tough test so soon after.

Quarry have a right to feel a bit shafted, though. It would be interesting to hear his thoughts on the subject. I mean, he had been a top contender for some 6-7 years without getting a shot at the undisputed title and just came off the best run in his career. Foreman himself has said that he wanted no part of Quarry and I believe it likely that his camp saw Jerry as a difficult stylistic match-up that they rather kept clear of.

 

Too bad for Jerry Quarry, clearly comeback fighter of the year in 1973.
Should have gotten a title shot in early-to-mid 1974.

George Foreman's take in his Title fight versus Ken Norton, a mere $700,000.

Muhammad Ali, who was their in Caracas, with the other 9000 fight attendee's,
said, Ken Norton should have used a stick and run style for 5 or 6 Rounds.

 

Yeah, but backing up was never his strength.

I think Quarry-Foreman really would have been a humdinger of a fight. If Foreman neglected his jab (which was very good) in this one, he'd be in trouble.

 

I would like to think Jerry Quarry could make it through 4 Rounds (1974), but
thats about it.
Jerry was a face-first fighter by then, not too much on the defensive-wizardry.

It would have been a good fight at Madison Square Garden.

 

He fought very well in the pocket against Lyle. The big bangers where those he generally performed best against (MacFoster, Shavers, Lyle). I think Foreman should use the jab to prevent him from getting the rythm in his counterpunching going.

 

1974 was a lost year for Jerry Quarry, and that pretty much destroyed any chances
of a Title shot, and ruined his career.

Very foolish to put him in there with Joe Frazier.

 

Yeah, they must have felt that Joe was washed up. Big mistake.

 

That what was flying around, Joe Frazier was getting pushed around in the ring
during his sparring sessions in Philadelphia.

Gil Clancy said Joe was ready to be taken out.

But, despite Jerry Q's 1973 comeback, he was somewhat shopworn and was clearly showing visible signs of his decline (his speach was somewhat slurred).

Boxing (absorbing heavy punching) is a bad businness to be in, when you're over 30.

 

I've known a few people who've got this mixed up. Also,after evening the score against Norton,Ali wanted to do the same with Joe Frazier. Ali-Frazier 2 was fixed up,so Foreman signed for the Norton defence first.