Does Anyone Here Feel Norton was Robbed VS Holmes?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by turbotime, Jun 1, 2012.


  1. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

    42,571
    3,764
    May 4, 2012
    Thoughts on this? Whenever I get talking about Larry and the heavies someone ALWAYS brings up the Norton fight, saying he was robbed. Not sure if this is attributed to Norton upsetting the standards oor anything, but would just like an opinion on this.
     
  2. BUDW

    BUDW Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,928
    825
    Nov 23, 2007
  3. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

    38,042
    7,560
    Jul 28, 2004
    It was pretty even to me for 14 rounds..Holmes took it by narrowly nicking the 15th.
     
  4. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,432
    32
    Dec 18, 2011
    ditto. no robbery either way and norton's heroic last gasp
     
  5. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    56,246
    10,722
    Jul 28, 2009
    Absolutely not. If anyone calls "robbery" on a fight that hotly contested, I dismiss their opinion outright. That's silly ****. I'm big on Norton but I think he started really putting his best in a bit slowly and Holmes pushed through and took it in a classic. Fresher, faster and better by enough.
     
  6. gentleman jim

    gentleman jim gentleman jim Full Member

    1,640
    56
    Jan 15, 2010
    I don't think Norton was robbed necessarily, but I thought a close fight went to the champion. Ali was given that priviledge against Norton in their third fight which was close(and which many people there that night thought Ken won) but Norton lost the title by the closest of margins against Holmes the challenger. I always felt that the powers that be....or were at the time just didn't want Norton as their champion. I think they felt he just didn't have the charisma to draw a large fan base the way Ali did. He was useful as a dangerous opponent to a big name like Ali's but that was it and Boxing is a business after all and businesses require revenue to survive which is why Boxing was happy to let a young talented fighter like Holmes win the title and bring in a fresh new fan base and let the the aging warrior go back to useful opponent status. Was kenny robbed? I don't think "robbed" is the right term, but I don't think he was given the consideration a champion like Ali was given due to his lack of drawing power he would possess as a tilte holder.
     
  7. kenmore

    kenmore Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,132
    28
    Jan 29, 2008
    The fight was close, but very clear cut in favor of Holmes. The final score should have been something like 8-6-1 for Holmes. Razor thin, hard fought, but definitely a Holmes victory.

    Too bad there was never a rematch. It was a mistake for all involved (including the promoter) to match Norton with Shavers to determine Holmes's next mandatory. I think Ken deserved the mandatory just on the basis of his first showing against Holmes.
     
  8. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,470
    5,716
    Aug 19, 2010
    :deal:deal
     
  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,238
    25,566
    Jan 3, 2007
    No

    It was a galant last hurrah by Norton, who showed up in terrific condition and coming off the best run of his career. But in the long run, he was outworked and out hussled.. Close fight and a great effort, but not enough to scream robbery.
     
  10. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,604
    290
    Apr 18, 2007
    I was rooting for Norton, but agreed with Arthur Mercante that Larry took eight of the first ten rounds, and should have had an insurmountable lead entering the final five (barring a knockdown, of course). The real controversy should have been how the three judges all had it even entering the last round.

    Posters who haven't seen it, or haven't viewed it in a long time, ought to score the first ten rounds in their entirety, and see whether or not they agree with Mercante. Obviously, if you agree Larry did win eight of the first ten rounds, then the outcome of the last five rounds should be academic and meaningless to the final result, despite the greatness of that action and Ken's furious rally-it would simply have been too late for Norton, and too far to come back from.
     
  11. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    13,350
    11,762
    Mar 19, 2012
    No I feel it was just a good close fight. Holmes was dominating the first third of the fight. Kenny came and then it was just a gut check the rest of the way.

    Unlike Ali, Larry Holmes put some real hurt on Kenny Norton. He was able to land some clean solid punches.
     
  12. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    56,246
    10,722
    Jul 28, 2009
    That's how many define "robbery" when their guy loses and/or someone they dislike wins.
     
  13. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    13,350
    11,762
    Mar 19, 2012
    I will say that Kenny Norton was the Champion. The old line is that you have to "take it from the Champion" That was the excuse they made for Ali throughout the late 70s whenever he got beat.
     
  14. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

    27,674
    7,654
    Dec 31, 2009
    Absolutly how I see it. Holmes just had too many rounds in the bank, he outboxed Norton far too easily in so many early rounds. Both fought a great fight but you dont get points for presure without scorring and in the early rounds Norton was just looking to cut holmes off and tire him out thinking larry could not keep it up -but he did! great fight all the way. boxing, presure, movement, hard brawling ..it had the whole thing. And the right guy won. :good
     
  15. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

    36,577
    11,622
    Jan 6, 2007
    I wouldn't say robbed.

    Larry probably edged it.

    Close though, and when you factor in that he went that close with two top six ATGs, arguably splitting down the middle with both, and toss in Quarry and Young, I think he gets overlooked here sometimes.