Flavor Of The Month: Oscar Bonavena. How about Bonavena vs Ken Norton, both prime.

Quarry was somewhat past it vs Norton - but still had a bit of something in the early rounds - actually hurt Norton momentarily with a left hook to the head, might’ve hurt Ken to the body also - IIRC.

The Cobb fight was mentioned - I’m not sure when Tex injured the arm but looking at it equitably from the other side it should be factored that Norton himself was 37 yo for that fight.

As to Norton’s competitiveness and success vs boxer types - I would say we should all be so effective against the likes of Ali, Young and Holmes - I think it’s an oversimplification to put Norton’s viability among that group of fighters down to mere and narrow stylistic advantage.

We know Ken might hit a slippery slope against guys whose power registered 8 or more on the Richter scale - however, approaching and up to that threshold of power, Ken remained very viable, in fact not giving much hint that a few extra notches in power might bring him undone - but we did see same vs Foreman and Shavers (though again, an older Norton).

Bonavena himself was not completely impervious to a good shot - more or less dropped by Folley and also dropped hard twice by Jimmy Ellis.

I think Norton definitely has the punch to ring Oscar’s bell and gain some respect.

I couldn’t find the exact still I was looking for (depicting Ringo connecting flush under Ali’s chin) but this photo capture similarly exemplifies the difficult and awkward nature of Ringo’s less than conventional offense: -

[url]https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/muhammad-ali-throws-a-punch-and-at-the-same-time-take-a-news-photo/83463743[/url]

 

Ken Norton vs Oscar Bonavena would be an exciting fight. I like Norton to take this one but it would be a hard night’s work

 

Shot Quarry and Cobb who was a just a chin…

 

You had the right of it. Plato Bonavena would destroy Ken he’d literally just smack the devil out him and Norton would hyperventilate trying to flee from a superior force.

 

maybe Bonavena was a big believer in the theory of forms lol

 

Bonavena by close UD.

 

Norton of the first two Ali bouts wins via hard fought decision.

Norton post-Foreman hmmm 50-50. Gut feeling is Norton May freeze after tasting his power and get deja vu but that’s really a 50-50.

 

Oscar could take a punch better than he could deliver one and Norton could give a punch better than he can absorb one. But Kenny is just a tier above.