The views of a few experts: Jack Fiske: "Norton could not outbox Floyd, and he'd go for the knockout. At some point Ken would catch and floor Floyd, but Patterson would get up, as he usually did. Patterson would have Norton reeling off balance most of the fight. Patterson by unanimous decision." Don Turner: "Patterson only knew one way, the peekaboo defence and a lot of combinations. Norton would stalk him, arms crossed ala Moore, whom Floyd knocked out. Patterson's hands would be too fast. He had more fire than Norton and he'd win by late stoppage or decision" Joey Fariello: "Norton would concentrate on defence and look to sneak punch. He always threw one punch at a time. Patterson would be busier and win most of the rounds. He was offence oriented. Norton was defence oriented, and in boxing a good offence always beats a good defence. Patterson by decision or very possibly late round stoppage" So what is your take?
Patterson by Decision. He would beat Norton to the punch and avoid Norton's attacks with his defense. I don't think Norton has enough pop to KO Patterson. Floyd is just on a higher class in my opinion.
I thyink that, despite all the physical disadvantages, Floyd was too fast and explosive for Ken...he would have hurt him within 5 rounds. Floyd was so underrated....I just don't think that Norton hit hard enough to get to Floyd.
We had this thread already once - without the quotes though, thanks for those - and like back then I still pick Floyd. He has the skill, speed, power and defence to make up the size disadvantage. He maybe have a shaky moment early on but in the end he will prevail either by clear UD or even stoppage.
I am going to go with Norton, Norton gets so little love H2H but this is one I actually think he could win.. Don't get me wrong it would be no shock to me if Patterson won either, this is a very close match up in my eyes... But I am going to say, that the best version of Norton would win a Dec over Patterson.. Patterson would not bully Kenny as that was not his style which has been a key tactic of Norton's opponents during Norton's nightmare nights. Though Patterson has the faster hands of the two I think a Prime in shape Norton muscles him around the ring and lands the harder punches and has the stamina to sustain the attack for 15 and win on points.. A sharp Norton beat Ali and pushed Holmes to the brink based off of that I feel as though he has to much for Patterson...
This is the difference between a good and great fighter. Floyd, especially by the time of the Chuvalo fight, was a resilient, intelligent, experienced and highly skilled competitor. Henry Cooper rated his hand speed as superior to Ali's. (I suspect Henry might have been confusing speed with quickness, but the fact is that Cooper was able to make Ali miss at times where he wasn't able to elude Patterson's shots.) As has already been mentioned, Norton's cross armed defense would pose no issues for Floyd, who knocked out somebody infinitely more accomplished at using it. Patterson's hook to the body would be fast enough to exploit the inherent opening that cross armed guard provides. Ken's best punch against Floyd would be his right uppercut, but he had to work himself into position to execute it. Patterson would be too responsive to permit that.
