Does anyone take this into account when ranking Frazier and Norton? They fought just about everyone else, and never ended up meeting. Would have been a great fight IMO and would have enhanced their legacies a lot...:huh
Norton and Frazier were sparring partners for a long time and were good friends, which is why the never fought. I'd favor Frazier in an actual fight, but considering there was no ducking involved, I do not hold it against either of them.
If I remember correctly, there's a story of Norton getting sparked out his first sparring session with Frazier. He continued as a sparring partner without getting knocked out again, but I think both knew the score. Besides being buddies, they both knew how it would turn out if they fought for real. I could be remembering wrong or that could be a false story though. If anyone could shed some light on that (I'm sure some could), it would be great.
Wow I've never heard that. Would be great for some info. I'm also surprised there isn't much footage of Frazier/Norton training together. Out of all the stuff I see Frazier in Norton is never in there sparring with him.
"Frazier beat me hard the first time I climbed into the ring with him. I made the unfortunate mistake of going out drinking the night before, and I almost got killed. He caught me with that lethal left hook and I just went numb. The second time we sparred, there was a crowd on hand, and we didn't hold anything back. After three round with Frazier boxing Godzilla for 10 rounds was nothing!"-page 50, Going the Distance
he states on the following page that the rumours of a pact not to fight because they were such good friends weren't true. they would if the money were right but that after so long sparring they knew each other so well and had a lot of respect for one another
I don't think it changes much. When, sorry if Frazier wins, it just gets chalked up to the "Norton always looses to punchers theory". Obviously if Norton somehow wins, then the "Norton always looses to punchers theory", is on trial for its life.
Neat responses. Learn something new every day :good Norton being hungover and getting his **** kicked that day doesn't exactly translate to him KTFO of Norton 10/10 times, though.
I read an account from Eddie Futch that said Joe was always able to handle Norton in the gym up until the training camp in Jamaica. They went their separate ways after that but Eddie sensed that Frazier wasnt the same. Futch asked Norton why he was able to get the better of Joe and Kenny said " he seems to have lost his drive."
Jimmy Young was another one of Frazier's sparring partners, that would've been very interesting to see. Frazier said it was impossible to hit Young cleanly.
This is interesting ETM. I was going to offer an opinion about the outcome of a likely fight between the two. My opinion is that pre '73 it's Frazier's fight, 73-75 it gets more difficult to pick a winner, but as time passes Norton's chances increase (although Smoke always has THAT left hook)...after Manila I pick Norton.
