Norton beating Ali in 1973 or Michael Spinks beating Holmes in 1985 ? On paper,it would probably be Spinks. Ending Holmes' unbeaten record,and taking the championship. In actuality,though,it's got to be Norton. The 31 year old Ali was n't as far down from his prime as was the Holmes who was two months shy of his 36th birthday. The '73 Ali was better than the '85 Holmes. Thoughts ?
No doubt in my book, Spinks over Holmes 1985.... Spinks wins IBF title.... That was a big upset... Holmes was like 6 to 1 over Spinks... MR.BILL
Yeah its got to be Norton. Even though spinks was basically a light heavy, he was imo one of the best of all time and also an olympic gold medalist. Norton hadn't really achieved anything at this point in his career
Also,out of two scenarios,Norton had the tougher opponent. I can't imagine a 1985 Holmes coming anywhere near beating a prime Norton,but Spinks would n't beat a '73 Ali.
Yeah, norton gave holmes all he could handle in the twilight of his career. I don't think norton gets the recognition he deserves, mainly because of the heavy losses at the end of his career against cooney an shavers also the draw against le deoux.
He says in his book that after the Holmes fight he was just doing it for the money an was just goin through the motions in training. Also, even though he put up a great perfomance against holmes, not getting the decision in the last ali fight pretty much finished him off
He did indeed, he was pissed off that eddie futch thought bobick would beat him. Frazier who was bobicks manager at the time didn't want him to fight norton but was out voted
Norton by far, Ali was just recently involved in the FOTC against Frazier. Spinks was an accomplished Champion. Norton was an unknown entity in boxing. plus he broke Ali's jaw enrout to a shocking victory.
Norton was probably the biggest secret in heavyweight boxing at this time. Just think. On January 1st 1973,there were only two heavies worth talking about. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Frazier was unbeaten,and the only guy who was given a chance of taking Joe's unbeaten record away Muhammad in a rematch. Three weeks into the year,undefeated raw slugger George Foreman sent a shock of earthquake proportions through boxing,when he played yo-yo with Frazier in Jamaica. There could n't have been a bigger shock to follow that ever ! Especially not in the same year. Oh yes there could ! Suddenly on March 31st,there were four big names in that division.
