How can Holmes-Norton be considered very close?

Ken deserved the shot at Spinks. Ali had squeaked by controversially in too many fights to be seen as a dominant champ by that point. Norton should've gotten the Spinks fight, and would've kicked Leon's ass far more convincingly than Ali could. I think the WBC did the right thing, except that it was Ali they should've stripped before the Spinks fight, not poor Leon.

 

I scored this fight a draw.

 

This is how I scored it too.

 

Guess I'm in the minority here; I had it very VERY close, but had Norton winning the last round. Aside from the last 30 seconds or so of that round, Norton was controlling it and hurting Holmes. I did have Holmes winning, 8 rounds to 7.

 

I loved the fight, we were screaming in the 15th! My old mantra IMO holds true here: "There comes a point in a fight when your opponent's punches simply don't hurt you like they could early on. I thought Larry fought rather stupid in that last round, given that I had him somewhat comfortably in front but he opted to stand toe to toe with Ken in the 15th and just let fly! No way was Norton going to stop him and Larry landed some bombs in the last minute that had Kenny wobbly.
Bottom line: Larry out-boxed and out-worked Kenny and basically said "gimme all you got big-boy" in the 15th and copped a clear UD. My $0.02

 

Ali should have been stripped for granting a title shot to a novice like Leon Spinks, especially with a worthy contender like Norton around. Ali takes a supposedly soft touch fight against Spinks but then loses to him, so now Ali gets a rematch?

 

The hwt championship can't be stripped. Ali was champion until he lost the title to Spinks. Norton was never hwt champion since you must beat the champion to be champion. (unless the champion officially retires then only the fighter that clearly demonstrates he is the next deserving champion is termed the champion)

 

Been a while since I watched this fight, but I was in the camp that had it extremely close; 143-142 to Larry. I thought he pulled it out in that final round.

However, I think it was one of those fights where the number of rounds won by each man is very close to being equal, but in which one of those men was winning his rounds in a clearer fashion than the other. And in this case, that man was Holmes.

Hence, while I think a loss by a single point is the kindest I could possibly be to Norton, I could on the other hand imagine giving it to Holmes by up to three, perhaps four at a stretch on another day, if that makes sense. What I'm basically saying is that while I had it very close using a ten point must system, I agree with the general idea of the article, that Holmes was appreciably the better man on the night.

 

Go and watch Holmes-Williams, no one ever talks about that fight and I think Williams got well and truly ripped off. I had him 3 rounds up. No way Holmes won that fight.

 

I had Holmes vs Williams either a draw or a 1 point win for Holmes. I remember Holmes vs Williams and Holmes vs Witherspoon were on my scorecard a draw and a 1 point win for Larry. But I don't remember which was the draw, but doesn't matter really. 2 razor close fights.

 

Holmes took Williams lightly and the bout was close. Williams was out jabbing Larry in spots which made the fight even closer since nobody outjabbed Holmes.

 

I had Williams taking it by one point. Close enough for arguement.

 

144 to 142 for larry holmes

 

144 to 142 holmes

 

I had Norton winning the final round but I had Holmes a couple of rounds ahead over all.

It was a close fight. Some of the rounds were debatable. 9-6 in a 15-round fight is still kind of close, and definitely so when rounds themselves are close.