Jack Johnson vs. Kenny Norton.

The difficulty here is transporting Johnson, and his leisurely style into a modern ring.
Johnson liked fighters to come to him ,Norton was comfortable being the aggressor, but not effective if backed up because of his leaden footwork, similar to Bob Foster ,imo. I see this being a fight fought at close quarters,Norton coming in behind his jab to bang Jack around the body . Johnson tying him up inside to land uppercuts .
It would result in a messy mauling fight, which would be Johnson's fault.
Jack by close decision in a fight that has both men negating each others skills.

 

I think Norton would is the more leisurely of the two IMO. He had the cautious style leaning back trying to negate your right hand and counter your jab - I think their styles would gel for a tricky counter punching fight in the early going much like Ali-Norton one before that got heated up - Johnson I think used the more aggressive style in that he could suddenly leap forward with his slashing punches and also rip his uppercut - on the outside I think Papa Jack would play patter-cake and Norton would be looking to out- trigger him but Jack was too good - don't think Kenny was quite a good enough attacking force to worry Johnson overly if he tried to force the fight either so Johnson by decision - I would enjoy this one tho - a bit of a chess match

 

Quite how I envisage it.

I certainly agree that it's hard transporting Jack and his contemporaries into a modern setting,as boxing's changed a hell of a lot since those times.

 

Norton gave Ali and Holmes fits ... I see him doing the same for a less active Johnson with his 74" reach ... Norton can win this with his jab and reach alone ... would be interesting but I like Ken by decision in an upset that's not really such an upset ...

 

I think you MASSIVELY over rate Norton here to be honest - he honestly wasn't in Johnson's class in terms of natural ability and what he could do - not a knock on Norton but he just wasn't Johnson is one of THE unique talents in heavyweight history - Norton for better or worse simply wasn't - Ali picked him as a soft opponent Norton was completely unknown on the fight scene at the time - completely unknown - yes he could be an awkward guy to box with but I think it's a HUGE stretch to think ge could beat a prime Jack Johnson?? If so then we need to be moving Norton up into the upper half of the top ten all time - plus Johnson hit much harder than Ali and Holmes - Corbett and Jeff both thought he was secretly one of the hardest punchers ever - without the handcuffs and the threat of lynching and with larger gloves I guarantee you we'd see amuch more go for the kill anytime Johnson and you could pretty up his power by probably25% as well from what we saw of it - and he could hurt anyone he wanted when he actually cut loose and went for it - he had much tougher fighters than Norton cowering away when he put the real hurt on them Johnson had a nasty streak and I don't really think Norton had that killer instinct in him

 

Double "J" is an ATG fighter in history at heavyweight... Ken Norton is not, though popular.... Jack outboxes a game Ken Norton and takes the decision over 15 rds....

MR.BILL

 

Anyone ever out jab Johnson?

Burns had longer arms than Jack how did he do?

Willard's main asset was a telescopic left jab ,who was in front after 20rds in their fight?

 

I picked Johnson to win a decision ,so why mention a stoppage? :huh

Norton's claim to fame is going close with a past prime Ali 3 times, 2 of which he lost.

Norton was not a good mover, you never saw him up on his toes in any fight that I can recall he dragged his right leg, similar to Bob Foster, that's why he could not fight going backwards.

I don't put Norton in Johnson's class for ability. He beat a faded short notice Quarry was destroyed by Foreman, Shavers ,Cooney and Garcia, and, I would pick Lyle to have done it too.
His rep is built on those close fights with Ali, who fought absolutely nothing like Ali.
Ali was a crap inside fighter Johnson was a master at it.

Jeffries landed only ONE bodyshot on Johnson that registered with him ,it was in the 4th round,the only round he won. Burns did not damage Johnson's ribs at all, this has been disproved.
Johnson went for a swim after the fight then entertained friends at a a party.

Name ONE serious boxing historian that does not put Johnson in the top ten of all time heavyweights. Now, name ONE historian that puts Norton anywhere near there.




When Norton got close to Johnson he would be tied up and uppercut.
Norton had only average head movement he relied in catching the jab in his open right glove, in doing this he left the right side of his face open,Johnson would be hooking that as Kenny came forward.

Norton struggled to get past a negative but crafty Jimmy Young, Johnson was Young squared, but with power.

 

I think the thing with Johnson was that he fought in such an unconventional way that I don't think it would really worry him that someone may have a good jab although the jab wasn't used effectively enough against him in any of his filmed fights - from watching a lot of Tommy Burns' fights though it seems that he was always the much better skilled fighter in all of his fights against his larger foes and it was this advantage in skills which enabled him to be dominate his fights against men who may have been bigger and stronger - but Burns just couldn't do anything with Johnson whatsoever - Willard may have had telescopic arms at 6'7" but he didn't really use it enough most of the early going he looks a bit sheepish whenever Johnson shaped to throw - Norton proved he could use his jab competetively but I think Johnson would be a different kettle of fish for most and his reflexes were not those of normal fighters - I haven't seen any fight where Johnson didn't look like he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted - I don't think Norton was good enough to stop him from doing what he wanted enough in this fight either

 

this is accurate i would think

 

I'd take Ken to beat some of Jack's contemporaries,such as Jim Corbett,Tommy Burns and Marvin Hart.

 

I would take Norton to demolish these three in single night, especially if either of the first two spouted their racial invective.

In regards to Johnson, I think Norton hustles out a nice 15 round decision by activity, strength and lack of blasting power on Johnson's part.