Joe Frazier vs. Ken Norton in 1973

Picking Joe

 

i think Frazier's left hand did have genuine high class power. He may have been a grinder with the right hand but with the left, its as good a left as i have ever seen.

 

I go with Frazier by ko, now a post Manila Frazier loses to Norton by decision or late tko.

 

I often get Norton gets short shrift, but then I look at his career and after losing to Muhammad Ali and 73 he did not win a fight against a viable contender until facing Ali again. Joe Frazier was already diminished significantly by 73 but I am guessing he still would have taken it. Unfortunately being under the spotlight focus of Muhammad Ali seems to have turned him into a Muhammad Ali hunter. His mental energy seems to have focused on the Butterfly.

 

Ken isn't going to hurt Joe, Joe will hurt Ken to the head and body, not much chance of anything but a stoppage for Frazier.

 

Frazier could force Kenny back robbing him of some of his effectiveness. Norton would lose a bit of confidence as the round went by. He knew Joe was crazy.

Eddie Futch said that Joe had handled Norton in sparring up to Jamacia. Futch told Kenny to take the rest of camp off. He was on vacation. Eddie did pull Norton aside and ask him what he thought it was.

Eddie " Why were you able to work so effectively against Joe"

Norton " he seems to have lost his drive"

Frazier got his drive back little by little after 73

 

Can you direct me your source?

 

Kind of hard for me to buy that a guy who seemed to always surrender to big punchers would beat one of the best. I know Frazier peaked in the Ali fight, but still...

I see him getting Norton out early.

 

Frazier KO'd Norton a few times in sparring and put on the kind of pressure Kenny did not like. Frazier stops Ken hooks to body and head

 

CORNER MEN Great Boxing Trainers by Ronald K. Fried. Chapter on Eddie Futch. Pg.311 the direct quotes pg.335-6

This is one of the great boxing books. If you like boxing history it's a can't miss. I've had it almost 30 years.

 

He had problems with his eyes and he couldn't get licensed in every state. I think California was a problem. Joe has a limited # of fights left and they managed him well. Ali made $ and Joe matched up well with him.

 

Joe Frazier really would have matched up greater against Muhammad Ali (like 3-0), had Ali not been able to "hold" round after round after round after round!!! He held Frazer like a long lost rich Aunt! (and he had too!).

And of course not a thing was done about it, I wonder had the referee would have been Mills Lane? I've seen him DQ guys for a whole lot less! Futch & Durham could not do anything about it ?

 

Frazier would grind Norton down imo over the course of the fight. Ken would be brave and get his licks in ,but Frazier s hooks dismantle him down the Line. Frazier by 10 round tko.

 

Fraizer stops Norton after losing the first few rounds

 

I agree and that makes sense but even when he did get in the ring he didn’t actually seem as inspired