I know this is a hypothetical match because these two had a true friendship that went beyond greed for the almighty dollar. They were once asked if they would have ever met in the ring, they both replied no. They were sparring partners, both were trained by Eddie Futch. But if I had to take a guess, it would be Joe Frazier who would have won by KO 5. Joe was relentless and could punch. Their friendship is the best to have, total loyalty lacking greed.
Joe, I'm afraid would have to really hurt his friend. Norton s style and chin mixed in with Joe's bull like , workman rate with that sickening left hook, would see imo, Kenny getting stopped early.
Would have been similar to the Foster fight, Norton snaking out a not to deadly Jab, being forced on the back foot, finally succumbing to a pulverizing left hook, don't see it going deep.
Norton was a great fighter but didn't have the chin to take fraziers hook. Frazier only got stopped by foreman and that was on his feet. Also norton was demolished by cooney who was a left hook artist nowhere near fraziers level.
Norton is being overlooked because people seem to think he stands no chance against punchers, he only lost to one puncher in his prime, George Foreman, also Norton could box when he chose, and when Frazier does get in, there is no guarantee that he could produce the better work Frazier would win whilst behind on the cards late on
This match was talked about, at least in one of the mags, after Ali beat Foreman. The idea was that the winner would get the first chance at a rubber match with Ali. So if we scheduled this bout in early 1975, I'm going to pick Frazier. When Norton fought Quarry at that time, it was actually a pretty competitive fight the first few rounds. Despite what the announcers were saying, to me it looked like Quarry had Norton on his heels several times. They rocked each other several times in the early rounds. But a better conditioned, bigger, less shop-worn Norton won out. So if that version of Norton fought the Quarry II - Ellis II - Ali III version of Frazier... Frazier wouldn't stop coming forward, he would offer a stronger force, and he would't tire like Quarry. Frazier wins. Jester asked, however, what would happen if they fought in the early seventies. Same result, but easier for Frazier. But... was the Joe Frazier of 1972 and January 1973 less motivated and not as well conditioned as the Frazier from the FOTC and from July 1973 through Manila? So MAYBE, if Norton was one of Frazier's 1972 or January 1973 defenses, maybe that Norton takes it. But I doubt it.
I agree with the first half of this, but Ken only lost to Foreman and Garcia in his prime by ko (he very much avenged the Garcia loss). He lost to Shavers and Cooney after he was past it. Norton changed after the Holmes fight, and I think the cumulative humiliation of losing a fight he won to Ali and losing the title by one point to Larry combined to make him a lesser competitor. Frazier would have his hands full for most of the fight, but eventually he'd make Ken start moving back and that would spell the end. Ken might make ten rounds before being overwhelmed.
