Ken Norton beats Ali in 1976 then fights Foreman, who wins?

Ken Norton did not match up well with big punchers.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Gimme some knockdowns my friend William, keep them coming. Ha Ha.

 

I'm going to go against the grain and say Norton does much better this time around. Foreman was more reserved this time around, lessened his aggression, and tried to conserve himself better. In theory it should've made him a better fighter but it didn't.

It's the reason a shot Frazier had more success this time around.

 

George Foreman replicates his March 26 1974 knockout victory over Ken Norton, only this time it is a KO 3. Then Foreman gets fat headed and decides to fight Jimmy Young on March 17 1977 in San Juan, Puerto Rico on the day and location of their actual fight. Young again wins but by TKO 13 as Foreman trips over his own feet by exhaustion. Jimmy Young is crowned as the World Heavyweight Champion.

 

Norton's cross arm defence leaves him very vulnerable to uppercuts, Foreman was pretty good at coming underneath Norton's guard with uppercuts.

Norton's style is also an aggressive awkward style, where he relies on his awkwardness, physical strength, conditioning.

The problem is Foreman is physically stronger than Norton, and has 1 punch power to end the Norton as soon as he lands. Norton could also be vulnerable to punchers.

So all in all it's a bad style match up for Norton.

 

Foreman knocks Norton down twice in the early rounds, Norton comes back and drops Foreman. Foreman gets up and stops him after two more KD's. Sound good?

 

I have a big smile on my face. Ha Ha.

 

Swag, you are exactly correct! George was out to prove he was a decent boxer, and Joe did fare significantly better in that rematch, and Joe was not even in any kind of condition to fight George, in reality. Norton was arguably at his physical and mental peak in '76. As opposed to the Caracas Caper we should see a less aggressive Foreman and a more aggressive Norton, making for a real dandy imo. Ultimately we still see George stopping Norton, but I think it comes a bit later.

 

Hey, Foreman vs. Norton should have been one of the best fights of the 70s and one of the greatest heavyweight fights of all time.

 

It sure could have been. Ken Norton's only weakness is that he could not take a punch from a big hitter.

 

Right. I think due to George reigning it in this time though, that Norton is able to score a lot more heavily and evade George's big shots for a longer amount of time.

 

I hope, in this fantasy fight, Ken Norton gets a huge fantasy payday. He would definitely deserve it. Fifth round TOPS for Ken in this.

 

Foreman would have gotten him, but it would have been a tougher fight. Ken wouldn't have used the same strategy, him and Futch probably would have devised a way for him to stay off the back foot while drilling defensive moves.

I think this time the left hook would have started the end. I see Ken looking a bit like Frazier in the last round (probably 7 or 8). Getting hit so hard he looks bewildered and spent.

 

George would put him down no matter what happens. Norton never faired well against big punchers.

 

Good points William. But I think that the beating that George Foreman gave him on March 26 1974 will weigh on him. What has Ken done since that beating by George in Caracas Venezuela? Beat a severely washed up Jerry Quarry in March of 1975? Ken Norton's style remained the same, I think that Foreman squashes Norton again in the 3rd round this time.