Ken Norton: "my normal weight is 225-230 and i train down to 206"

Bokaj · Feb 14, 2019

For a HW to starve himself seems a bit crazy to me. It was also usual it seems to dehydrate to be lighter in the ring... I'm surprised they still had the stamina they had.

roughdiamond · Feb 14, 2019

Glass City Cobra said: ↑

I dont get it either. These guys were 6'3, 6'4 with an 80' wingspan and walked around at 230 with hardly any fat and looking like billboard models. I get that many of their opponents were fast and elusive and they needed the cardio to keep up, but it goes to show how old fashioned and set in their ways the boxing establishment can be.

Especially in the case of Norton and Foreman (Zaire) we see just how disastrous drying out for them was at pivotal moments of their careers. Or Ali during his ill advised come back against Holmes. Obviously he was past his prime, im not saying hed beat holmes but his desperate attempts to cut weight led to him taking thyroid pills and made him a sitting duck and a lethargic zombie. The fight might have at least been competitive had he been properly hydrated and wasnt trying so hard to follow archaic customs for being extremely lean in his late 30's.
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If you think Norton was bad for this you should read the ridiculous things Jim Jeffries did to lower weight.

Flash24 · Feb 14, 2019

Jel said: ↑

It's interesting that even though heavyweight has no weight limit that that generation (Norton, Ali, Foreman) trained down to a perceived ideal weight.
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Its called being in tip top fighting condition for a possible grueling 15rd fight. Considering most of the world class Heavyweights today and the last 10-15 yrs are blowing like freight train going up a hill by the 7th rd . Theirs a difference between being in top fighting shape, and merely being in shape. It could also be seen at the lighter weights, consider Robinson, Leonard, Hearns, Benitez, all trained down to welter for yrs . Duran normally walked around at 155-160 when he was lightweight champ. All were capable of fighting a fast paced 15rd fight.

Wass1985 · Feb 14, 2019

Bokaj said: ↑

For a HW to starve himself seems a bit crazy to me. It was also usual it seems to dehydrate to be lighter in the ring... I'm surprised they still had the stamina they had.
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Not really surprising, dogmen who match them have their dogs come in really dry and they go for 3 hours plus.

InMemoryofJakeLamotta · Feb 15, 2019

Glass City Cobra said: ↑

Norton was always highly athletic since high school (competed in 5 sports), Marines, etc. He was always in great shape and although he had decent hand speed he wasnt a speed demon who zipped around his opponent--his style literally involved dragging his rear foot and stalking his opppnent with a high guard. If anything starving and overtraining down to below 210 was hurting him, especially since with bigger muscles you need all the energy you can spare. And at 215-220 in some of his later fights he didnt look sluggish at all.

Imagine if anthony joshua kept his bulky frame but starved himself down to 225. He'd look horrible and would be gasping for air. Of course you could counter that by saying Joshua doesnt need to look like hercules to box and he only gets that size through artificial weight training but thay isnt the point. Its not normal or healthy for a big man over 6 feet and over 200 lbs competing in an explosive sport to dry out and barely eat. Maybe if theyve gained too much fat after a layoff but even then, from a diet/nutrition point of view, i wouldnt want my fighter doing that as it's way healthier to slowly trim the weight gradually instead of rushing a jam packed intense 6 week camp.

Do you think Ken Norton's durability would improve if he was closer to his natural weight and ate properly? I know part of it was psychological in that he couldn't fight backing up and he'd freeze when caught by a huge punch, but do you see a correlation between excessive cardio/lack of food and an inability to take a good shot?
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Very good points there.

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Ken Norton: "my normal weight is 225-230 and i train down to 206"

Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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Ken Norton: "my normal weight is 225-230 and i train down to 206"

Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member