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

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.

 

If you think Norton was bad for this you should read the ridiculous things Jim Jeffries did to lower weight.

 

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.

 

Not really surprising, dogmen who match them have their dogs come in really dry and they go for 3 hours plus.

 

Very good points there.

 

Bump

 

BCS8 = "Norton is 205 pounds soaking wet"

Norton = My walking around weight is 225-230 pounds.

Thats why later in his career you see him between 215-220 pounds which is what I told you before Norton is not small he was a well built 6'3 fighter with an 80 inch reach.

If Norton was in the modern era where 15 round fights don't exist you'd easily see him weighing in at 220 pounds on average. Same with Foreman he would also be weighing in heavier if you transported 70s Foreman to the modern era.

@MarkusFlorez99

 

Yeah pretty much, in the main 70s and earlier HWs lost weight as a result of their training and dieting, whilst modern HWs gain weight, intentionally, as a result of theirs.

 

205 pounds is 205 pounds, though.

Norton in other fights was bigger, but the 205 pound version of Norton wasn't carrying 15 pounds of additional weightless muscle.

And I say this as someone who was, once upon a time, curious about the "bigger frame" arguments. I just don't think there's ultimately much to them, unfortunately.

 

Never understood why heavies of all people would train down from their natural weight.

 

The thing is though the heavier weight for Norton didn't effect his stamina in the fight vs Young he was 215 pounds and actually came on strong in later rounds. Against Holmes he was 220 pounds and again came on strong in the later rounds and these were both 15 round fights.

In modern era Norton would be easily 220 pounds and we have evidence of the higher weight not effecting his stamina and as Norton said himself his walking around weight was as high as 230.

 

Well, true.

I think the bigger issue is, if he's 205 for Fury (which is the context for your original argument, I believe?), there's a guy leaning on him and punching him who's ~60 pounds heavier.

 

Norton would be at least 230 if he were around today

 

Also, I thought the crux of this thread was to highlight that modern HWs do not intentionally train down to a weight. Thus, weight comparisons with yesteryear's fighters are based on a false equivalence.

 

Doesn't that depend on whether or not Norton is weaker at 205 than he is at 230?

If he isn't, then what difference does it make? Fury stills weighs ~265, regardless.