Ken Norton V Jess Willard ?

this whole thread is ridiculous, but unfortunately it's normal for this forum. Some, if not many will argue that Norton beat Ali 3 times, but you are picking a guy who had never boxed until he was 29 to beat Norton? No wonder the "white hope" movement gained popularity in Willard's time. You could schedule this fight for 100 rounds and it wouldn't matter, Norton would destroy Willard in about 30 seconds. It'd be like putting Norton in the ring with the tall guy who won the local Rough and Rowdy contest.

Do any of you ever ask yourself, where are all the tall farm boys today? Why don't they walk off of a Kansas farm at 29 and take over boxing? The reason is that there are a lot of boxers today who can fight, in Willard's time being tall is all it took. Fighting Moran or Firpo is no more impressive than fighting in a Rough and Rowdy contest. Willard, as he was in his prime, with nothing changed wouldn't be in the top 200 today.

 

Nah, it was queensberry rules, it was at the end of the 19th century, not the middle. I read the report of Corbett vs Jackson, and they seemed to spend most of the fight standing around picking their noses, it wasn't the epic battle some imagine.

 

No it was 1893
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...0--1--txt-txIN-bowen+texas+jack+burke-------1

 

If you can't look beyond your prejudices when evaluating Willard, then we can't really help you!

 

Another one of the longest was Danny Needham Vs Pasty Kerrigan, it went 100 rounds before being declared a draw. It was described as tedious though.
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-en--20--1--txt-txIN-needham+Kerrigan-------1

It was the same Needham who fought Tommy Ryan for the vacant Welterweight title for 76rounds, Needham quit on his stool, but according the news reports Ryan had nearly KOed him, when the round ended, which I didn't know.
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-----en--20--1--txt-txIN-needham+ryan-------1

 

I'm pretty sure Sharkey vs. Jeffries went 45 rounds.

 

The best part is when some of the guys who complain about the supposed lack of skills and quality training in boxing today worship guys like Willard, or act as if beating a Firpo or Moran or Bill Squires or Marvin Hart is some historically impressive feat. It’s unreal.

 

Norton by mid rounds knockout. Too skilled for Willard.

 

C'mon, you're janitor... so of course you can! Just keep lecturing him in your usual condescending way… then I'm sure, he'll get it in the end.

 

Both fights combined did.

 

I like Norton in this one. He's quick enough & hit hard and often enough to cause a lot of damage to Willard (although not as swiftly as Dempsey did). I think he would certainly do more offensively than the 37 year old Johnson.

Norton's stamina was good too...would Norton punch himself out beating on big Jess? I'm not sure.

Could Norton stop Willard? Depends when the fight takes place. The OP specified 25 rounds so I/m assuming Ken is going back to Jess's era for the fight! Under old-timers rules the fight would obviously be allowed to go longer, so Ken's best chance of winning inside the distance would be by corner retirement.

Under modern day rules & conditions a more squeamish modern day ref might stop the fight due to cuts etc.

I'm going for a Norton stoppage/retirement between 15 to 20 rounds.

 

No they fought 20 rounds and 25 rounds.

 

Norton beats the hell out of him.

 

This is some of the silliest modernista drivel I've ever read on this forum.
It's almost like he's trolling, but he's not...

James Bonecrusher Smith went pro at 28.
Antonio Tarver went pro at 28.
Nate Campbell started his career at 28.
Adonis Stevenson turned pro at 29.

How oblivious to reality do you have to be to actually believe that in 1910 there was only one giant man on a farm somewhere in the USA, and that he became champion in boxing only because of his size? It sounds like some bootleg King Arthur tale. The fact that it's being passed off as a knowledgable take makes me feel bad for everyone here.

 

I can't see how Norton can stand up to a guy as big as Willard!

We're talking about a 6'6 1/2 inch giant with a huge reach. How would Norton deal with his reach? Did he ever fight a guy with Willard's reach? How would he handle it? He wouldn't, its clear.

Willard used to fight 45 round fights and he beat Jack Johnson. He's the lineal champion. When did Norton ever beat Jack Johnson?

Was he lineal champion?

There's a gulf in class here folks.

Norton was very fragile and Willard was huge and strong and could take a punch. I guess Norton might have a few bright spots here and there but in the end that farm boy strength would wear out the hapless Kenny. OMG they killed Kenny! It's what people would say when they stuck him in with Willard.

When did Norton ever fight a guy who used a twin bolo punch thingie and uppercut like Willards?

Never, is the answer.

Jess is an OCP for Norton.

Jess by KO.

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