Ken Norton vs Big Cat Williams

Floyd Patterson bailed out of a prospective WBA eliminator against Williams,opting instead to fight Machen in Sweden .
If he takes this fight ,Norton might well wish he hadn't.

 

Lean away style?:huh

 

Norton's drag the back foot style meant he could not fight backing up and his Dresden chin means he will always be in jeopardy coming at big punchers. Williams had a good jab, and fast hands, plus significantly more power. The idea he was just some crude slugger is bullsh*t, crude sluggers don't draw with Machen, or beat Daniels twice. I don't think you got quite the responses you were expecting on this topic!

 

Hmmm beating Billy Daniels or beating Muhammad Ali which is more impressive???

 

My point,which seems to have escaped you, is that Williams could hold his own with good boxers,and talks of "quality" regarding Norton are misleading.He was starched by Shavers a one dimensional banger Williams had reach, height ,speed on Shavers and a far better jab.

Norton caved in to all the top punchers he faced, that is the fight..
If boxing was solely predicated on, A beat B who beat C ,so A must in turn beat C, there would be no need
for half the fights that occur. In reality Norton beat Ali,[once] was destroyed by Foreman , but Foreman was ko'd by Ali.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

the awkward crab like style he had where he was leaning away on his back foot and front foot pushed in.
Although I have to admit George Foreman didn't find it too awkward

 

For Me its a case of Williams Early ..Norton Mid to Late.... I must confess to being very impressed with Williams.... for two and half rounds in the first Liston Fight... and if he was to come at Ken with the same Vim and Vigor, Ken had a habit of Hunkering Down behing that Cross-Arm defence.. the Problem being whilst that can deny 'Boxers' trying to maintain distance... Punchers coming up close and personal and letting their ****nal go... Then Norton's Defence starts to take on a Swiss-Cheese Look... One of Norton's own Camp members Bob Biron admitted that whilst supreme 'Boxers' like Ali, Holmes or Young would not phase him.. Ken would get Rather "Sweaty" when coming up against a Fast Starting Bomber... So i would Give The Big Cat a great chance of Nailing Norton before he settles in... After the Third and Williams having to reset expectations.. Norton starts Throwing those big overhand Rights... The upright Williams then becomes a Magnet for Norton's Shots... and he wont take too many before succumbing.... But my head say's the Big Cat Pounces too quickly for Norton the Taught'un

 

Norton for me. More proven.

 

Ok, thanks for replying.

 

I'm replying to some one else.Sorry if you are not getting the replies you wanted.

 

Spot on post, especially the highlighted part.

He had sufficient power and athleticism to overpower just about any lower tier/fringe contender that he fought, but he never carried the same effectiveness up to the elite level (unlike Foremen and even Shavers).

 

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Ken Norton-
6'3" with an 80" reach and 212 3/4 - 220 Lbs. in HW World title fights.

Cleveland Williams-
6'3" with an 80" reach and 210 1/2 Lbs. in his only HW World title fight.

Ken Norton-
42-7-1 (33) overall and 0-3 in HW World title fights but he was the WBC HW Champ for a short time in 1978. He was stopped 4 times. He beat Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young, and Tex Cobb by decision. He stopped Henry Clark, Boone Kirkman, Jerry Quarry, Jose Luis Garcia, Ron Stander, Larry Middleton, Duane Bobick, and Lorenzo Zanon. He lost close decisions to Muhammad Ali x2 and Larry Holmes. He was stopped by Garcia (later avenged), Foreman, Shavers, and C00ney.

Cleveland Williams-
78-13-1 (58KOs) overall and 0-1 in HW World title fights. He was stopped 8 times. He beat Billy Daniels x2 and Terry Daniels by decision. He stopped Ernie Terrell. He drew with Eddie Machen. He lost a close decision to Ernie Terrell. He was stopped by Bob Satterfield, Sonny Liston x2, Muhammad Ali, Al Jones, Mac Foster x2, and Alvin Lewis.

Norton was the much better fighter. He had good overall skills, a good jab, good footwork, decent speed, decent power, good stamina, and more. He was stopped early in his career by Garcia. Prior to Garcia he hadn't really been tested. He was fighting in front of his fans and close to home, he underestimated Garcia and paid for it. He stopped Garcia in a rematch. Foreman stopped Norton inside of 2 rounds... he did the same to Frazier. Shavers and C00ney stopped Norton when Norton was well past prime.

Williams had good speed, good power, and a good punch output in the early rounds. He was stopped inside of 3 rounds by Satterfield, Liston x2, and Ali.

I'll take Norton by decision or late round stoppage. Williams has his moments but Norton's chin holds up.