Ken Norton vs Evander Holyfield (15 rounds)

Holyfield beats Norton every time. Holyfield out works Norton and out toughs Norton.

 

I'd narrowly favor Evander in a grueling fight.

 

I have it close enough for a draw .Then a rematch with a split decision win for Holy. Then a final fight where Ken finally gets a win .

 

Holyfield wasn't a boxer, he gravitated towards breaking his opponents down with pressure. Norton was a stylistic nightmare for boxers such as Ali.

 

Agree. Norton would frustrate Holyfield and keep the drama out of it. Ken Norton W15

 

Norton would take away Holyfield's left hand. Both his jab and hook gone. Where did they go? In the drawer locked away

 

Yes, but that isn't to say Holyfield wasn't multifaceted.

 

I'd pick Holyfield in a close call. I reckon it's a distance fight and a tremendous one at that.

 

There were different Holyfields at heavyweight. As he aged and "bulked" he seemed to sit down on his punches more and hit harder, but he also threw less punches than the version who went to war with Dokes and teed off on Foreman. It's hard to identify his heavyweight prime as the stronger, slower version that beat Tyson may potentially match up better against some heavyweights than in his youth.

I don't think Holyfield at any point in his career is the type of fighter who would blast out Norton. While it happened to him in reality against Foreman and Shavers (ignoring the Cooney debacle), I don't think Norton was especially chinny. And if you couldn't blast Kenny out, you were in for a long night because he would keep coming and apply the pressure.

I fancy a young Holyfield to just have the edge on Norton in an ebb and flow war. The older Holyfield who fought in bursts would probably be outworked by Norton and lose a clear decision.

 

Great post. Evander was much different through his heavyweight run

 

Double checking the fight weights it's actually less significant on the whole than I imagined. He was 205 for Bowe I, 208 for Foreman and Douglas, and 215/218 for the wins over Tyson. He did seem to gain in physical strength as he matured as a heavyweight, comparing the Tyson fights to some of his earlier ones.

I remember him being noticeably bigger for the 2nd Bowe fight than the first, and starting around the time of the Moorer fight he seemed to slow down and his stamina become more inconsistent (may have have been linked to heart issues).

Early on in his career he was much more of a combination puncher, and was actually criticised for lack of one punch power against De Leon, Cooper and Foreman. He later dropped Mercer, Bowe and Tyson, who were all regarded as being durable.

 

Holyfield never was a "big" hitter i go with kenny by decision

 

A good one. Before I pick, would there be VADA testing to make sure Holyfield was clean?

Norton to me is a better boxer, but Holyfield is more durable and a good counter puncher.

I'd think Norton would be up on points, and his 15 round stamina is a bit better than Holyfields at heavyweight.

The question is, would Holyfield stop Norton?