Ken Norton vs Evander Holyfield

Cross-armed defense. Holyfield drops Norton with a bodyshot from hell, because he has no other choice, and wins a decision.

 

Holyfield isn’t flooring Norton with a body shot. This isn’t Bert Cooper he’s in with.

Although I picked Norton to win, on the flip side, who the hell chose him to KO Holyfield!? LOL.

 

I immensely doubt Holmes would claim he was the best he ever was if the torn bicep harmed his performance. I'm assuming Holmes had a reasonable idea about himself and his in the ring exploits.

Thomas Hauser - Holmes believes that the best he ever was as a fighter was on June 9, 1978, when he decisioned Ken Norton to claim the heavyweight throne. The fight that means the most to him was his June 11, 1982, victory over Gerry Cooney. Sandwiched in between those conquests was his October 2, 1980, execution of Muhammad Ali.



Ray Arcel on Holmes vs Norton- "Larry won it with his jab and his heart"

 

Yes, and I believe Larry also said every defence thereafter was a relative cake walk as compared to the Norton fight without any reference to or qualification of an injury making it so - rather, it was a direct credit to Norton -

 

I think Ken could do it but what a war!

 

I'm thinking this could look more like Moorer/Holyfield 1 rather than a slugfest. Norton wasn't a southpaw but with his left jab being a punch that Holyfield was suseptible to Kenny could drain the drama out of this bout.
Along with Norton's superior defense and at least equal quickness its a tall order for Evander. I don't see Holyfield wearing him down in the late rounds because Kenny Norton was always in outstanding condition.

 

That was one of the worst versions of Evander we saw in the ring. I'm sure he was a very unwell man wasn't he?

 

A good educated jab has made more than a few men unwell. As far as timing it was right after Holyfield's best performance Bowe 2. He was still in his prime.

 

He was still in his prime, but I'd always read he was not great physically for that fight? Perhaps I'm misremembering but kidney problems and post fight heart failure was diagnosed or is this all boxing myth to excuse a subpar performance?

 

Prime Norton wins 8/10 times UD vs pre prime Holyfield. But it will be more like a 50/50 or 60/40 in favor for the ~92-93 version of Holyfield

 

It's widely considered to be the worst version of Holyfield in the 90s Holyfield had heart problems.

 

Imagine Kenny with Holy's steroids

 

Imagine Norton with Holyfield's Faith Healer.

 

Evander was a better fighter imo but in this match up I like Norton. I go back and forth on this. It is a classic fantasy fight.