Ken Norton vs Leon Spinks

Actually they were supposed to sign to fight shortly after Leon Spinks victory over a severely deteriorated Muhammad Ali on Feb 15 1978 to take the title by split 15 round decision to win the World Heavyweight Title. Ken Norton was the mandatory WBC challenger after defeating Jimmy Young by a split 15 round verdict on Nov 5 1977. Spinks refused to face Norton, who was declared the WBC Champion. If they had fought, Norton with his conditioning, experience, stamina, and defense may have unified the title with a unanimous decision, staggering an onrushing Leon throughout the fight with his right hands and body blows.

 

Norton KO 1. He would have crushed him like he did Bobick.

 

Norton would have stopped Leon.....one Marine beating another......Spinks was wasted talent and Norton was too seasoned and powerful for the smaller inexperienced LS...Leon was thrown to the wolves to early and never developed the subtle professional skills he would have learned if brought along properly....as it was he was a very talented prospect with his heart in the right place but failed by his management

 

Norton inside 3 rounds. Leon wouldn't be able to keep him off.

 

Kenny would be confident going in here. He stops Leon in the latter round s of an intriguing fight.

 

Exactly, Norton was not a good match for Leon.

 

Norton slaughters him. KO 1 or 2

 

Norton. Early.

 

I agree it's a bad match for Spinks. He doesn't have the physicality and power to win coming at him and he sure ain't outboxing him.

 

Whenever I think of Spinks v Norton I always think back to '78 when it was very much on the table with Spinks as champ and the WBC pushing for him to fight their #1 contender Ken Norton. We all know he opted for a rematch with Ali - which was probably more lucrative - and it cost him the WBC share of the title. But before then there was a lot of speculation on what was going to happen. Now it's hard for fans to realize today, but boxing was part of pop-culture. The man on the street knew what was going on. We read the newspapers and it was all over the place. So much, that there was even a piece on SNL done on it in '78 on Weekend Update. I don't remember who was the person behind the desk (Chase, Curtin, Aykroyd?) but the piece started by saying how his hotel room was burglarized and the Anchor saying how Leon said, "At least I still have my good looks." And the picture behind them showing Leon with the big smile and the missing teeth. But that's not what made me split a gut. The next statement had the Anchor saying how, "Spinks refuses to fight Norton in September," But the picture behind the Anchor was Art Carney in his Ed Norton outfit. Oh, man, you should have heard the audience. I wish I could find that on Youtube. Today, boxing is so watered down and so impossible to follow, try the same line by saying something like, "Joshua refuses to fight Povetkin in September." (I know it loses its luster without the Ed Norton reference but you get what I mean). You would have the audience looking at each other saying, "Who's Joshua and who's Povetkin?" I also remember another sitcom from the early 60s making a joke about some mail-order coat for some petite woman and when it arrived it was massive. And the joke was, "This is great if she's built like Sonny Liston." Everybody got it and laughed their tail off. Now try it with, "This is great, if she's built like Oleksandr Usyk." I wouldn't wait for a laugh, I'd go to a commercial. Our sport is just so convoluted it's like its not even relevant anymore.

 

Norton KO within 6 or less. Norton's crab stance and forward momentum would be a problem for the scrappy aggressive Leon. Then you add Norton's underrated excellent jab and his ability to shift side to side to deliver nice overhand rights and hooks, and he'd wear Leon out with his accuracy and pressure.

 

Ken stops Leon within five rounds. Too strong and skilful.

 

Another vote for Norton. I said Norton on points but he might straight up wipe Leon out.

 

If Norton wanted to put up a technical masterclass than KO5.

BUT, if Norton don't care sh*t and just want the job done. He wins via round 1 one punch kayo.