Shame this one never happened. Norton was the better boxer but Lyle had the harder punch. The key to this one would have been whether Ron could back Ken up early and stunned him. If so an early stoppage for Lyle is on the cards. If not - Norton outboxes Lyle and wins it on a clear but competitive UD and this is the scenario I feel we would have seen.
I totally agree with you. Many good fights have never happened. This phenomenon is still present today. You could even make a theme (no joke): “the best fights that haven’t happened,” or something like that.
Norton was on a pretty good run in 1976. And while Lyle could certainly crack, I wouldn’t put him in the Shavers or Foreman category. I kinda like Norton by a decision in a good fight. He’d have the occasional scare here and there though.
You better believe he was!!! Isn't his ko of Earnie Shavers evidence enough? That last right hand that finished off Shavers was one of the best shots I've ever seen. Also. his multiple deckings of young George Foreman proves that he was a thunderous hitter.
I agree he had some great power, especially for his era, but a Shavers/Foreman type power?imo neither Shavers or Foreman had quite the boxing skills Norton had (Foreman does have his own set, though). I think Norton could pull threw this one, Lyle probably would let off the gas a bit and let Norton thrive as the aggressor to a decision. Lyle via KO isn't very far off though, just my 2 cents.
Maybe Lyle didn’t have the strength type like Shavers, and Foreman, but he had the strength type to knock out Shavers, and almost knock out Foreman. Lyle's handicap was that he became a professional boxer at the age of 30 (maybe post prime, we can't know that).
Listen, Lyle was a very big puncher .. the question is if his mechanical style would cause Norton to freeze up .. I'm not sure but Norton never beat a top big puncher .. keep in mind that Lyle was a bit long in the tooth by 76 as well .. thirty five or so ..
Lyle didn't turn pro until he was 30 because he was in jail prior to that. So, he didn't have the accumulated damage at 35 that someone who had been fighting since 20 would have.