Kenny Norton vs Marciano's opponents. Would he have also ran the table and went 49-0?

My initial thought is I think you're trying too hard to run Marciano down.

Consider that Ken Norton probably beats everyone Joe Louis defeated as well -- and beats Ezzard Charles, too - who Louis didn't beat.

Norton fought in arguably the greatest era of heavyweight boxing and he's in the Hall of Fame. He'd likely have done pretty well in any era of the heavyweights, particularly the weaker ones.

 

No, knowing Norton's chin he could get rocked by Charles or Moore. Same with Louis.. Norton would get knocked out at some point just because of his chin issues alone.

 

Blow Screwis was a walking corpse at nearly 75 years old when he fought Marciano but still managed to win a few rounds. Norton would have beaten down that version of the Brown Bomber whose nickname should have been more aptly changed to the "White Snorter".

 

I think Norton beats those versions of Layne, Louis,Moore ,Charles,Vingo,Walcott would be 50/50.His standing would then be a lot higher than it currently is.Going into these fights, if he was undefeated and, if he beat Walcott too he probably makes my no 10 which is where Rocky resides.

 

I don't think he goes 49-0. He likely picks up an early loss to a Jose Luis Garcia type opponent back then. He may or may not beat Joe Walcott. I'd pick him to decision Ezzard Charles and beat Roland Lastarza and ****ell. Not sure about Moore.

 

No. He'd slip up at least once and probably more than once somewhere. Going to 49-0 is frickin' difficult.

 

I thought Norton won all 3 Ali fights and I don't think your argument is outlandish; Walcott would be the hardest for Ken, with his sneaky power and Charles might outbox Norton. He'd be a tough fight for them also, though.

 

Norton went 4-8 against top 10 opponents, if my memory is correct. He is only in the HOF to make Ali look good.

 

interesting question. I think not tho.

 

He would match up well vs Marciano’s competition, but he simply isn’t versatile or consistent enough to go 49-0. As others have said, he slips up somewhere, probably more than once. One guy who might be a good candidate to do it first is Rex Layne.

 

No. Because Ken was a good fighter who could not raise his game for title fights. His destiny was only to be a contender because the championship distance intimidated Ken Norton.

Ken blew it in three title fights. He just did not do himself justice in title fights because the occasion got to him. He froze against George. Then hr should have crucified the faded Ali but was far too cautious about pacing himself over 15 rounds. In the Holmes fight he took too long to get going.

Now you can argue that Holmes, Ali and Foreman are top ten ATG champions but Ali was not ATG level in their title fight. Spinks beat the same guy. Norton could not. Foreman was exposed by Ali who Norton beat, ken should have been more competative than that. Ken was no more competative than Jose king Roman! Holmes had a bad arm. Ken gave Larry too many early rounds, he gave them away! It was like the 15 round limit intimidated Norton.