Leon Spinks vs. Ken Norton in 1978

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by KOTF, Aug 5, 2009.

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  1. KOTF

    KOTF Bingooo Full Member

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    Suppose Leon decides to skip the big money Ali rematch (he'd be a fool if he did, but this is a hypothetical thread) and decides to defend against Kenny Norton, his WBC mando. What would happen, how would the fight play out?
     
    KOTF, Aug 5, 2009
    #1
  2. SteveO

    SteveO MSW Full Member

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    I have to say Norton by Decision.

    Bad matchup for Leon. He doesn't have the skill set to decision Norton, and he doesn't have the freakish power a la Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney to knock him out.
     
    SteveO, Aug 5, 2009
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  3. djanders

    djanders Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah. I pick Norton by decision, too.
     
    djanders, Aug 5, 2009
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  4. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Or even ko perhaps.

    I dont see Spinks beating Norton.

    Than again, I dont see Spinks beating Ali, so who knows lol.
     
    Dempsey1238, Aug 5, 2009
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  5. Holmes' Jab

    Holmes' Jab Master Jabber Full Member

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    Kenny by decision.
     
    Holmes' Jab, Aug 6, 2009
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  6. jaffay

    jaffay New Orleans Hornets Full Member

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    Even at late part of his career Norton takes it in clear UD
     
    jaffay, Aug 6, 2009
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  7. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Norton takes it by ko/tko within 5 rounds. Too strong and skillful for Spinks.
     
    Stevie G, Aug 6, 2009
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  8. AREA 53

    AREA 53 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I cant help but thinking that Kenny has little respect for Leon, and comes at him like he did Duane Bobick, Ken would not be a tired "Boxer" like the old Ali, or a Lumbering Statue like Marcado who Leon climbed all over, Ken would i feel put Leon on his back foot pretty quickly, and sometime in the first four rounds Kenny's rather industrial overhand right would make contact, I do not think Little Leon hold a great shot, and see Kenny Taking Leon out Circ 6th

    Ali and Holmes and young could ride slip and indeed take punishment when they had to, so maybe they made Ken not look like a Puncher, But when Ken fought Smallish Heavy Randy Stephens, Once he Caught Randy with one left hook bang on the Chin it was over, I think a similar fate awaits Leon its just a case of Ken Zeroing in.
     
    AREA 53, Aug 6, 2009
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  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    This is probably a mismatch. I don't think that Leon had the experience to deal with a fighter of Norton's style.
     
    mr. magoo, Aug 6, 2009
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  10. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    The Norton of 78 would have destroyed Leon Spinks in a round or two tops ... it would have been a brutal mismatch and no one knew it more than Ali which is why he made a full scale public outcry to get the Spinks rematch before Leon fought Norton, the deserving number 1 contender. Ali knew Norton would destroy Spinks and that he could never defeat Norton and would not regain the belt. Ali pulled off the rematch and Norton got screwed, winning a paper title and having to immediately defend against a young, prime Larry Holmes, a zillion times tougher opponent ...
     
    he grant, Aug 6, 2009
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  11. Mr Butt

    Mr Butt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    norton wins by the 9th tko
     
    Mr Butt, Aug 6, 2009
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  12. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

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    Norton wouldnt dream of embarrassing himself by coming in in the shape that Ali came in vs Spinks + Ken had more left than Ali at that point anyway.

    Norton would beat Spinks by wide UD, Spinks could take a decent beating & Kenny was never a KO puncher, he would grind Spinks down but not out.....

    Norton W15 UD Spinks (10-5)
     
    Bill Butcher, Aug 6, 2009
    #12
  13. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Norton was absolutely a bug puncher ... not a Foreman or Frazier but a hell of a lot harder than an Ali, Holmes or Holyfield ... definately in a league like a Bowe ...
     
    he grant, Aug 6, 2009
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  14. anut

    anut Boxing Addict banned

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    go view coetzee vs spinks..............and that is what norton would do to spinks.............1 rd tko in favour of norton:smoke:smoke:smoke
     
    anut, Aug 6, 2009
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  15. PbP Bacon

    PbP Bacon ALL TIME FAT Full Member

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    Kenny would win handily. Spinks was out of his league here

    Probably UD, but I don't discard a late stoppage
     
    PbP Bacon, Aug 7, 2009
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