Kenny Norton s around and fighting now in an alternative universe. Let's say he's about ready for a title shot when everything has settled down! His next fight is against one of the big 4probably. If matched against the following , how's a young 1973 version do? Wilder. Non title fight 10 rounds Ruiz. Non title fight. 10 rounds Fury. Title fight 12 rounds Joshua. Title fight. 12 rounds
He's hell on earth for Tyson Fury, but I think he's too small. He out-works and dismantles Ruiz for a clear UD. Gets stopped by Wilder and Joshua.
Yep, I get that George, Kenny really giving Fury an hard fight, pushing him and putting him under pressure but the size disadvantage working against him. But I'll say this, Norton from the first Ali fight would take Fury to the very last minute imo and never let up.
Norton's appeal really lies in the anomaly of him having Ali's number. It's a curious thing that while he would probably always give the very greatest Heavyweight ever a stern examination, and obviously beat him a good chunk of the time, he himself isn't a head-to-head monster at all. Norton's risible record and tendency to freeze up against genuine knockout punchers leads me to believe he gets annihilated by confident, aggressive versions of Joshua and Wilder (who knows in the long run whether we'll ever see those guys return to their very best in that regard given their recent setbacks). Don't see Ken getting past three or four rounds in those fights. Stylistically he's better suited to facing Fury, and I think he could give Fury a decent argument. But Fury enjoys fighting in close a lot more than Ali and is more natural making room in close for uppercuts, body shots etc. Ali never really knew what to do with Norton's come-forward, lurching style once he couldn't keep him outside, but I think that's less of a problem for Fury. Not to mention that Ali and Norton weren't too far apart in terms of size and weight, whereas Ken would potentially be giving away 50 lb or so to Fury. I think Norton's best chance here is to catch Fury early on, when he has occasionally looked vulnerable, with something looping. A bit like Cunningham did. But more often than not I just see a very game Norton eventually getting smothered, muscled and worked over to a wide points loss here or maybe a late stoppage. Ruiz is a bit of a mystery and I'm not sure how to call this one. Despite his embarrassing physique he's generally had a decent engine. In terms of his skills he's flittered between the impressive and the abysmal - he looked absolutely clueless in the Joshua rematch and that ain't all down to the fact that he was so heavy. He's obviously tough and I think Norton would have a hard time stopping him. Right now I'm inclined to edge towards Norton taking a contentious decision. Can't have Ken losing everything, can I?
