Both Kenny Norton and Jersey Joe Walcott in their last fights as champion s. Both faced ATGs in their first title fight and both put up great performances. Who takes it?
I would take Walcott on points. He fought a series of fights with many ATG and won some while Norton always fell short. (He shoud have got the Dec over Ali) It would be a great fight.
I'm not gonna hold bad decisions against Ken Norton. He won at least 2 out of three against Ali and the only one you can make a case he lost was very close. Holmes/Norton? Honestly could have gone either way. If he was the house fighter Kenny would be 4-0 in this big fights. Walcott presents a tricky style. Good power, timing, footwork. Probably a chess match. Another decision. This time justice is served, Norton wins it.
I've got Kenny winning a entertaining fight, both men hurt and Norton stopping Jersey Joe in the last couple of rounds.
Both fighters were well spent at this stage of their careers, Ken Norton having won a war against Jimmy Young on Nov 5 1977 for the vacant WBC Title., then losing his title to Larry Holmes on June 9 1978 by a split decision. Jersey Joe Walcott having fought wars with a fading Joe Louis, wars with Ezzard Charles, then losing his title to Rocky Marciano on Sept 23 1952 by a 13th round KO. I see this bout going back and forth as Walcott was very canny with his angles as he was setting up his punches. Norton was as I said before battle worn. I do believe that after an exhausting bout, Ken wins a hotly disputed decision over an aging Jersey Joe Walcott.
Good fight. Both men at a declining stage in their career, but still pretty capable of holding their own in a war. It's undeniable. Walcott and Norton looked pretty damn good in their loss of the heavyweight title, and both nearly beat the younger man. Pretty damn impressive for men in their upper thirties. It all depends though. Both were subject to a couple robberies in their time, but always close ones. Both have the styles to produce an excellent fight. There' no doubt about that. I slightly favor Norton only a little bit, since he lost less often, and to better opposition, and in a much closer fashion, but it's close anyway. I do think Walcott poses a greater threat to Norton than either Ali or Holmes did, since he hit harder than either of them imo, not to mention he was smaller. Very good fight. I don't think either would go down @Richard M Murrieta.
Sorry I disappointed you. It was just not that common for either man to go down that I was aware of, at least in this situation.
