Norton, not just a paper champ.

I've never understood why the Ali-Bonavena and Ali-Foster M fights were 15 rounds either.

 

I often wonder what would have happened if Ken had connected with Earnie Shavers' chin before Shavers got his own big punches in. Okay,Norton may not have punched as hard as Shavers,but he hit harder than a couple of men who'd previously knocked Earnie out.

 

Those too..very curious...some fast and loose stuff regarding the championship limits

 

There were too many undeserving or less deserving inductees (than people not in still or who were inducted later than them) in IBHOF to think about it as a measurement of greatness. It's been a hall of popularity from the start, not a hall of ATGs.

 

He was at least one class above.

He has the better resume. Norton has the better top win(s - haven´t really made my mind up, quite close normally in those cases I rate those fights as draws) but Patterson´s resume is far deeper beating the best fom the mid/late 50s to the early 70s outside of Liston and Ali - Jackson 2x, Moore, London, Johannson 2x, Machen, Chuvalo, Cooper, Quarry 2x, Ellis, Bonavena and a few less regarded ranked fighters and most of them were bigger and younger than him. Patterson´s achievements also are far more impressive. He actually was the champ, Norton wasn´t. Not just that, he was the youngest champ ever and the first to regain the crown which are both unique acheivements. He also stayed on top far longer than Norton - if I remember right something like 12 years rated in the Top10.

He also was the better fighter of the two. Faster, punched probably slightly harder, more skilled, better defence, more adaptable - after Liston he changed his appraoch when fighting bigger fighters who could punch, fought from the backfoot and only engaged spoadically to score with his speed, something Norton never managed to do - and had probably the better chin - He was knocked out 3 times by 2 of the hardest hitters the division has ever seen and he was on his feet everytime - if I remember right. Yep, he was knocked down often but never past the 4th round - with one exception: first Ali fight - this has much to do with him having some kind of stage fever and stylistic issues that were easier to exploit when he was "cold"/before he got going. The only thing Norton has over him is size. Not enough.

 

I agree with this,lufcrazy. It's indeed an honour to be let into the HOF.

 

There is no objective measure of greatness; only subjective interpretation of resume.

The HoF cannot serve that purpose, and does not.

 

I have been saying this for years. Norton had a great body attack. He never seems to get credit for it.