Norton wins Ali 3 Fight, defends against whom?

He would have given Ali a rematch, like Spinks did. Might have cost him a belt, but so what? That was where the money was and he'd be confident of beating Ali once more.

There'd be no money in a defense against Young, and taking on George would be the same as giving the title away.

Holmes was not seen as a contender in late 1976 early 1977.

 

I think Norton likely would have had a 4th fight with Ali (if Ali would have wanted it, he may not, although if Ken had been given the decision in Yankee Stadium, methinks Ali's ego would have kicked in!). That would take us up to the Summer of '77, by which time Young has knocked off Foreman.

I see a similar schedule for as to what actually transpired, Bobick, followed by Young, possibly Shavers in the mix...I actually believe that a pre-Holmes Norton has a much better chance of KOing Shavers than the March '79 version.

If Norton had got the decision in Yankee Stadium you would have seen a better, more motivated Ken...he himself said he lost motivation and desire after that decision went against him.

 

Norton eventually fights Shavers or Lyle and gets Koed. Norton could never handle KO punchers. He could not move and when pressured he back straight to the ropes.

 

Norton would've fought the stinky Jimmy Young in '77 for his defense and would've gotten a close shave dec. like he really did.....

MR.BILL

 

i see it like this.. fighting ali means the wba strips you, fighting young means that you fight for both, but there was no money in fighting young.

 

Ali-Norton IV would be the main money spinner.

 

Not necessarily, and I still have Young beating Norton in a close one when they did fight, other opinions totally respected.

 

Norton did have trouble with big punchers but not so much in his prime save Foreman...duh...who could have hung in with George in early 74? I've seen a ton of Lyle-Norton what-if threads. IMO Norton would out-class Lyle and eventually stop him. I'm just not buying into the Norton wilts against anyone that has a punch BS! Shavers? Forget their fight when Ken was approaching 'toast-ville".
Perhaps a 76-77 Earnie would have reached Ken but I don't think that's a set in stone scenerio.

 

Ali and Norton would've done the dance for the fourth time.

 

I suspect he would have taken an easy money first defence as Frazier and Foreman did.

Once that formality was out of the way, he would have seen a fourth Ali fight as being the big money fight with the best chance of sucess.

 

Ali was where the money was. Shavers in 1976 and 1977 displayed the best stamina of his career, and Earnie was a dedicated body puncher. He decked Ken with a right to the body when they did fight, and Foreman decimated Norton downstairs in Caracas. [Ken commented from ringside for Shavers-Tiger Williams and Ali-Shavers, so he didn't necessarily buy into the stereotype that Earnie would gas too much to eventually become safe to attack.]

For a gimme inaugural defense prior to Ali IV, he might opt for the winner of Lyle-Bugner. Ron won that via 12 round SD. Although aging, he was still dangerous enough that Norton could be terribly surprised by what he might expect to be an easy defense.

 

Norton could not move well with that wide stance and back foot "in the bucket". Huge punchers push him to the ropes and typically there he stays and eventually he gets tagged. Garcia knocked him out, Foreman knocked him out and the same with Shavers. I know a former boxer who told me that Quarry knocked Norton OUT...like really out...in a sparring session in the early 70's. In general its tough for any fighter to survive in the ring if they can't move away, side to side and Norton just was not very adept in doing so.

 

My guess is he would have taken on an Evangelista type for an easy one, then fought Ali again. And won. Then defended against Young.


And this, my friends, is what should have happened, were there any fairness in boxing.