Kenny Norton , awkward crossarm guard, relentless pressure and body punching. Pinklon Thomas, one of the best jabs of the 80s , durable and technically Sharp.
Over 12 rounds I lean towards Thomas getting a tight decision. Over the longer distance, I see Ken catching up, Thomas could fade late , and getting a decision win. I don't see a stoppage loss for either man tbh.
Wow this is a good one. Thomas wasn’t the brute big puncher that Norton failed against. But he was pretty good had that good jab. This should be close. Could go either way.
Norton has some trouble with Pinklons jab that just piston through Witherspoon somewhat similar cross arm defence. However I think Kenny gets past this and the bodywork would slow Pinklon down. I would lean towards Norton by close but clear decision. Pinklon didn’t punch like Shaver, Foreman or Cooney. That makes me feel Ken shoul win.
I think Kenny holds his own in the jabbing battle — he did with Ali and at times with Larry Holmes, but had to be on the front foot a lot more with Larry as the fight unfolded — and gets the edge with his withering and constant body work. Norton by decision, not a runaway but not razor close, say 10-5 (or 8-4 in a 12-rounder). No knockdowns, neither seriously rocked or hurt. Pink’s chin was iron and Thomas isn’t of the class of puncher that troubled Norton (although he could generate power with the right for a single shot here and there when he made up his mind to use it).
I can see a close fight on the cards with Norton getting the decision. Pinklon Thomas certainly had power but it wasn’t the sort that would overwhelm Norton. Thomas possibly had one of the top ten best heavyweight jabs of all time but Ken showed he could slip the best of them and be effective in close. Good fight
My thoughts exactly. In a Trilogy I could see Kenny winning 2 of the 3 or the other way round, lol. A thinking man's thread this.
Thomas handled Witherspoon quite well who had a cross arm defence like Norton and Witherspoon had alot of trouble trying to parry Thomas's ramrod jab. I think the version of Thomas who beat Witherspoon convincingly would be a tough match up for Norton.