Razor Ruddock vs Ken Norton ( both prime)

Was it his left ? well that just proves my point even more, just look at the jab of Larry Holmes in that fight. And tell me he had an issue throwing it.

 

Thanks for all of the compliments. Very kind of you.

As far as Norton's stylistic advantage, I can only say that it's entered common boxing wisdom that he had one against Ali. That his unique, crablike style was a difficult one for boxers to crack. I generally accept that judgment, but if you don't, then that might change things, yes.

On the 42 rounds against the greatest heavyweight of all time issue, I don't think that the Ali Norton faced was as good in all 3 meetings as he'd ever been. Frazier didn't face a peak Ali either, it's true, but FOTC Ali was closer to his best than the one(s) Norton beat. Fresher.

All 3 Norton/Ali fights are controversial in terms of scoring. To my knowledge, very few argue that the FOTC should be scored for Ali.

 

Man, Kenny is being very undersold in this thread....

 

Frazier and Futch scored the first fight a draw!

 

Even though Norton's kryptonite were fast starting punchers, I don't see his style being vulnerable to a guy like Ruddock. I think Norton's cross guard will be relatively effective against the Smash. He had more problems with wide leaping left hooks from tall guys coming over the cross guard. Even Ruddock had a good left hook, but i assume he doesn't had the power and the physical strength to roll right over him. I see a good chance for Kenny to survive the early attacks, and outboxing Razor. Maybe hurting him with a counter punch in the mid rounds and eventually finishing him.

 

To be fair his doctor said he would be at 100% in the beginning of the fight.

 

Look it up, we have the documented treatment he had for it the name of the Dr too, what more do you want ?

 

True. It's interesting, though, watching the hellacious left uppercut that Larry landed in the 15th...the one that might have changed the whole course of the fight.

 

What I'm saying is whether or not he had the Injury, it clearly didn't effect his performance did it ? His left jab was a potent as ever. And it was arguably one of his best performances of his career. So that also shouldn't detract from Norton's performance in the fight, who was probably a bit past his best himself.

 

No problem my man you always make good points and are respectful, you also give me a good laugh at your random topics.

 

He said he fought through the pain ,you can either accept that or not as you wish.

 

That did come kinda close to ending the fight.

 

Norton's puncher myth is as potent and ridiculous as ever. He wasn't particularly well suited to deal with them, true, but he has only one loss against a power puncher when in his prime -- that's George Foreman 1.0 at his best and with Joe Louis' blessing. Foreman is notoriously one of the most suffocating stalkers one could go against.

In the Cooney fight he was shot to bits and Lyle and Young both shared his fate. Same goes for Shavers bout in which, by his own admission, he decided that the fight is ending in a knockout either way. What he did was go to the ropes and try to land his own counter left hook in the pocket. Problem is, he isn't nearly as explosive, fast, and accurate as he used to be years prior, and Earnie wins the lottery over the shadow of the Fighting Marine.

Generally speaking, Kenny could take heck of a punch and could take them flush when necessary. He couldn't take hits from the most infamous punchers in the division's history? Well, there is an equally selective group of fighters through the history that had the whiskers to do so.

 

I fancy Norton by decision, especially if Futch is in his corner. Awkward, highly intelligent technician with superb athleticism, stifling work rate, and two handed combinations.

Granted, Ruddock always has the proverbial puncher's chance.