Reality check - Ken Norton

Very well stated. He doesn't deserve a reputation as having a fragile chin. He was knocked out by three of the hardest punchers in the history of the division.

 

FOR RUSSELL . .
Walcott fought Fox in 1938 he was 24 years old ,during 38 Walcott never scaled above190 and usually around 185-187
Fox first fought Walcott in 1937 Walcott was 184 3/4lbs to Fox's 178 lbs ,Fox had over 100 fights to the 23 year old Walcott's 23.Fox is considered great Light heavy.Garcia is considered an in an outer.

Garcia started boxing as a LIGHT HEAVY,he fought Vincente Rondon for the vacant Venezuelan Light heavy title 1969 ,he weighed 1741/2lbs.Garcia fought Norton in 1970 he weighed 188lbs, he scaled the same 188lbs when he fought BIll Drover that year. Garcia was really a cruiser blown up . CHECK IT OUT.

 

Seems like there still are basically two camps.

The first thinks that his knockout losses come against some of the hardest hitters ever, and therefore should not count against his durability.

The second thinks the way in which he folded against said hitters and the fact that he never did prove to be capable of taking a big punch, does indicate a less than stellar jaw.

 

Simply put, Norton couldn't hang with the big bangers. He could be knocked senseless. Guys like Joe Louis, Frazier, Liston, etc., would all be able to knock Norton out, because his style would allow him to be hit with big bombs. He could recuperate from a guy who is not as powerful, but once knocked senseless, from a big banger, he was essentially done.

 

You don't arguably beat Ali three times, and have the overall career record that Norton had while having a china chin. Was it great? Nope. Was it better than average? Yep.

 

I take the view that Ken's chin was solid enough. It's just when he was caught by the most heavy type of hitter,like Foreman,Shavers and Cooney,he'd stiffen up and get tagged again.

 

I agree that people are too quick to make assumptions that he would crumble before any puncher but at the same time you do have to factor in his losses to punchers when judging fantasy matchups.

You are never going to pick him over Sonny Liston for example.