Rocky Marciano vs Kenny Norton

I think Norton would stop Rock. Maybe on cuts. Kenny had a nice jab and he was tough to nail with a righthand clean.

Eddie Futch would probably tell Kenny to use that muscle to push Marciano back. Kenny had some power too. Ask Ali's jaw.

 

I’m not saying Norton stands higher all-time because he doesn’t but I think I’d lean his way here. He’d be strong enough to smother Rocky in close if need be and was sharp enough to land plenty. I’ve often found it a lazy pick with Norton (and Patterson) to say assume puncher vs. Norton = KO for the puncher. Norton’s losses to Shavers and Cooney you can toss them really. He was at the end. Only really Foreman had his way with him and Foreman would have his way with most.

 

Manual labour will not give you big hands,Christ knows I did enough of it when young, and I have small hands.11.25" I have a feeling that if Rocky's tale of the tape said he had 13" fists and a 42 " chest, and that he was 5'11.5", you would accept it without question.

 

I think this is a plausible possibility.

 

Like he didnt do against Lastarza,Moore,Walcott, Charles,Cokkel?

 

Norton was nearly 38 when Cooney stopped him ,his desire and motivation were gone. He had won just 2 of his last 5 fights ,and the Cooney one would be his swan song.

Wonder how Marciano would have done against a 6'6",225lbs monster puncher at that age?

 

Just the idea of Cooney hitting Marciano is sorta scary. We may have to go looking for him.

 

lol.
A 38 years old Rocky would definitely be in trouble here imo.

 

So, you're saying that Marciano's fists may be even smaller and Norton's more gargantuan. That is something to consider indeed.

 

Yes, jobs where finger strength is king and would lead to the development of the finger muscles (moreso than traditional weightlifting) will not increase fist size.

Not to mention microfractures in the bones from the shocks of swinging a hammer or something of the like which slowly breaks down the bone, heals, and becomes larger and stronger.

And calluses

Like what he did against Walcott, Matthews, Reynolds, etc. 11 first round KOs, average KO round of 4.

 

Marciano would destroy his back in training before the fight happened

 

Well I don’t dispute you picking Rocky in this fight, and I would as well. My question is who did Rocky KO that was twice the fighter of Norton? Norton is right there for me on the best 4 that Rocky beat

 

Norton has an excellent resume over past prime Ali and Larry Holmes himself, but we're talking about Norton

Norton was not on the level of Walcott and Charles. He was around Moore tier, imo

 

As I recall, The Rock's youth wasn't one of total privation and desperation. He was extremely well fed, worked a bit in the shoe factory but attended school full time and was generally shielded from the drudgery that his dad had to endure. He was hardly down in the salt mines all day.

Which of any of those resembles the specimen that was a prime (not 38 year old) Norton?

 

It was after he dropped out of school. He did many menial labor jobs to make money. Watch "Rocky Marciano: a life" or Mike Stanton's "Undefeated"

Walcott far outclasses Norton