Rocky Marciano vs the 80s heavyweights.

Nice spin. Fringe contender for a couple years. Legit cruiser titlist tho.

 

Orlin Norris was a legit contender in the late 80s/early 90s.

But he was boring, never a draw. Never touted as a challenger because of that, and never given much coverage in the media, and not really a voluntary defence kind of fighter because he'd possibly make a champion look bad.
He came along at a time when HWs were expected to be big guys or exciting fighters (Tyson, Holyfield era). He wasn't needed.

If he had come along 10 or 15 years later, with Byrd and Ruiz, he'd probably have got HW title belt.

 

This is true too.

 

I agree. Norris was a hard sell. I'm not trying to pretend he was anything more than a good contender who did not get the breaks. He did not stand out. During the 1980s if you took out Tyson and Holmes the rest of the ratings were all as good (or bad) as each other. Orlin Norris was the same. No belt but just as good as the rest. Tucker, Dokes, Douglas, McCall. That kind of level.