The Hardest Hitter That Norton Beats?

He was badly wobbled by Ali in their second bout, buckled by JQ just as referee Johnny LoBianco initially was going to stop it, and was buckled by a horribly out of shape and past prime Garcia in their rematch.

George Foreman rated Jack O'Halloran in his top five hardest punchers he was ever hit by, and Ken had a war with The Giant. It seems O'Halloran is the hardest puncher Norton ever officially posted a win over.

Does 1970 Norton defeat Bob Foster at the time friend and stablemate Frazier blew him out? Garcia and BF were the same height and weight in 1970, while Ken was 26 and at his athletic peak. Do Garcia and the far greater BF post back to back knockout wins over Norton in 1970?

Ron Lyle is a real question mark and glaring omission from Norton's 1970's resume. Does Mac Foster revive his career after 1972 by getting Norton in the ring? Does Norton get to Ali in 1973 if he has to go through Jerry Quarry in 1972? (Did his management actually consider JQ after Ali dominated Jerry in their rematch?)

Checking Ken's record, it seems O'Halloran is the hardest puncher he beat, if what Foreman says is to be believed. Foreman-O'Halloran footage does show George actively ducking, so Jack certainly gained Foreman's respect for his power.

Bobick in victory did it with work rate, body punching and attrition. He didn't have a chance to really connect on Ken, another extremely slow starter. Take that one into the middle rounds, I don't like Duane's chances. Going in, I was hoping for a competitive bout, but Norton had too much hand speed, Bobick would have no answer for that overhand right, and it's another bloodbath like JQ and Stander had been.

 

I do remember Ali wobbling him, and Quarry hurting him but don't remember Garcia having much success in the rematch? I admittedly haven't watched it in quite some time.

Fwiw, Garcia blatantly cheated in his first bout with Norton, hitting him with a cheap shot after the bell, when the ref's back was turned.

 

Should mention here that as a clean boxing sportsman among the HW ranks, Kenny ranks up there with Patterson.

I'd have to review Norton-Garcia II again, but admittedly am preoccupied with other matters.

Ali couldn't play smoke and mirrors with Norton after their first match, as Ken was convinced Muhammad had nothing to hurt him with. Ali's powerful lags meant he could plant in an instant then drive one through with force.

 

Mike Weaver.

 

Norton's deficiencies were in style for me, if he couldn't play chess with you to an extent, he could be taken off his game and exposed. I think there are plenty of sturdy hitters who wouldn't be physical enough to move Norton off his game plan, nor crafty enough to detonate on him. I think he could jab Wilder down and whoop him, but it may be a bridge too far physically.

Max Baer is not a bad shout either since Max doesn't really have short power like a Foreman and wasn't very big like Cooney. I don't put much stock into the Cooney loss as I feel Holmes was Norton's real last stand and he looked crap against Tex Cobb before Cooney demolished him.

I'm not sure Frazier beats Norton. I like that Norton would have the size and physicality edge against a person who was not a murderous one shotter but had really solid power. Norton keys in on the left hand a lot, too and is good at neutralizing it. I think Rahman could be beaten by Norton. Lamon Brewster packed a wallop but I think Norton would box his ears off. Anyone that Norton wouldn't sit against the ropes and get knocked out by

 

Ken was really a mid rounds fighter. (He never had an impressive stoppage in double digit rounds. Badly overrated stamina. Ali is the true HW standard bearer for the Championship Distance with eight double digit stoppage wins.) Frazier was a MUCH faster starter (Machen, Ramos, Daniels, Bob Foster, Ziggy), his hook to the body would be underneath Norton all fight long, Smoke had much faster hands and a much shorter right. Ken needed to reposition himself for his right uppercut, and his overhand right would hit nothing but the air over Joe's crouch and bob. Finally, Bugner rated Frazier's chin as the best he ever dealt with. Norton simply didn't have the power to hurt Frazier. Only one person's advancing in this one, and it's the guy with the lower center of gravity and higher work rate. I'd put money on Smoke in this one.

Max Baer displayed his short hook in crushing King Levinski to end their exhibition. Plus, he was crazy. Kenny doesn't bring any psychological edge to this one, no potential for hurting the Larruper, and Maxie had 20 round outdoor desert heat stamina. (BTW, Max took out the 6'8" Santa Camarao in ten. Modern skyscraper SHWs would be dead against Maxie's overhand right.) The Larruper was slowly retreating into a corner when he suddenly came over the top with his right to anesthetize rugged Pat Comiskey. (Foreman would've dead with Maxie.)

 

It was actually Ken who nicknamed Mike "Hercules." Norton did not have Championship Round one punch knockout power in both hands, while Mike took a far better punch than Ken was capable of delivering.

 

Not having stoppages in double digit rounds doesn't say that much about his stamina to me given he's had strong finishes in multiple fights.

Norton won his share of rounds 10-15 against Ali in 76 and also won his share of the last 5 against Holmes.

Three of his 4 stoppages losses are within 2 rounds and the other, definitely pre peak was in round 8.

When has he ever capitulated in the later rounds or been stopped in them?

The answer is a resounding never.

 

Good post and I didn’t know GF rated O’Halloran thusly.

Just on Norton being wobbled. Just imo, I never saw that happening.

But what I did hear (not see) were the commentators ridiculously exaggerating Norton’s reaction to a few hard shots from Ali.

The commentary was very much pro Ali - knee jerk praise upon any apparent positive in Ali’s favour.

At one stage - the announcers noted that Ali was “up on his toes” and therefore “looks great” - yes, aesthetically it looked good but Ali wasn’t throwing otherwise, no practical end really being achieved.

However, in my eyes, JQ def. shook Ken on several occasions, to body and head - in balance, Norton still took it and fired back immediately.

Despite their animosity going in, after the first round (?) finished, Norton respectfully pumped JQ’s shoulder as a show of respect for JQ’s competitiveness and the leather he laid on Ken - at least that’s how I interpreted it.

JQ might’ve come somewhat close to the power threshold that might’ve brought Ken immediately undone - but the power wasn’t quite at the required level - though JQ was of course past his best and didn’t appear ideally conditioned at any rate.

I like Ken but seeing JQ beaten down toward the end of the fight as he was, is an extremely hard watch. Far too tough for his own good.

 

This is all sensible, but I would still pick Norton. Weaver just too inconsistent.

 

If I had a "dislike" button, I'd press it. When did we start calling Joe Frazier "Smoke"?

 

Of everything, THAT was your problem with the post?

 

Foreman rated O'holloran the 4th hardest puncher he'd faced off the top of my head.