Thirty seven years ago today..........

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010.


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  1. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ali-Norton 2. And I can recall it happening like it was yesterday. Imo.the best fight of their trilogy. Ali pulling out all the stops in the final round,and doing just enough to win. I stand by that opinion after all this time. Ali looked better than he had for six years,and re-established himself as a heavyweight force and was on his first step back to the crown. Ken Norton had proved he'd definitely arrived,and that the first fight was no fluke. Great memories.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    #1
  2. Flemo83

    Flemo83 Active Member Full Member

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    Norton was deffo Ali's bogeyman. Just bought his (Nortons) book
     
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
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  3. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I thought Ali wasted too much energy using movement in the early rounds, most of which he won. Norton came back strong after the 5th or 6th round onwards, but Ali pulled off the win with a 12th round rally, giving it his absolute all.
     
    TheGreatA, Sep 10, 2010
    TheGreatA, Sep 10, 2010
    #3
  4. Flemo83

    Flemo83 Active Member Full Member

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    Yeah i totally agree. Norton always seemed to do well against skillful boxers, Ali and Holmes to name a couple but couldn't handle the bigger punchers. Do u think Nortons own power is under estimated?
     
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
    #4
  5. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I've yet to read that. Good avatar,by the way. I've always liked that photo of Muhammad and Joe.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    #5
  6. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ken was a crisp,accurate and solid puncher. Not a one punch ko artist,but no powderpuff.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    #6
  7. Flemo83

    Flemo83 Active Member Full Member

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    Do u know when/where it was taken?
     
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
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  8. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think it was taken just after Muhammad's fight with Oscar Bonavena. He and Frazier were having publicity photos for the FOTC. I've a feeling they were somewhere in New York at the time. Maybe The Garden itself.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    Stevie G, Sep 10, 2010
    #8
  9. Flemo83

    Flemo83 Active Member Full Member

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    Yeah you could be right, looks like it was taken before any of the animosity built up between them.
     
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
    Flemo83, Sep 10, 2010
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  10. ironchamp

    ironchamp Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This is one of Ali's most underrated wins.....If he lost this fight, then he probably wouldn't have gotten the title shot against Foreman in Zaire...

    He may have eventually gotten a shot if Foreman used Ali as a voluntary defense but that would have meant an even older Ali faces Foreman.
     
    ironchamp, Sep 10, 2010
    ironchamp, Sep 10, 2010
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  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This is my take as well. Physically, Ali looked as good as he ever did after the exile. But he did not fight well tactically at all. He should have slowed down after the first 2-3 rds when it was clear he wasn't doing any damage to Norton. Sure, he won the rounds, but it was pretty obvious he couldn't keep that pace for the whole fight.
     
    Bokaj, Sep 10, 2010
    Bokaj, Sep 10, 2010
    #11
  12. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

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    never liked the norton fights - clash of styles - both are counter fighters, bit boring to watch to be honest. ali's timing and distance was always a bit off v norton but he did look his best in this one for the first 5 rounds. when he got serious and trained hard like he did for this one and foreman it showed in his performance.
     
    groove, Sep 10, 2010
    groove, Sep 10, 2010
    #12
  13. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

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    I agree, Ali bagged something like the first 5 rds, I had either 7-4-1 or 8-4 but Norton came alive in the 2nd half of the fight to make it closer but Ali won it.

    Ken HAD to win the last round to have any chance to avoid defeat & Ali stepped up & proved himself by winning the round hands down.

    Good fight, both men looked excellent & up for it.
     
    Bill Butcher, Sep 10, 2010
    Bill Butcher, Sep 10, 2010
    #13
  14. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Muhammad found this one harder than he did the Frazier rematch,from the looks of it. Imo,he won Frazier 2 fairly clearly.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 11, 2010
    Stevie G, Sep 11, 2010
    #14
  15. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He paced himself better against Frazier.
     
    Bokaj, Sep 11, 2010
    Bokaj, Sep 11, 2010
    #15
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