who rates higher Ken Norton or Tim Witherspoon?

Ken Norton. He beat Muhammad Ali before Ali beat Frazier and Foreman. Defeated a Prime Jimmy Young, lost to a prime Larry Holmes by 1 point. Nortons resume is not deep. But he proved himself elite vs ALi and Holmes

 

Witherspoon was better, but Norton rates slightly higher on account of the Ali fights. Spoon would clearly be ahead if pulled out a win over Holmes.

 

Norton by a mile.

 

I suppose Norton , but prime for prime I would pick Tim to win.

 

Witherspoon. Norton is vastly overrated simply because stylistically he gave Ali problems.

 

At their peaks I'd say their about the same. Similar styles both guys fought out of a crouch used their jabs well and placed very good power punches to the head and body with both their rights and lefts.. I rank Norton higher because of his win and his other great showings against Ali and Holmes. Witherspoon also had many more low points in his career, Norton at least was consistent with being in shape and fight ready he struggled late in his career just because of age.

 

Compared to Ken Norton, Tim Witherspoon could match up well with a bigger variety of top heavyweights. When facing top heavyweights, Norton could only match up well with the cuties while getting blown out in bouts with the big punchers. Even fighting cuties such as Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young and Larry Holmes, Norton never won decisively.

I don't consider Norton stopping Jerry Quarry to be a decisive victory over a top fighter. Quarry was past his peak at the time.

- Chuck Johnston

 

The question is who do you rate higher not who would win.

Norton with his wins over Ali, Young, Quarry and going tooth and Nail with prime Holmes gets the very obvious nod.

Tim was an up and down fighter. You never knew who would show up for the fight.

Norton was No 1 contender during a great talent laden period in boxing history not diluted down as when Tim was in his prime.

 

Norton was more up and down than Witherspoon, literally., and lacks his longevity. Everyone knows the deal here so far except for you.

 

Tim was a nothing as compared to Norton.

 

Norton was repeatedly flattened early and likely a roid user.

 

Norton beat the best hwt ever and went tooth and nail with him in two other bouts. Nearly beat Holmes who is top 5 ATG. The only fighters to beat him in his prime were ATG. Tim was koed by James Smith in one round in his prime. Really not comparable. Class A hwt vs a class C hwt.

 

Norton and it's not even close. Ken Norton was a motivated, serious fighter, the only man Muhammad Ali couldn't figure out. The kindest way to describe Witherspoon is to say that he was a distracted fighter. He could not keep his head on the ring...it was everywhere else. Norton was always in shape and prepared to put forth maximum effort. If he'd been given the decision against Ali at Yankee Stadium, as he fully deserved, he would be in the top 15 of all time.

 

Norton has that win over Ali and 2 other very close fights and also a very close fight with the younger Holmes, Quarry was shot and I thought Young won but it was close. Witherspoon for me was an underachiever and other than KOing a green and stiff Bruno who was also stopped by Smith and Gonzales who was a big target, who did Tim beat impressively, most of his big wins were SD

Tim had talent and a good right hand but he didn't get stops over the better men of his era so I dont think his power could tip Norton, you needed a little more POP. I think Norton was always conditioned and he would back Tim up and beat him with his work rate and pressure. It could be a Norton stop or UD but cant see Tim winning