Who was better ..Ken Norton or Tim Witherspoon?

good post bud, agree with most of it. Though I likely favor Tim over Shavers a little more than you it seems.

 

He wiped out Bruno, Bonecrusher is split and the second fight explains a lot about Tim and his lack of consistency. Pinklon beat him with the jab which was part of the problem of Tim pawing with the jab, and Holmes was older, but Tim was younger. I am not sure Snipes,Tillis and Broad prove anything more than Norton. I did say Norton in my mind was more Hall of Fame than Tim, but not as good. It is an odd thing I think in that fight with Holmes, Holmes was the better fighter and had more speed and early on it looked easy for Larry winning the early rounds, but then Norton kept coming and Larry faded, which is why they had the great later rounds. But that was a great fight.

 

Norton said that the decision in the third Ali fight broke him and he was not the same afterwards.

 

Hey cheers. I just think Shavers would be live against Tim at this stage of his career. I'd favor Witherspoon but wouldn't overly count out Shavers. He'd have to get him in the first half or not much later tho. Odds are Witherspoon gets past the dangerous early going.

 

That's tough to say. Norton has the better legacy because of his trilogy with Ali, and he fought in that famous Golden Era of heavyweights.
Tim I like a lot, but there was quite a spell where he was losing to a lot of people that he shouldn't have. So I'd have to say Norton.

 

Absolutely right. I give the edge to Kenny.

 

Norton for me. For a short while you can say Norton was the number 1 HW out there. Holmes had to beat him to be considered number 1. Ken also has the big victories over Ali.

Spoon was a contender for an insanely long time. 82-96 he was always there or there abouts. But he lost every time he stepped up and that's what differentiates the two for me. Spoon never had that championship win at all costs mentality.

 

Excellent summary!

 

Witherspoon used the crab defense better, and could duck or counter. To use the crab defense you need to be quick on the counter with you rear hand and use your lead shoulder to block. Fans of the crab defense and crossed armed defense should check out Paulino Uzcudun.

Who was more talented? On offense, Norton who remains very under rated as a body puncher.

Overall, I think Witherspoon was a better heavyweight by a small margin, as he had durability, and which is the one major flaw Norton had.

You could say Norton was better of the two vs Boxers, Witherspoon better vs punchers, and swarming types.

 

What is this spell you speak of?

 

Jimmy Thunder, Golota, Brian Nix, Greg Page.

 

I don’t think we’re discussing a 40+ Witherspoon.

 

Norton easily for me

 

Then I guess were not discussing a post 1978 Norton.