Ken deserves much more credit than he gets. I feel he beat Ali in the third fight although did not get the nod and also was unlucky against Holmes. He fought all the best at a time that many regard as a golden era. Thanks for the upload.
excellent analysis. You can't judge a chin based on shots by Foreman and Shavers: Frazier was one of the most durable fighters of all time and Big George knocked him down 7 times in one fight.
The Bo Jackson of boxing, this man done football, track and boxing. Just an incredible athlete. His son was a football player to, it runs in the family.
Ken Norton was a great strategist and defensive artist, his only weakness was - indeed - the hard punchers. Then again, it's no shame having been knocked out by Foreman and Shavers, two of the hardest hitting boxers of all time.
RIP to Norton he was Really great at Jabbing with the Opponent, And Really great at Catching the opponent's Jab on his Glove , Norton had a Really Great Overhand Right as well he would catch the Opponents punch on His right Glove and come right over top with His own Devastating Right Hand , Norton did very well When he Had Fights against boxers
Norton most likely developed his strategy versus lesser hitters, who could not penetrate his defense. Why jump around when you can plod and deflect? Unfortunately, the cross defense is obviously not great for guarding against uppercuts, and it just so happens that Foreman and Shavers threw bombs in that department. Considering Kenny's relatively economic style, I believe he could have been busier vs. Ali, particularly in that third fight. He must've known by then that you can't lay off vs. Ali.
@zenmachinefilms Yup, I've seen all of Ali's fights with Norton here on YT and I must say this is the one fighter whom Ali just didn't have a real answer for. Even in their second match, Ali BARELY won it on points. Norton had a highly effective defensive stance for those who were boxers as opposed to sluggers. Unfortunately, he always seemed to freeze up against the heavy hitters whenever he got clocked good. Still, doesn't take away the fact that he still is among boxing's all-time greats.
A huge weakness was relative immobility brought on by dragging his back leg,and this lack of mobility set him up to bomb punchers.Mobility and angles neutralize devastating punchers ok.You cant move well with a big defect like dragging that back leg.That said,obviously this was an exceptional fighter indeed,he was a champ,all respect.
@carlitoboxing7 I agree he beat ali every time it just seemed a lot clearer in the first and third fight. ken norton will always be remembered in the very best way and most people I know thought he just had the right style and work ethic to beat Ali every time. A great role model for sports in general inside and out of the ring.
@ebeneezzer Glass jaw? He got knocked out by Foreman, Shavers and Cooney, three of the hardest punchers in boxing history. Two of those fights were also at the end of his career.
Ali was past his prime for all 3 of those fights and i honestly think Ali won two out of three fights. You gotta take the belt from the champ everybody knows that and norton just didn't do enough in two of those fights to take the belt. Ali was too quick for him even past his prime.
Joe Frazier beer commercial was in the late 1970s, I think it was 77 or 78. MTV didn't even want to put black people on in the 80s until CBS threated to take all their songs elsewhere. Most American's opposed the draft by the 70s. Anyways this is off topic, the point is Mayweather is a no name, even people who didn't like Ali know who he was by he was 35. Mayweather is an undefeated triple title holder, and statically one of the greatest boxers yet is widely unknown by the general public
Norton had his moments as a good contender , but with a stronger chin and more power , he could have achieved more . Also , his defense wasn't the greatest to get caught as many times as a did .
Ie. there was no one around in marciano's era who could hit as hard as the 70s, no one aroudn now who hits as hard as foreman or shavers. At least not in the hw, the hardest hitter around today is bailey and both pacman and mayweather won't fight him. So on a level one must respect ken norton because many fighters from other era's would simply avoid fighting those guys
Did you even see Norton's fights with Ali? What nonsense that Ali "won" the second fight. Even the LA Times stated after the second fight "that if Ali won, then Japan won World War 2." The third bout was closer and even that was questionable.
Ali definitely won the second fight. Norton wasn't nearly busy enough to win. Third fight was very close and could have gone either way, but again I say Norton had to know the intangibles were against him: Ali legend, Ali was champ etc...So Norton I don't think did enough to SECURE a victory, though maybe he did enough to EARN one.
MTV was different there wernt racist as they billed them self as a rock station then came prince with pop and they played him run DMC came out with the rest of the hip hop movement they went from Rakim to tupac to lil wayne now. Everyone knows Mayweather and Paquiao its probably going to be the highest selling fight in the history of boxing as every one wants to see it from even old school like Hearns and Holyfield want to see it there constantly on ESPN they are very well known
Ali never got an advertisement when he was in his prime or when he was boxing Jerry Quarry did because he was humble tough and marketable Mayweather is a cocky arrogant son of a bitch like Ali both wernt marketable also Mayweather is the face of boxing as he his rated the best P4P fighter along with Paquiao Baileys was an exceptional puncher who cant box and thats why hes stuck in journey men fights he hasnt proven him self
you need to talk to the regular public go around talking to the people in the city barber shop they all know Floyd and Paquiao also MTV started in 81 and billed it self as a rock and roll station only none of that pop then prince became very popular along with MJ they played both of them in 83 just two years after also MTV played a handfull of black stars in there first 18 months more black people got in it during the hip hop movement also im black well half anyway
I don't know if you are a racist, but you are speaking in the discourse of a racist whether or not you are aware of it. The fact of the matter is they would not play black musicians, wouldn't show their face. Then the other thing was when black rock musicians did rock, it was not recognized as rock by MTV, it was the excuse they used for not playing them and Chuck Berry and Lil Richard speak about this in a film. Everyone in boxing wants to see it, but the regular public doesn't know floyd?
Black people made it in advertisements especially boxers dont forget Joe Louis Joe Frazier for light beer sugar ray robinson for basically anything he was probably the most famous boxer before Ali, Ali didnt make it cause he refused the draft thats going to take business away from the product him joining the Nation of Islam Mayweather is older then a majority of his opponentshes 35 and has one of if not the best defense in boxing history he rarely gets hit
Meh, I think u are over-analyzing the other guys point. I think one can still be a great fighter and have losses or weaknesses to certain types of fighters. Ie. Klitshcko is a great fighter but his endurance is not so great, he has trouble with fighters who don't stand infront of him or who have good endurance and he would not be able to take punches from from a lot of hard hitters. Had Norton fought in many other era's there is a good chance he could have gone undefeated.
Mayweather is a no name, Pacquiao basically is boxing. When was the last time you seen mayweather advertising in a commercial like lebron james or any other sports mega star. Never, outside of boxing circles, no one knows anyone but Pacman and K2 in Germany. Cotto may simply have a higher threshold or better chin than the other 2.
its not they wont fight him Baileys a no name got beat by another no name devon hes just another puncher who hits exceptionally hard Cotto beat him and both pacquiao and mayweather beat Cotto
My skin is white and if I was born in France I'd still not be a French man. Your argument is akin to a white whose was born in south africa but lives in america demanding they are an african american. I don't know if you ever been to Europe, but these terms not only describe culture they describe pseudo racial identities. A Scots man isn't just a person born in Scotland, it is a specific type of white person with a culture and ancestry to go with it. Your ancestory come from ireland you ain'
To me ali's prime is 1960-67 ie pre title stripped. But he almost had a 2nd lesser prime going from 70-78. Lets be honest here, Quarry got advertisements because he was white,America was racist back then, they didn't even put black musicians faces on albums in the 60's. America is not as racist now, mayweather is p4p #1 because he fights washed up old has beens like oscar and mosley to pad his record, or undefeated nobody's like ortiz,
