How did Norton make it to the top level with no chin?

[Tanakasensei]

He couldn't last one round with guys who had true power (Foreman, Shavers, Cooney). I always thought top boxing was darwinism when it came to chin endurance - if you don't have it, you won't survive to be there..

But Norton obviously had no resilience to big shots. Unless you guys can name a huge puncher he could hang with..

Are there so few big hitters that you can reach top 5 without ever having to meet one?

[Slugfester]

Three of the biggest punchers ever though. Otherwise I don't remember him bring staggered. Kenny was a hulk who could overpower ordinary opponents enough to reach the heights. His chin had a threshold, a ceiling. Those three monster punchers could exceed that ceiling.

[Tanakasensei]

Three of the biggest punchers ever though. Otherwise I don't remember him bring staggered. Kenny was a hulk who could overpower ordinary opponents enough to reach the heights. His chin had a threshold, a ceiling. Those three monster punchers could exceed that ceiling.

I have no issue with him being being stopped by either of them. It's that he couldn't last a round.

[BKM-]

It's an interesting question. Maybe a better answer could have been achieved if he also faced some power punchers who were perhaps a step below a Foreman or Shavers. Like if he had fought Frazier and Lyle, would he have again crumbled inside 1 round the moment he tasted their power?

[Tanakasensei]

It's an interesting question. Maybe a better answer could have been achieved if he also faced some power punchers who were perhaps a step below a Foreman or Shavers. Like if he had fought Frazier and Lyle, would he have again crumbled inside 1 round the moment he tasted their power?

I think Lyle hit like Foreman. Fraziers best hook would probably be too much for him.

Norton had a nice, hard, jab but he didn't get up to the mph as the biggest hitters (didn't accelerate the strike as much). But I say Norton was a puncher.

[Tanakasensei]

The kickboxing legend Joe Lewis talked about how he (Lewis) sparred a guy who almost koed Norton every sparring session.

I'll get back to you guys who it was

[Dr. Z]

He couldn't last one round with guys who had true power (Foreman, Shavers, Cooney). I always thought top boxing was darwinism when it came to chin endurance - if you don't have it, you won't survive to be there..

But Norton obviously had no resilience to big shots. Unless you guys can name a huge puncher he could hang with..

Are there so few big hitters that you can reach top 5 without ever having to meet one?

Does a KO by Foreman make him chinny? What about Joe Frazier blow out loss to Foreman?

Why don't we use a fighter this board is even more familiar with. Ali. Ali could not hurt Norton in three fights, but he Ko'd Frazier in one match, and visibly stunned him in the other.

IMO Norton should be 2-1 vs. Ali Hmm...


A past his prime Norton who had 45 fights on him as was 35 lost to Shavers, another all time puncher.

Larry Holmes who set a record KO'ing men in his title fights ( back then ) landed plenty on Noton and his chin passed that test too with flying colors.

If Ali and Holmes could not dent your chin in long fights, Norton chin is not that bad.

[BKM-]

Does a KO by Foreman make him chinny? What about Joe Frazier blow out loss to Foreman?

Why don't we use a fighter this board is even more familiar with. Ali. Ali could not hurt Norton in three fights, but he Ko'd Frazier in one match, and visibly stunned him in the other.

IMO Norton should be 2-1 vs. Ali Hmm...


A past his prime Norton who had 45 fights on him as was 35 lost to Shavers, another all time puncher.

Larry Holmes who set a record KO'ing men in his title fights ( back then ) landed plenty on Noton and his chin passed that test too with flying colors.

If Ali and Holmes could not dent your chin in long fights, Norton chin is not that bad.

Ali and Holmes are average punchers. In the HW division, especially in an era like the 70s, your chin is gonna have to be able to withstand more than a direct hit from an average puncher. If there is no real evidence of Norton being able to consistently withstand hard hits from hard punchers then the notion that his chin is weak is fair, imo.

[Dr. Z]

BKM

Ali and Holmes are average punchers. In the HW division, especially in an era like the 70s, your chin is gonna have to be able to withstand more than a direct hit from an average puncher. If there is no real evidence of Norton being able to consistently withstand hard hits from hard punchers then the notion that his chin is weak is fair, imo

Holmes was what I call a solid hitter and a complete fighter. His cross, hook, body punching and uppercut were solid.


My point is you can't use all time punchers to grade chins at heavyweight. This is something that lazy writers or boxing fans do.


Notion stood up to Holmes and Ali. And he beat some hitters in Quarry and Bobbick too. Nothing was wrong with his chin when he fought Tex Cobb at 37. Tex could hit to and was a solid hitter.

So Norton chin is really say a " 6 " on the scale of 1-10. Age and facing all time puncher's@ heavyweight skew the conversation. I am Norton fan BTW which means my opinion is informed.

[Tanakasensei]

What about Joe Frazier blow out loss to Foreman?

;

Frazier got up and could continue. It was stopped for humanitarian reasons