was Ali vs Norton 2 the best Ali looked in his comeback?

[them_apples]

He had his legs the entire night.

[Scott9945]

He had his legs the entire night.

I'd pick the Foreman fight. Ali just did squeak by Norton in their second fight.

[Sugarj]

He had his legs the entire night.

For all the annoying clinches I think his legs were even better in the second Frazier match the following year. His combination work and punchrate were better than for the second Norton fight too.

But for me Ali's finest technical display of the 70s was possibly Quarry 2. His hands were lightning fast that night!

But for workrate, punch accuracy and heart.....the Thrilla in Manilla takes some beating.

[pablo1]

I think his rematches with Quarry, Norton and Frazier were his best performances.
I also really like his fight with Joe Bugner in '73.

[them_apples]

he squeaked by norton but he was ripped and stayed on his toes for 12 rounds.

Keep in mind Prime Larry Holmes squeaked by a past prime Norton.

[Sugarj]

he squeaked by norton but he was ripped and stayed on his toes for 12 rounds.

Keep in mind Prime Larry Holmes squeaked by a past prime Norton.

The Holmes vs Norton fight was over 15 rounds though. It makes quite a difference. I'd go so far as to say that Ali wouldn't have won fight 2 with Norton if he had tried to dance 15 rounds. He was really spent after round 12.

I personally didn't think 1978 Norton was any less of a force than than 1973 Norton.....though he did decline after losing the title (that or he quite simply ran into two ridiculously heavy handed guys in Shavers and Cooney).

I thought that the Norton who faced Holmes was near as dammit as good as the Norton which faced Ali in either 1973 fight. He seemed every bit as good in 1976 for the third fight to me too.

[Scott9945]

The Holmes vs Norton fight was over 15 rounds though. It makes quite a difference. I'd go so far as to say that Ali wouldn't have won fight 2 with Norton if he had tried to dance 15 rounds. He was really spent after round 12.

I personally didn't think 1978 Norton was any less of a force than than 1973 Norton.....though he did decline after losing the title (that or he quite simply ran into two ridiculously heavy handed guys in Shavers and Cooney).

I thought that the Norton who faced Holmes was near as dammit as good as the Norton which faced Ali in either 1973 fight. He seemed every bit as good in 1976 for the third fight to me too.

I remember thinking when Norton fought Holmes that he was a bit past his peak, but still an outstanding heavyweight and not nearly washed up.

[crold1]

I remember thinking when Norton fought Holmes that he was a bit past his peak, but still an outstanding heavyweight and not nearly washed up.

He didn't really squeak by Norton anyways (per the post before yours). Holmes won at least nine rounds and Norton didn't really come on until later. GREAT fight but Norton got some name value frames. Holmes was just hitting prime and Norton was just leaving. Perfect time for both to make a classic.

On Ali, it was Foreman. That was just a brilliant schooling. He absolutely toyed with Foreman in spots while taking building shaking body shots to do it. Ali was Wow.