Tweet
Well, Norton was 35 years old and about two years away from a much needed retirement. Despite folding against almost every big hitter he ever fought against from Garcia to Cooney, Norton was still a match up nightmare for lighter hitting boxers like Young, Holmes, and Ali. He is Holmes biggest win before his first retirement and was a real good test for him. He obvioiusly wasn't in his peak but he wouldn't be really washed up until after the Holmes fight.
Shavers always had his power but never beat a great fighter outside of...Norton who as mentioned has a history of crumbling against big hitters his whole career. He performed well against the fading Ali and he was clearly dangerous but hardly the crown ***el in a ATG resume, he had alreadly lost many fights before this against great and not so great fighters. He was stopped by both Mercado and the great Cobb not long after the Holmes matches, and was clearly done as a serious contender.
Weaver was 19-8 and not a serious threat to Holmes.
Cooney was green and pushed too soon by bad politics. Still, a nice win for Holmes. Cooney's biggest win before the fight was a surprise, surprise, a 1 round destruction of the fragile Norton.
A shivering Ali...please.
Lets be real. Foreman was who Holmes needed to be recognized as a legit great during his first career but he missed his chance. Bad luck and timing. You can't knock his resume as he won all but two of the fights he should have during his heyday but it is indeed questionable. I believe Holmes proved more in his tough losses to Holyfield, McCall, Tyson,,,etc. and of course the big win over Mercer than he did during most of his first career.
Shavers always had his power but never beat a great fighter outside of...Norton who as mentioned has a history of crumbling against big hitters his whole career. He performed well against the fading Ali and he was clearly dangerous but hardly the crown ***el in a ATG resume, he had alreadly lost many fights before this against great and not so great fighters. He was stopped by both Mercado and the great Cobb not long after the Holmes matches, and was clearly done as a serious contender.
Weaver was 19-8 and not a serious threat to Holmes.
Cooney was green and pushed too soon by bad politics. Still, a nice win for Holmes. Cooney's biggest win before the fight was a surprise, surprise, a 1 round destruction of the fragile Norton.
A shivering Ali...please.
Lets be real. Foreman was who Holmes needed to be recognized as a legit great during his first career but he missed his chance. Bad luck and timing. You can't knock his resume as he won all but two of the fights he should have during his heyday but it is indeed questionable. I believe Holmes proved more in his tough losses to Holyfield, McCall, Tyson,,,etc. and of course the big win over Mercer than he did during most of his first career.
Comment