Ken Norton And Others Believe He Defeated Ali Three Times.. Do You?

[LockardTheGOAT]

Norton got the nod from the judges in the first fight, but Ali walked away with the decision in both of their subsequent rematches. The scorecards in all three fights were razor-thin, but Ali won the trilogy officially at 2-1.

But should he have really?

Some folks think Norton got screwed in their last two fights. Some of these people were even friends and admirers of Ali, like George Foreman. I've seen a lot of folks online, many of whom claim to be huge fans of Ali, express similar thoughts. Many others contend that the fights were so close that they could have reasonably been tipped in either guy's favor.

So what do you think?

[Sadiqkingofko]

Ali is probably the GOAT but Nortan won all three times

[Eff Pandas]

I haven't watched an Ali fight in quite awhile & these fights specifically I can't even remember when I last watched them so none are fresh in my mind, but I remember them being super f#cking close & could have gone either way. That being the case I feel like there is an argument to be had that those fights could have went have led to a 3-0 Ali, 3-0 Norton, 2-1 Ali like they officially are, 2-1 Norton or f#ck man 0-0-3 with all 3 being draws outcomes

[Combat Talk Radio]

I haven't watched an Ali fight in quite awhile & these fights specifically I can't even remember when I last watched them so none are fresh in my mind, but I remember them being super f#cking close & could have gone either way. That being the case I feel like there is an argument to be had that those fights could have went have led to a 3-0 Ali, 3-0 Norton, 2-1 Ali like they officially are, 2-1 Norton or f#ck man 0-0-3 with all 3 being draws outcomes

Ali at that time was getting the same complaints certain fighters do today - that judges were giving the popular fighter the benefit of the doubt.

In my eyes Ken Norton won two of the three, with the other being a draw.

[boliodogs]

They were close fights. Maybe I was to much of an Ali fan to score the fights fairly. I though Ali deserved to win all three fights bases on him landing more punches than Norton and winning more rounds by scoring more punches.

[boliodogs]

Every fight fan gets to score a fight however they choose. If they think Norton won all three fights they will take that firm believe with them to their grave. The only scorecard that means much to me is my own. If I think a fighter deserved to win a particular fight I will always believe that even if nobody agrees with me.

[SN!PER]

Ken used to hold his own with guys like Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali.

Then just a couple years later, he looked old and fragile.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Maybe he did. But he is not bigger than Ali, he was stopped by Foreman in second round and against Shavers in the first..

[A.K]

Ken norton one of my fav heavyweights and yeah I thought he easily won the first fight and the second fight was close but I felt norton edged him, last one norton was coming off a brutal ko from foreman and Ali just came off the foreman fight and I thought Norton easily won the third fight but Ali was the poster child back then so they screwed norton again.

[yngwie]

Norton was a really tough match up for Ali, they went close all the three times, but Norton always seemed grateful that Ali give him the chance to fight him.