Rocky Marciano vs Ken Norton, primes...

[yancey]

What happens?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Marciano bullies him into submission en route to a corner-induced retirement, at the close of the eleventh. Before that happens, though, I see a fairly competitive bout.

Marciano had neither the intimidation factor or the single-shot brutality (for the most part) of Foreman --- the only man, IMO, to convincingly beat a truly prime Norton. I know Marciano faced this in every battle, but Norton's height, weight & reach cannot be discounted. He was also very strong, & I think Marciano's power (definitely enough to take Norton out, mind) is going to be less of a factor for Norton because of his significant reach & height edges. If permitted to get a roll on, Norton could actually be quite vicious on the front-foot. He would be wary of Marciano's punch --- & rightly so --- but he wouldn't be fear-frozen, IMO.

I don't like what Marciano is going to do to Norton's lean waist, though. He'll batter it, IMO. He was a very dirty fighter, & I haven't seen Norton try to land his strong jab against such a short opponent. Norton won't outbox him --- he'll have to fight him straight-up, at some point, & that's where I think he's sunk. Marciano's heart & chin are greater, as is his endurance, he'll probably want the victory more, & he can go punch-for-punch. I think he grinds him down, but bleeds like hell in losing five of the eleven completed rounds, most of them, early.

There would be times when Norton would batter him, if only in spurts. When Marciano starts to batter back late in the fight, however, I don't think Norton will be there, mentally. Marciano breaks him.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

What happens?

- Bad luck of the draw in the sweepstakes of style and natural attributes matchups.

Similar styles colliding head to head with Norton being hugely larger, stronger, and faster than Rocky and just as much stamina. Rock an outside slugger's chance as he will manage to get inside of Norton on occasion, but it took huge whacks to bombNorton out and Rock more an attrition slugger overmatched here.

[Robinson]

I see Norton winning this one. Marciano would do everything he could
to crack that jaw of Norton's and while he would wobble him no doubt.
I see him getting bullied and whacked back hard by Ken.

This would be a good fight. But it would not be a Foreman walkover
for Marciano.

[I Feel Fine]

I'll have to agree with most of the above posters. Rocky stops him late in a great Heavyweight fight. Rocky's attributes are the right ones to fight Norton.

[jezzamundo]

Marciano KO13 Norton with Norton ahead on points at the time (perhaps 8 rounds to 4) and Marciano's face looking in a very poor state. I think Norton eventually succumbs to Marciano's power, with Suzie Q finishing him on the ropes.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I'll have to agree with most of the above posters. Rocky stops him late in a great Heavyweight fight. Rocky's attributes are the right ones to fight Norton.

Actually, at the time of your post, it was two-to-one in Norton's favour. Nice to know my post is the one being read, though.

Take dem apples, Robbo & Broughton D

[Robinson]

I am eating a pink lady as I type :)

[I Feel Fine]

Ah. I skimmed BRR's. Not worth the extra two or three seconds.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I am eating a pink lady as I type :)

Ambiguous, yet relevant

Norton makes a pretty tough fight of this, IMO, but comes up short more often than not. I just doubt his ability to put Marciano away, &, if he can't succeed in doing that. he's in trouble for every minute of every round.

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

As in a bout against Jerry Quarry, and more easy than Gerry Cooney, Rocky WKO 1 Ken

[Goodnight, Irene]

Marciano does it faster than Foreman.

May I ask how?

[Robinson]

I guess it could happen.....

BUt I think as great a rumble as this would be. I would favour
Norton. BUt Marciano's self belief, condition and general sturdiness
is something that would trouble Norton.

Maybe if I was to see a Marciano win, it would be a late stoppage.

It would be damned cool to watch though.

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Dear Friends,

Please, see another time Rocky Marciano vs Jersey Joe Walcott, second bout

Thanks!

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Too, please, see Rocky's punch power in Jersey Joe Walcott, first, or over Ezzard Charles, second... Why a man win all his fights as pro? And near of the 90% by K.O. and many of them over the best in his time? He was great between greats...

[Dempsey1238]

Marciano does it faster than Foreman.

May I ask how?

One can ask the same question on why Gerry ko Norton faster than Foreman.


I think Rocky has a good shot on repeating a ko in round 1 as Cooney did.

Foreman had more of the bouncing guys around the ring power. Most often vs Foreman, when Big George knock you down, you get up to be knock down again. Very rarely did he get a clean ko.

Fraizer, Norton, all got knock down, and all got up.

I think if Rocky landed one of his solid smashs on Norton like Rocky did to Walcott or Rex Layne, Norton would be out for the count.

Talking pre title Rocky here. Goldman did change the Rock's style from a one punch ko artish to a wear em down as we saw in Charles and the Cockell fights.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Please tell me you didn't just draw comparison between the Norton who fought Foreman, & the one who met Cooney.

Relevance = Zero.

[Dempsey1238]

Please tell me you didn't just draw comparison between the Norton who fought Foreman, & the one who met Cooney.

Relevance = Zero.

Yes, sure Norton may have age, but chins dont go.

Had Norton had ANY KINDA OF CHIN, he SHOULD have made it to round 2 vs Cooney.

[Robinson]

Norton got caught by Cooney. He was zapped and blown away
by Cooney's very real power before he could get into the fight.
Big hard hitting athletic men do that.

But the Norton in 1981, was not the one that fought in 1978 let
alone 1974. In any case, there is a good chance that had Cooney
faced that Norton the same thing may have happened.

I just think that IF Marciano beats Norton it is late, when Rocky's
superb conditioning and always present power and relentless
thumping takes its toll.
I still can see Norton winning. BUT...cool fight to watch :)

[Chuck1052]

Ken Norton didn't match up well with hard punchers like George Foreman and Earnie Shavers. As a result, I think that Rocky Marciano would stop Norton in an early round.

- Chuck Johnston

[generic screen name]

Ken Norton sucks going backwards. He's tailor made for Marciano.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Ken Norton didn't match up well with hard punchers like George Foreman and Earnie Shavers. As a result, I think that Rocky Marciano would stop Norton in an early round.

Chuck Johnston

- George a half foot taller, 45 lbs stronger, and prime, not the usual Rocky fare. Shavers near prime age and 20lbs on Rocky, and caught Kenny near the end of his career. Not really valid comparisons to the style and size of Rocky.

Kenny mowed down Bobick, the only guy to knock out Mr. Larry until Tyson got him, and walked through Quarry who'd disposed of many big names and sluggers of the era.

Here's the rematch with JL Gonzales. Ouch, Kenny had blood in his eye and the shots are bonecrushing through the audio. And, no, I'm not saying JLG matches the legend of Rocky, but he's a smallish heavy with a good punch and record and it's graphic the difference in strength and power prime Kenny had.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjrnhr1X ... annel_page

[Robinson]

I watched that rematch after training last night as Norton's fight with
Clark, Bobick and Lovell. I do not mind watching Kenny in action.

[Goodnight, Irene]

"Yes, sure Norton may have age, but chins dont go..." - 1238

Yes, they do. As do reflexes, timing, recuperative powers --- all the things Norton didn't have when he faced Cooney.

[jaclem2]

..with as competent and unbiased referee norton wins. rocky would never quit so the referee stops the beating somewhere just past the middle rounds.