Ken Norton vs. Oleksandr Usyk

[Woldemar]

12 rounds.

[goose 5]

Norton by decision.

[Joson]

Usyk would have been too slick for Norton. I say Usyk by decision.

Aside from Ali, Norton never fought a heavyweight as quick and mobile as Usyk. I doubt Norton - who was awkward on his feet - would get close enough to do much damage. Usyk's slick footwork would be his biggest advantage.

Blazing hand-speed, a southpaw's advantage, and a persistent right-jab are other tools that put Oleksander over Kenny. Norton's only answer would probably be his monstrous, overhand rights and heavy, sweeping left-hooks, which Usyk would dodge.

I think Usyk's right-jab is sufficiently stinging and accurate to neutralize Norton's left-jab, which was one of Ken's best weapons. Did Norton ever fight a southpaw? I don't think he did. That would be a big factor in this battle of jabs.

Regarding power, I doubt Usyk has the punch to seriously trouble Norton. Ken's power, though, would be enough to hurt and possibly KO Usyk. But the Ukrainian is a speed demon and defensive whiz, so I don't think Ken would ever reach his chin.

I can envision this playing out in a couple of ways. Either Usyk outboxes Norton cleanly in most rounds and wins a near shut-out decision, or Norton succeeds in pounding Usyk's body and roughing him up on the ropes. In that case, Usyk still wins, but it's a much closer nod.

[gilgamesh]

When an active fighter's career is still in progress how good he is or isn't is still to be determined.

Inconclusive.

[Vlad]

Usyk UD

[Joson]

When an active fighter's career is still in progress how good he is or isn't is still to be determined.

Inconclusive.

Well, Usyk's two wins over Anthony Joshua already tell us a hell of a lot about him.

[oogiebe]

When an active fighter's career is still in progress how good he is or isn't is still to be determined.

Inconclusive.

Well, Usyk's two wins over Anthony Joshua already tell us a hell of a lot about him.

Yeah, It tells us he can beat AJ. Norton is on another level.

[gilgamesh]

When an active fighter's career is still in progress how good he is or isn't is still to be determined.

Inconclusive.

Well, Usyk's two wins over Anthony Joshua already tell us a hell of a lot about him.

It doesn't tell us everything we'll ever know about him as a fighter though. We have all the data on Norton. We don't on Usyk.

[margaret thatcher]

what if he never fights again, then how would you pick this fight based on what you've seen of him

[gilgamesh]

what if he never fights again, then how would you pick this fight based on what you've seen of him

In a case like that. I'd wait until I was sure he was either retired or at least the bulk of his career were done before rending a decision.

If Usyk suddenly suffers a career ending injury tomorrow, we can revisit this topic. Until then.

Bump it in about 3 or 4 years, and we should know what we got with Usyk.

[margaret thatcher]

how do you predict fights between active fighters

[Joson]

When an active fighter's career is still in progress how good he is or isn't is still to be determined.

Inconclusive.

Well, Usyk's two wins over Anthony Joshua already tell us a hell of a lot about him.

Yeah, It tells us he can beat AJ. Norton is on another level.

AJ would wipe Norton out. Trust me on that one. I followed Norton's career very closely from the mid-1970s until he retired. I think Ken was great, but would stand no chance against the hulking, quick, and powerful AJ.

Remember: Norton always struggled when facing a big, powerful guy who could hurt him or back him up. He had some flaw in his footwork. That's how Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney rolled him over in quick order.

[oogiebe]

Well, Usyk's two wins over Anthony Joshua already tell us a hell of a lot about him.

Yeah, It tells us he can beat AJ. Norton is on another level.

AJ would wipe Norton out. Trust me on that one. I followed Norton's career very closely from the mid-1970s until he retired. I think Ken was great, but would stand no chance against the hulking, quick, and powerful AJ.

Remember: Norton always struggled when facing a big, powerful guy who could hurt him or back him up. He had some flaw in his footwork. That's how Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney rolled him over in quick order.

Um, no

[Joson]

Yeah, It tells us he can beat AJ. Norton is on another level.

AJ would wipe Norton out. Trust me on that one. I followed Norton's career very closely from the mid-1970s until he retired. I think Ken was great, but would stand no chance against the hulking, quick, and powerful AJ.

Remember: Norton always struggled when facing a big, powerful guy who could hurt him or back him up. He had some flaw in his footwork. That's how Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney rolled him over in quick order.

Um, no

Can you support your claim with reasons, based on evidence from AJ's and Norton's careers? Size would dictate this fight. Ken was only 6'3" and roughly 218 lbs. Joshua is 6'6" and weighs in the 240s, all rock solid.

Worse still, Norton didn't have the mobility needed to pull away from bigger, more powerful guys. He had to plant his feet and slug it out. Not good for Norton if AJ's the opponent.

[oogiebe]

AJ would wipe Norton out. Trust me on that one. I followed Norton's career very closely from the mid-1970s until he retired. I think Ken was great, but would stand no chance against the hulking, quick, and powerful AJ.

Remember: Norton always struggled when facing a big, powerful guy who could hurt him or back him up. He had some flaw in his footwork. That's how Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney rolled him over in quick order.

Um, no

Can you support your claim with reasons, based on evidence from AJ's and Norton's careers? Size would dictate this fight. Ken was only 6'3" and roughly 218 lbs. Joshua is 6'6" and weighs in the 240s, all rock solid.

Worse still, Norton didn't have the mobility needed to pull away from bigger, more powerful guys. He had to plant his feet and slug it out. Not good for Norton if AJ's the opponent.

You are obviously a huge AJ fan and that's fine. To say as you did that AJ would "wipe Norton out" is preposterous. You need to watch more film and drool less over your hero. Don't be so impressed by size my man.

[Joson]

Um, no

Can you support your claim with reasons, based on evidence from AJ's and Norton's careers? Size would dictate this fight. Ken was only 6'3" and roughly 218 lbs. Joshua is 6'6" and weighs in the 240s, all rock solid.

Worse still, Norton didn't have the mobility needed to pull away from bigger, more powerful guys. He had to plant his feet and slug it out. Not good for Norton if AJ's the opponent.

You are obviously a huge AJ fan and that's fine. To say as you did that AJ would "wipe Norton out" is preposterous. You need to watch more film and drool less over your hero. Don't be so impressed by size my man.

LOL...I am not an AJ fan. Not by any measure. This is starting to get funny.

[Ambling Alp II]

Would pick Norton over Usyk.
He would have an easier time with Joshua. Simply clearly a better fighter.

[margaret thatcher]

good fight, uzzy wins

[gilgamesh]

Um, no

Can you support your claim with reasons, based on evidence from AJ's and Norton's careers? Size would dictate this fight. Ken was only 6'3" and roughly 218 lbs. Joshua is 6'6" and weighs in the 240s, all rock solid.

Worse still, Norton didn't have the mobility needed to pull away from bigger, more powerful guys. He had to plant his feet and slug it out. Not good for Norton if AJ's the opponent.

You are obviously a huge AJ fan and that's fine. To say as you did that AJ would "wipe Norton out" is preposterous. You need to watch more film and drool less over your hero. Don't be so impressed by size my man.

For the record. He has a fair point.

However because AJ's career is not yet finished. I will also not give an opinion whether I think he would beat Ken Norton or not.

We may well still see some great things out of AJ. Or maybe we've seen the best he'll ever give already. Still to be determined.

[oogiebe]

Can you support your claim with reasons, based on evidence from AJ's and Norton's careers? Size would dictate this fight. Ken was only 6'3" and roughly 218 lbs. Joshua is 6'6" and weighs in the 240s, all rock solid.

Worse still, Norton didn't have the mobility needed to pull away from bigger, more powerful guys. He had to plant his feet and slug it out. Not good for Norton if AJ's the opponent.

You are obviously a huge AJ fan and that's fine. To say as you did that AJ would "wipe Norton out" is preposterous. You need to watch more film and drool less over your hero. Don't be so impressed by size my man.

For the record. He has a fair point.

However because AJ's career is not yet finished. I will also not give an opinion whether I think he would beat Ken Norton or not.

We may well still see some great things out of AJ. Or maybe we've seen the best he'll ever give already. Still to be determined.

My only disagreement was that Jason said AJ would 'wipe out' Norton.

[Seamus]

Usyk by a fairly close decision, something like 7-4-1. Both have a high work rate, but I like Usyk's power and chin better.

[scorpio83]

If it was a 15 rounder, Norton would outwork the southpaw Usyk by parrying his southpaw jabs, body punching, left hooks and right hands after cutting Usyk off the corner and ropes to take a decision.

[Ambling Alp II]

Usyk by a fairly close decision, something like 7-4-1. Both have a high work rate, but I like Usyk's power and chin better.

You like Usyk's power better? huh?

[margaret thatcher]

get em alp, get em!!

[Joson]

Can anyone tell me if Norton ever fought a southpaw, and if so, how'd he do?

I followed Norton's career very closely during the 1970s and after. I don't know that he had a single left-handed opponent. Assuming Ken did fight a southpaw or two, it would have been at the very beginning of his career, when he was being fed cannon fodder.

For all we know, Norton - despite of his excellent abilities - might have struggled against southpaws had he been compelled to fight them.