BoxRec

The one match of the 70s "big four" that we didn't get to see. How would you have seen it panning out?

Norton gets stopped in about eight-ten rounds.

This would be a good hard fight for both men.

I think Norton struggles more however. What a fight
this would have been...imagine 1974....

Yeah, that's a fight that should have been made. The "but we were friends" story is a bit lame. Plenty fighters didn't let friendship get in the way of a natural match up.

You would think that there would have been money to it
also....

their was more to boxing than Ali at that time surely.

Robinson wrote: their was more to boxing than Ali at that time surely.

- There was......Big George, and they both had their fill of him.

Joe fought the biggest names available prior to Ali leading up to the first Foreman fight and Norton fought the biggest names available to him after Ali. Norton was the younger fighter improving whereas Joe was on the way down. Since both were looking for title shots, it made no sense for two friends to fight each other.

That is the only time frame when they were a credible match, and I favor the improving Norton. Best to best it's Joe. Norton had a strong overlap in Joe's style, which is one of many reasons I favor prime focused Tyson over Ali. Ali's first two losses came at the hands of Frazier training camps, and he struggled with those two forever more.

why wasnt this made!!! what a cracker...i fancy a peak norton but not before he gets dropped by that legendary left.

Their primes didn't coincide but I would obviously favor Frazier in a prime vs prime bout. I think Norton would have a chance in '75 but not before that. Apparently Joe handled Norton well in sparring and I think Eddie Futch is quoted having said that he felt Frazier would have beaten Norton. Stylistically I don't think this is a good fight for Norton, he would most likely be backed up and Norton did not do well retreating.

i have had a rethink and now i see frazier - a peak smokin' joe - ending it very late on. great fight.

hhaehre wrote:Their primes didn't coincide but I would obviously favor Frazier in a prime vs prime bout. I think Norton would have a chance in '75 but not before that. Apparently Joe handled Norton well in sparring and I think Eddie Futch is quoted having said that he felt Frazier would have beaten Norton. Stylistically I don't think this is a good fight for Norton, he would most likely be backed up and Norton did not do well retreating.

Everytime Norton got backed up he looked like shit. (Vs Foreman and Cooney)

I am sure if the money was thrown on the table before them
it would have happened, friend ship or not.

I think even in 1974, when we could suggest it happens, while
Norton is in the better 'prime' shape. I think Frazier has the styles
and goods to win this one.
But there is only one way we would ever know...

generic screen name wrote:

hhaehre wrote:Their primes didn't coincide but I would obviously favor Frazier in a prime vs prime bout. I think Norton would have a chance in '75 but not before that. Apparently Joe handled Norton well in sparring and I think Eddie Futch is quoted having said that he felt Frazier would have beaten Norton. Stylistically I don't think this is a good fight for Norton, he would most likely be backed up and Norton did not do well retreating.

Everytime Norton got backed up he looked like shit. (Vs Foreman and Cooney)

Futch also thought that Duane Bobick would beat Norton and look at how that turned out.

For some reason people don't seem to realize that Norton was 38 and way past it when he fought Cooney. That fight has no relevance when rating Norton nor does it mean anything when thinking how he would do against Frazier.

Norton didn't really become a top fighter until 1972/1973.

So a fight between the two would have had to take place between 1973-1975. However, they weren't going to fight unless it was for the title.
If Foreman and Ali weren't around, Norton and Frazier would have fought. Norton would have been the top contender and Frazier would have fought him.

Frazier was a slow starter, and Norton probably would have ahead after the first few rounds. Frazier probably would have gradually took over and stopped in around the 10th or 11th round. Of course if he happended to land a left hook on the button, he could end it earlier.

For Norton to win, he would have to almost a perfect fight. Fight well enough defensively so that doesn't nailed with the left hook or get beaten up to the body. However, he would have to do enough offensively to score points. Hard to do against Frazier for 15 rounds.