Talk:Ken Norton vs. Duane Bobick

Just wanted to say something about this fight. Duane Bobick was 39-0 when he met Ken Norton in this match. His wins included Manuel Ramos, future belt holder Mike Weaver, Randy Neumann, Larry Middleton and Scott LeDoux, all before this match. He was rated fourth in the world by the WBA. In short, a very legitmate contender. Ken Norton is probably among the 20 greatest heavyweights ever. His matches with Muhammed Ali include at least one win. Viewers of those matches have Norton winning probably two of those matches in the ring, though judges were very kind to Ali in those days, and not just against Norton. Norton also beat Jerry Quarry and other top contenders. There likely is not an era in which Norton would not contend, including the current one. So, it is easy to say, Norton was a heavyweight who had written for himself a fair legend before being demolished himself by Gerry Cooney. Norton was at the top of his game at this time and was a fast starter. Bobick was a puncher, but not great defensively or quick of feet. Norton found him early and followed up for devastating KO. This happens. Jerry Quarry KO'd Earnie Shavers in one round. Shavers came back and had a very good career. He even KO'd Norton himself in one round. Good guys get caught in this sport. Bobick was no different. Despite that fact, Bobick was the subject of some ridicule after this match. Some of it was undoubtedly racially motivated. This was the 1970's, an era of black ascendency in sports. Bobick was jeered as another overrated white who could not beat top blacks. But , as his record proves, he certainly did defeat some of them. So this is a small-minded arguement that fit the racial/social purposes for some in that day. To some it undoubtedly still does. Bobick went on to record 10 more KOs in his next 13 fights. The fighter that beat Cuba's Teofilo Stevenson and fellow amateur Larry Holmes ( yes, that Larry Holmes ) actually had an impressive pro career to go with his great amateur one. Racism is undoubtedly at the core of reasons why he remains one of the most underrated contenders of boxing's golden 1970's. He deserves better.