The moment Norton looked down on the canvas during the stare down with foreman staring at him with that intimidating fierce face, the fight was good as over
I thought the same thing. Norton was so tentative, both rounds, you almost knew what was coming, especially with Norton bending at the waste and bobbing his head too often. George had a dangerous uppercut, with both hands, besides being one of the top straight punchers ever.
Ken Norton was a very good heavyweight, he was a Marine, he was not a coward ! Styles make fights, and his style was tailor made for a devastating puncher named George Foreman!!! Norton style gave Ali fits, but he couldn't fight off of his back foot, if he was made to back up ( retreat ) he was susceptible to be hurt by a big puncher,his ability to take a big punch was suspect. Norton style was effective against classic boxers, who could not force him to fight moving backwards! This fight reinforces the greatness of Ali, people thought Foreman was going to kill Ali!! RIP Ken Norton, you inspired me to start boxing after your ko of Duane Bobick! Shalom to all fan's of Ken Norton.... Jeffery Senter Carr
Back when championship boxing wasn't pay per view, it was broadcast for everyone to tune in. Wide World of Sports brought all kinds of stuff into the homes of people. Boxing, auto sports, swimming, diving, skiing, track and field, weightlifting, weird sports like log rolling and rattlesnake catching.
Strange, but Norton looked fearful of Foreman (Wouldn't you) and fought on the retreat. At one stage when the ref waved on the fight Norton looked reluctant to continue.
Definitely. The punch that Ali really undid Foreman with was the right lead. No one thought Ali would make much use of it. Foreman was surprised by it and never figured out how to stop it.
Plus, Ali was far stronger than Foreman anticipated. He manhandled Foreman in the clinches and would not allow George to truly get the upper hand. People think incorrectly that Ali retreated to the ropes and held on for dear life while Foreman exhausted himself. In truth, Ali administered a boxing lesson while tiring Foreman out.
@@yourroyalhighness7662 Excellent point. Ali showed within a minute of the first round that he was strong enough to neutralize Foreman’s rushes by tying him up. That and the right cross he nailed Foreman with about 15 seconds in completely threw George off right away. It was a brilliant strategy.
@@swami1 Agreed. Ali realized early on that Foreman was well schooled in cutting the ring off and had to stand up to the beast. Foreman was listed as being 6'3" but was closer to 6'4". Ali was also listed as being 6'3" but was likely 6'2 and 1/2". Also, Ali's reach was 78 inches and NOT 80 as he said it was. In the 1960s Ali toyed with the idea of fighting 7'1" Wilt Chamberlain. Ali had his reach measured on ABC's Wide World of Sports and it was 78 inches. Ali and Foreman were virtually the same size and George could not intimidate Muhammad. Lastly, Ali had an iron chin. Add this to his ring smarts and George was in for a long night.
I just listened to his interview with cossell and he sounds like he does today like a nice man, I guess if you are trying to take his belt then He proably ain't very friendly
@@anjie6232004 You could be right. He fought like a demon against boxers like Ali and Holmes, but seemed to freeze when he came up against against real power punchers. Jerry Quarry could bang but Quarry was over the hill and fighting on two weeks notice when Norton beat him. Rumour has it that a younger Quarry had flattened him when sparring, but there's no proof of that as far as I know.
You don’t know what the word “coward” means. If Norton was a coward he never would have been in the ring in the first place. It took COURAGE to face Foreman.
Norton got very bad instruction I think on his defensive style.Cosell said Norton is under rated on defense .What?You watch Norton fights and you will see nobody got bombarded to the head like him.that cross arm defense is ineffective. You pick off punches better when you have your gloves up in blocking position....
@@swami1 Ernie shavers also bombarded him.norton crouched ,and bobbed and weaved into punches as well.that style is better for short guys.keeping your guard up high is better ,plus you can go from defense to offense more fluidly....
@@stevenclarke8773 Yes, Shavers almost took Ali's head off twice in the 2nd round of their fight. I recall reading (back in the day) that Norton's secret--really Eddie Futch's secret--was to have Norton out-jab Ali. Just like pressing basketball teams don't like to be pressed, fighters who rely on their jabs don';t like to be jabbed. It obviously worked, as Norton could legitimately claim to have beaten Ali 3 times.
@@swami1 Eddie futch was Frazier's trainer and Norton also did sparring with frazier.i like Eddie,but Norton should of stuck with a different trainer.norton is a big tall guy ,that technique worked more for Frazier as a short boxer.even Holmes and Ali landed multiple head shots on him ,they just were not real power punchers.Norton defense was good if he had been a short guy I think......
@@stevenclarke8773 I always liked Futch too and thought Norton made a mistake in ditching him for Bill Slayton. Norton and Frazier did indeed spar quite a bit. They became friends and Norton always said he would not fight Frazier because of their friendship.
@@swami1 ... broadcast of the George Foreman/Ken North heavyweight championship fight ... Ken North Ken Norton Ken North Ken Norton Ken North Ken Norton Ken North Ken Norton Ken North Ken Norton
@@GholamFareed Well, that's a pretty high bar. Ali's jab was the best in heavyweight history, and Ray's might have been the best of all. I'm just saying Foreman's jab, when he used it effectively, was a battering ram. Similar to Louis' left.
This PRIME 25 years old Foreman, at this stage in his career only the GOAT Ali could have pulled an upset.No Frazier, Norton, Lyle, Marciano, Louis, Liston, Shavers,Tyson, Lewis, Klitchko, Holmes, Holyfield, Fury or Wilder could have pulled that KO that Ali did against a PRIME Big George Foreman!.
I agree with one exception. Sonny Liston was tougher and stronger than Forman. He was a better boxer too. Sonny was also Foreman's early mentor. He taught him how to jab.
@@eugenemcgirt2357 Truthfully, so did I. As I watched on the big closed circuit screen I was shocked at how quickly and easily Foreman cut the ring off on Ali in the first round. Like most people I figured Ali would stick-and-run for several rounds. By round 3 it dawned on me what he was doing.
"I will fight anybody at any time" said big George Foreman on this night. But Foreman backed out of 2 fights against Jerry Quarry while holding the title....
big George Foreman duct Larry Holmes for 20 plus years and several other fighters to Kenny Norton was light in the loafers never could take a big meat puncher and was way overrated and I don't care what any of the cupcakes say 🤔😁 no disrespect to big George he's a powerful man he has horrible feet and he's too wide with his punches he can be exposed God rest quarry soul and I think they should bring Larry back and fight for one of George Foreman's $2 grills 🤗💯😭💪👍👊
Foreman later said he was a little afraid of Norton. It took the mighty Ali to beat the undefeated Foreman. Ali was very strong and knew how to tie up any opponent. He also had great defensive skills that neutralized Foreman's power and aggression. Don't forget Ali's iron jaw too. Ali also nailed George with some nasty right hands.
Foreman was KOed not by the power of Ali's punch but by sheer exhaustion!.Foreman said it himself in an interview , Foreman's chin was as strong and tough as they come!.
This PRIME 25 years old Foreman is the REAL deal and at this stage in his career only the GOAT Ali could have pulled an upset.No Frazier, Norton, Lyle, Marciano, Louis, Liston, Shavers,Tyson, Lewis, Klitchko, Holmes, Holyfield, Fury or Wilder could have pulled that KO that Ali did against a PRIME Big George Foreman!.
You forgot the most underrated heavywright from 70s Jimmy young Itcwaschis fight with Ali that caused sports illustrated writer to call greatest robbery in history of of boxing. It was a young masterclass agsinst Ali yet when decision was read it went 117-111 all for Ali. In a fight Ali was never truly in he was so badly out boxed. You can’t say that about a him in a fight but following this fight there were calls to have government oversight to prevent future travesties recurring. It was not just a robbery but they were so blantant in judging not even trying to hide. Award winning columnist Frank Deford wrote the piece in sports illustrated it at Jimmy young on cover and his reaction hearing decision. They rarely mentioned who won fight duexyo Joe horrible it was judged. Ali’s next fight he returned to normal but in this fight if a fighter had a bad night Ali had a bad night. What foreman said afterwards when discussing fighters than rang a bell. Jimmy young never went through a Olympic program or golden glove tournaments. He was merely the”opponent” he would never get a decision in a big fight no matter how you dominate a fight. Why? He just an opponent in officials eyes he didn’t go through the system. He was being dishonorable just being honest how boxing officials fighters who don’t ho through thier system. That was enlightening. Felt bad for Jimmy young. As did anyone who witness such a performance that night. Robbery was an understatement.
I wouldn't call Big George Foreman an amateur, FAR from it!.Ali was just smarter and had much more boxing talent than Big George.Still throughout the years Ali REFUSED to give Foreman a rematch, Ali knew he only could fool Big George once!.
Foreman was the big bad monster. Amazing what he accomplished in his life something to be proud of.
The moment Norton looked down on the canvas during the stare down with foreman staring at him with that intimidating fierce face, the fight was good as over
I thought the moment he sat down on his stool after arriving in the ring it was over. Fighters never do that. He was practically shaking with fear.
@@swami1 Would you blame him, look what he did to Joe Frazier. Frazier was totally focused on Foreman.
I thought the same thing. Norton was so tentative, both rounds, you almost knew what was coming, especially with Norton bending at the waste and bobbing his head too often. George had a dangerous uppercut, with both hands, besides being one of the top straight punchers ever.
I miss Cosell's calls. Love him or hate him he was one of the best.
He made every event sound so huge.
@@drobson8004 He was a pathetic show off.
@@peterstorck5349 A show off? Sure. Pathetic. Apparently to some. The feat thing about democracy? We all have the right of choice.
@@drobson8004 Indeed. everything he covered seemed like a major occurrence.
@@drobson8004 Yes, and he knew how to hype an event.
Norton was built but Foreman looked much bigger and intimidating
Foreman and Lyle were scariest fighters from the golden 70s era
Foreman was built as well, or better
I miss wide world of sports, best super fights IMHO.. Ppv ruined it, now ESPN+ 😞.
Jon L:Yes.I miss that program too.Made Saturday afternoons something to look forward to.
MONEY ,the single most driving force in the world not just in sports
Ken Norton was a very good heavyweight, he was a Marine, he was not a coward ! Styles make fights, and his style was tailor made for a devastating puncher named George Foreman!!! Norton style gave Ali fits, but he couldn't fight off of his back foot, if he was made to back up ( retreat ) he was susceptible to be hurt by a big puncher,his ability to take a big punch was suspect. Norton style was effective against classic boxers, who could not force him to fight moving backwards! This fight reinforces the greatness of Ali, people thought Foreman was going to kill Ali!! RIP Ken Norton, you inspired me to start boxing after your ko of Duane Bobick! Shalom to all fan's of Ken Norton.... Jeffery Senter Carr
Norton was Ali's toughest foe. Ali never figured him out.
Back when championship boxing wasn't pay per view, it was broadcast for everyone to tune in.
Wide World of Sports brought all kinds of stuff into the homes of people. Boxing, auto sports, swimming, diving, skiing, track and field, weightlifting, weird sports like log rolling and rattlesnake catching.
Strange, but Norton looked fearful of Foreman (Wouldn't you) and fought on the retreat. At one stage when the ref waved on the fight Norton looked reluctant to continue.
Dundee got it right. Norton retreated throughout, and that ensured his early ko.
it was a great time to be an 8 year old kid and watching WWOS on a cold ass Michigan winter weekend afternoon.
You had to keep a crisp jab to Foremans head to win. Like Ali did. Also a steady diet of straight rights.
Definitely. The punch that Ali really undid Foreman with was the right lead. No one thought Ali would make much use of it. Foreman was surprised by it and never figured out how to stop it.
Uh, it takes more than that but point taken.
Plus, Ali was far stronger than Foreman anticipated. He manhandled Foreman in the clinches and would not allow George to truly get the upper hand.
People think incorrectly that Ali retreated to the ropes and held on for dear life while Foreman exhausted himself. In truth, Ali administered a boxing lesson while tiring Foreman out.
@@yourroyalhighness7662 Excellent point. Ali showed within a minute of the first round that he was strong enough to neutralize Foreman’s rushes by tying him up. That and the right cross he nailed Foreman with about 15 seconds in completely threw George off right away. It was a brilliant strategy.
@@swami1 Agreed. Ali realized early on that Foreman was well schooled in cutting the ring off and had to stand up to the beast. Foreman was listed as being 6'3" but was closer to 6'4". Ali was also listed as being 6'3" but was likely 6'2 and 1/2".
Also, Ali's reach was 78 inches and NOT 80 as he said it was. In the 1960s Ali toyed with the idea of fighting 7'1" Wilt Chamberlain. Ali had his reach measured on ABC's Wide World of Sports and it was 78 inches.
Ali and Foreman were virtually the same size and George could not intimidate Muhammad. Lastly, Ali had an iron chin. Add this to his ring smarts and George was in for a long night.
I just listened to his interview with cossell and he sounds like he does today like a nice man, I guess if you are trying to take his belt then He proably ain't very friendly
George Looks like an angry man, I wonder what kind of man he was back in the Day.
Not very well liked. As Larry Merchant once stated, and I quote "he was a very violent, uncooperative young man!"
Norton looked tense, fought tense. maybe afraid. Can't blame him.
Norton is scared of Foreman because Norton is the aggressor in Ali fights. Norton is a coward fighting Foreman here.
@@anjie6232004 You could be right. He fought like a demon against boxers like Ali and Holmes, but seemed to freeze when he came up against against real power punchers. Jerry Quarry could bang but Quarry was over the hill and fighting on two weeks notice when Norton beat him. Rumour has it that a younger Quarry had flattened him when sparring, but there's no proof of that as far as I know.
He lost before he entered the ring
You don’t know what the word “coward” means. If Norton was a coward he never would have been in the ring in the first place.
It took COURAGE to face Foreman.
@@yourroyalhighness7662 MANY fighters enter the Ring scared. Norton WAS a Coward in this fight.
Some of them punches Manny would have knocked down a brick wall
BIG GEORGE was a MONSTER th-cam.com/video/PiMLt2oSRaQ/w-d-xo.html
Norton got very bad instruction I think on his defensive style.Cosell said Norton is under rated on defense .What?You watch Norton fights and you will see nobody got bombarded to the head like him.that cross arm defense is ineffective. You pick off punches better when you have your gloves up in blocking position....
Norton's style was great against Ali(who never figured Ken out) but terrible against big punchers like Foreman and later Cooney.
@@swami1 Ernie shavers also bombarded him.norton crouched ,and bobbed and weaved into punches as well.that style is better for short guys.keeping your guard up high is better ,plus you can go from defense to offense more fluidly....
@@stevenclarke8773 Yes, Shavers almost took Ali's head off twice in the 2nd round of their fight. I recall reading (back in the day) that Norton's secret--really Eddie Futch's secret--was to have Norton out-jab Ali. Just like pressing basketball teams don't like to be pressed, fighters who rely on their jabs don';t like to be jabbed. It obviously worked, as Norton could legitimately claim to have beaten Ali 3 times.
@@swami1 Eddie futch was Frazier's trainer and Norton also did sparring with frazier.i like Eddie,but Norton should of stuck with a different trainer.norton is a big tall guy ,that technique worked more for Frazier as a short boxer.even Holmes and Ali landed multiple head shots on him ,they just were not real power punchers.Norton defense was good if he had been a short guy I think......
@@stevenclarke8773 I always liked Futch too and thought Norton made a mistake in ditching him for Bill Slayton. Norton and Frazier did indeed spar quite a bit. They became friends and Norton always said he would not fight Frazier because of their friendship.
At 1:41, It's "Ken Norton", not "Ken North", jeez! Can't you type something right!?
Jen Milem Huh? It clearly states “KEN NORTON.”
@@swami1 ... broadcast of the George Foreman/Ken North heavyweight championship fight ...
Ken North Ken Norton
Ken North Ken Norton
Ken North Ken Norton
Ken North Ken Norton
Ken North Ken Norton
@@hipphipphurra77 Typical Cosell
Kenneth Howard Norton, Sr.
In my humble opinion Foreman had the most devastating uppercut in the history of the sport!!!
All of his punches were devastating.
@@swami1 his jab wasn't really that effective actually, it was not that much of a weapon & lacked precision.
@@GholamFareed Watch this fight and especially the first Frazier fight. Foreman's jab was like a tree trunk getting slammed into their heads.
@@swami1 it wasn't as effective nor precise in comparison to Sugar Ray Robinson & Ali. It wasn't devastating at all hence he hardly utilised it.
@@GholamFareed Well, that's a pretty high bar. Ali's jab was the best in heavyweight history, and Ray's might have been the best of all. I'm just saying Foreman's jab, when he used it effectively, was a battering ram. Similar to Louis' left.
After watching this fight, I feel about Ali’s greatness.
After foreman fought an exhibition against 5 people, He would’ve crushed Larry Holmes
11:08
This PRIME 25 years old Foreman, at this stage in his career only the GOAT Ali could have pulled an upset.No Frazier, Norton, Lyle, Marciano, Louis, Liston, Shavers,Tyson, Lewis, Klitchko, Holmes, Holyfield, Fury or Wilder could have pulled that KO that Ali did against a PRIME Big George Foreman!.
I agree with one exception.
Sonny Liston was tougher and stronger than Forman. He was a better boxer too.
Sonny was also Foreman's early mentor. He taught him how to jab.
88 tyson would win
11:11 "And Foreman is OOOOHHHHH!!!!!
In his book "Like It Is", Cosell describes how he knew the fight was going to be no contest. Also describes what a hellhole Caracas was.
@@swami1 Cosell also thought Foreman would knock out Muhammad Ali thereby sending Ali into retirement.
@@eugenemcgirt2357 Truthfully, so did I. As I watched on the big closed circuit screen I was shocked at how quickly and easily Foreman cut the ring off on Ali in the first round. Like most people I figured Ali would stick-and-run for several rounds. By round 3 it dawned on me what he was doing.
"I will fight anybody at any time" said big George Foreman on this night. But Foreman backed out of 2 fights against Jerry Quarry while holding the title....
Jimmy Plato ... Foreman wasn't afraid of Jerry Quarry.
big George Foreman duct Larry Holmes for 20 plus years and several other fighters to Kenny Norton was light in the loafers never could take a big meat puncher and was way overrated and I don't care what any of the cupcakes say 🤔😁
no disrespect to big George he's a powerful man he has horrible feet and he's too wide with his punches he can be exposed God rest quarry soul and I think they should bring Larry back and fight for one of George Foreman's $2 grills 🤗💯😭💪👍👊
@@swedenoble6083 Larry Holmes was a great fighter....
@@swedenoble6083 Where did you read he ducked Holmes in his prime?
Read😭I am a warrior Bucky
Ken Norton my man
10:43 - 11:00 - 11:11
Would love to have seen like Foreman vs prime Liston.
Liston was strongest of them all
@Nikola Ilić Foreman said Liston was the only guy who ever backed him up. Foreman worshipped Liston. Listons robe hung in George's locker for years
Foreman later said he was a little afraid of Norton. It took the mighty Ali to beat the undefeated Foreman. Ali was very strong and knew how to tie up any opponent. He also had great defensive skills that neutralized Foreman's power and aggression. Don't forget Ali's iron jaw too. Ali also nailed George with some nasty right hands.
Foreman was KOed not by the power of Ali's punch but by sheer exhaustion!.Foreman said it himself in an interview , Foreman's chin was as strong and tough as they come!.
@@ipaporod true, but Ali was puffing up George's face badly, Ali would've won by decision anyway
This PRIME 25 years old Foreman is the REAL deal and at this stage in his career only the GOAT Ali could have pulled an upset.No Frazier, Norton, Lyle, Marciano, Louis, Liston, Shavers,Tyson, Lewis, Klitchko, Holmes, Holyfield, Fury or Wilder could have pulled that KO that Ali did against a PRIME Big George Foreman!.
You forgot the most underrated heavywright from 70s Jimmy young Itcwaschis fight with Ali that caused sports illustrated writer to call greatest robbery in history of of boxing. It was a young masterclass agsinst Ali yet when decision was read it went 117-111 all for Ali. In a fight Ali was never truly in he was so badly out boxed. You can’t say that about a him in a fight but following this fight there were calls to have government oversight to prevent future travesties recurring. It was not just a robbery but they were so blantant in judging not even trying to hide. Award winning columnist Frank Deford wrote the piece in sports illustrated it at Jimmy young on cover and his reaction hearing decision. They rarely mentioned who won fight duexyo Joe horrible it was judged. Ali’s next fight he returned to normal but in this fight if a fighter had a bad night Ali had a bad night. What foreman said afterwards when discussing fighters than rang a bell. Jimmy young never went through a Olympic program or golden glove tournaments. He was merely the”opponent” he would never get a decision in a big fight no matter how you dominate a fight. Why? He just an opponent in officials eyes he didn’t go through the system. He was being dishonorable just being honest how boxing officials fighters who don’t ho through thier system. That was enlightening. Felt bad for Jimmy young. As did anyone who witness such a performance that night. Robbery was an understatement.
Norton was obviosly scared of Foreman as kept retreating!! He even dared not looking at the 'beastly'staring Foreman face before the fight. !!
Beast
Norton was a physical freak. Foreman beat him like he was his daddy who caught him kissing another boy...
Great!!
can you believe this foreman was beaten by Ali like an amateur
I wouldn't call Big George Foreman an amateur, FAR from it!.Ali was just smarter and had much more boxing talent than Big George.Still throughout the years Ali REFUSED to give Foreman a rematch, Ali knew he only could fool Big George once!.
He looks like smoking Joe after the fight
Avia sponsorship
Frazier, Foreman and Ali would have stopped Tyson. Midget Mike was a QUITTER!
I don’t know if I’d call him a quitter, but he certainly didn’t react well when he got into trouble(in or outside the ring).
Mike would destroy Frazier
@@fashizzle78 like he destroyed Buster Douglas? Joe would beat the crap out of China Chin Midget Mike
@@fashizzle78 Mike would have to get Frazier within 3,if not he'd be in trouble.
@@thespy7795 douglas was 1 lucky day boxer
Tyson was out of shape back then but still his fault
Douglas was never real champion
ALI FLOGGED HIM