Ken Norton, a heavyweight boxing legend, believes Muhammad Ali was stronger and would have beaten Larry Holmes if they fought in their primes. Norton shared this opinion during an interview with Frank J Lotierzo on ESPN Radio.
Norton's unique perspective comes from his experience facing both Ali and Holmes in the ring. He fought Ali three times, winning their first encounter by split decision in 1973. Ali won their next two fights on the cards, including a controversial decision in 1976 when Norton failed to become the WBA, WBC, and The Ring Magazine champion. Many analysts and even Ali himself thought Norton should have won that fight.
In 1978, Norton went the full 15 rounds with Larry Holmes in an extremely close contest, ultimately losing the decision.
When asked about the strength comparison between Ali and Holmes, Norton didn't hesitate:
"Oh Ali definitely. He was very strong but because he wasn't a one punch KO artist it is overlooked. Hitting him in the body or on the arms was like hitting a piece of cement."
Norton explained that Ali's strength wasn't just physical. The man known as "The Greatest" had a knack for defeating opponents mentally before they even stepped into the ring.
It's worth noting that Ali served as a mentor to the young Holmes, resulting in hundreds of sparring rounds between them. Holmes, nicknamed "The Easton Assassin" and known for his famously stiff jab, later became the only man to stop Ali. However, that fight happened when Ali was at the end of his career and Holmes was becoming the new star of heavyweight boxing.
When asked if Ali was the greatest of all time, Norton replied simply, "As far as I've been around, yes."
Norton's reverence for Ali was clear throughout the interview. His firsthand experience with both fighters lends significant weight to his opinion, shedding light on the ongoing debate about the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.
