Oscar Bonavena vs Ken Norton

[Titan1]

Did Oscar have a shot at beating Ken?

[la-califa]

Yes, Ken liked to brawl & that could be his downfall. But it would be tough to get by that jab.

[clark]

This could turn into an interesting fight because of awkwardness.

[tommygun711]

Hmm, Probably Bonavena by TKO in a few rounds..

[Mendoza]

Norton UD is the best choice. Norton tended to freeze up a bit vs big punchers. Bonevena was not a big puncher, and was a bit crude.

[Muchmoore]

Norton by clear decision.

Bonavena is no George Foreman or Earnie Shavers. He's more of a Trevor Berbick honestly imo.

[Boxed Ears]

Who knows how two completely awkward SOBs are going to mix? But, really, I'd be highly favoring the much higher caliber guy.

[Raging B(_)LL]

Bonavena could punch pretty damn hard, what you guys talking about? Sure he wasn`t no Earnie Shavers or Foreman, but he could sure as shit hit hard enough to rock the iron chinned Ali in their tussle and drop Smokin Joe in their first fight and wobble him a couple of times in their return bout.

While I would favour Ken to win a decision if he boxes smartly and plays it safe, I would not be shocked in the least to see Oscar get through with a big punch, wobble Ken then pounce on him and finish him off with the ref stepping in to save him from further punishment.

I`ll go against the consensus and say Bonavena stops Ken late while behind on points, say via TKO in 9.

[klompton]

Ill go with Bonavena too. I think Norton is one of the most overrated fighters in history based on his win over Ali. He had a well known glass jaw and was heavily protected in his prime to avoid fighters who could stop him. He ducked Quarry for years until Quarry was shot, going so far as to avoid even sparring with him when they were in the gym together.

[Raging B(_)LL]

Speaking of Quarry/Norton, Jerry really did knock Ken out cold with a left hook in a sparring session early in his career, this was told to me by someone who actually SAW it happen with his own eyes and who was a boxer himself. Ken was out for a few minutes and had to be helped out of the ring apparently by his seconds, needless to say there was no more sparring between those two afterwards.

[Primadonna Kool]

Norton wqould beat Bonavena. because Bonavena did not punch hard enough to stop Norton.

And thats a very big mistake.

[tommygun711]

Norton wqould beat Bonavena. because Bonavena did not punch hard enough to stop Norton.

And thats a very big mistake.

Tell me who's the bigger puncher, cobb/garcia, or Bonavena?

[Primadonna Kool]

Tell me who's the bigger puncher, cobb/garcia, or Bonavena?

All pretty eqaul, by no means was Bonavena a wrecking machine...or freak of Nature like Foreman, Cooney, Shavers.

Ken Norton could maybe be hurt by Bonavena, but overall Ken Norton was a better boxer than Bonavena. He was neutralising Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton with his boxing skills Neutralised Ali..........and broke his jaw.

Ken Norton took bombs from Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali and pretty much any other Heavyweight he faced.

Bonavena has power, and maybe if he sustained a rentless attack, he could win......

But Ken Norton willbe lauchning bombs back, and i'm afraid......Nortons Bombs and Skill will be too much.

[Stevie G]

Yes, Ken liked to brawl & that could be his downfall. But it would be tough to get by that jab.
Good fight ! I think that Ken would win,but it would go to the cards.

[red cobra]

Hmm, Probably Bonavena by TKO in a few rounds..
I tend to agree with this..Bonavena was much stronger and rougher than Scott LeDoux, who presented Ken with some definite problems..and all because of that "draggin' his foot in a bucket" handicap of Norton's..and the fact that Ken's chin vs a puncher was a real liablility..and Oscar could punch...any arguments regarding that and I'll say just review Bonavena's bouts with Chuvalo and Frazier. A guys with mobility and a great chin, like Ali, and guys with good cins, like Jimmy Ellis, could get the job done vs Oscar, but Norton's specialty was dealing with guys without the big punch..he was the, to use a medical term, the "antibody" to Ali. Bonavena would havew been a big deal for him because of his great arkwardness, strength and punch. He would have decked Norton a few times before having the referee intervene for a 7th round tko. Norton would have his moments of effectiveness but Oscar's roughness would take over for a stoppage.

[red cobra]

Tell me who's the bigger puncher, cobb/garcia, or Bonavena?
Exactly what I'm saying..Norton wouldn't be able to hold Oscar off of him..and Ken would hit the deck and freeze vs another guy who was capable of hurting him.

[Unforgiven]

This fight was supposed to come off in 1975 but Bonavena withdrew for unknown reasons. Jimmy Young was brought in to replace Bonavena, but pulled out and was replaced by Jerry Quarry.
Norton beat Quarry.

Then Bonavena and Norton was scheduled to fight again, in 1976. But Bonavena was shot dead.

[red cobra]

This fight was supposed to come off in 1975 but Bonavena withdrew for unknown reasons. Jimmy Young was brought in to replace Bonavena, but pulled out and was replaced by Jerry Quarry.
Norton beat Quarry.

Then Bonavena and Norton was scheduled to fight again, in 1976. But Bonavena was shot dead.
I'm not meaning to belittle Norton's every accomplishment but Quarry was shot basically in that fight with Kenny. I'm sure that it may have been a different situation entirely back when Quarry had more on the ball...especially the Quarry of the Spencer, Mathis, and Lyle fights...even the Quarry of the Shavers fight.

[red cobra]

I think Norton would have had a very rough evening, though he may have won, vs George Chuvalo even. George didn't have the puch, the clubbing punch of Bonavena, nor the snap and speed of Quarry, but he had that great durability and cin...the "never say die" attitude that took him the distance with Ali twice. Norton may have been able to decision Chuvalo, but at a price.

[tommygun711]

All pretty eqaul, by no means was Bonavena a wrecking machine...or freak of Nature like Foreman, Cooney, Shavers.

Ken Norton could maybe be hurt by Bonavena, but overall Ken Norton was a better boxer than Bonavena. He was neutralising Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton with his boxing skills Neutralised Ali..........and broke his jaw.

Ken Norton took bombs from Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali and pretty much any other Heavyweight he faced.

Bonavena has power, and maybe if he sustained a rentless attack, he could win......

But Ken Norton willbe lauchning bombs back, and i'm afraid......Nortons Bombs and Skill will be too much.

Bonavena hits harder then Garcia and Cobb for sure. He might be a better boxer then Bonavena, but Bonavena is strong in his own right, and could certainly hurt the very dentable Norton.
Norton is overrated by that victory over Ali. Ali wasn't in shape and he expected an easy fight. Ali in the rematch won clearly IMO.
And Besides that, Norton never really beat anyone worth mentioning past Ali.

[abraq]

The outcome would depend on two factors, IMO.

1) The approach Norton takes: By this I mean the style Norton would adopt. A Norton who decided to take it to Bonavena would be in for a very rough experience. For a good chance of a win, Ken must keep to jabbing and boxing.

2) The attitude Bonavena brought to the fight: Oscar, as I am sure many would recall, tended to be up and down as far as attitude was concerned. In certain fights, he would be dogged and determined whereas in some others he tended to be disinterested. A Bonavena who came to do serious damage as he did in the early part and last round of Frazier I, Mildenberger, Chuvalo or Ali would be a bit too much for Kenny. Yes, even the version who would opt to stick to careful boxing.

[he grant]

Norton by clear decision.

Bonavena is no George Foreman or Earnie Shavers. He's more of a Trevor Berbick honestly imo.

Pretty good analogy ...