A Boxing Memory: Ken Norton

A Boxing Memory: Ken Norton

Ken Norton is remembered for many things. He broke Muhammad Ali’s jaw on his way to an upset win in 1973. The trilogy with Ali ended with many thinking Norton was robbed of a deserved victory in 1976. The fight with Larry Holmes in 1978 is widely considered one of the greatest world heavyweight title fights in boxing history. And, Norton is the only fighter in boxing history who was crowned the heavyweight champion of the world outside of the ring.

Norton was unlucky in many respects. Fighting in the golden era of heavyweights restricted his achievements. The controversial loss to Ali in their fight was viewed as daylight robbery by many. Ali was more than lucky that night in New York. The wafer-thin defeat to Holmes for the WBC title in Las Vegas was close enough for debate. Make no mistake, the record books could and should tell a completely different story.

There were bad nights. George Foreman destroyed Norton in two rounds in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1974. And, his career closed out with first-round stoppage defeats to Earnie Shavers and in his final fight to Gerry Cooney in 1981. History might not always be kind to a fighter who got lost somewhat by the incredible array of talent that surrounded his peak years. Boxing is harsh and unforgiving, Norton was an exceptional talent in his own right, in any other era he would likely have held the world heavyweight title for a number of years, but he is often forgotten in comparison to the likes of Ali, Foreman, Holmes and Joe Frazier.

Born in 1943, in Jacksonville, Illinois, Norton started his boxing journey when he was in the Marines, and his professional career started in 1967 when his four-year Army career ended. After a short 24-2 amateur career, Norton advanced his professional resume to 16-0 until Jose Luis Garcia dropped him four times on his way to an upset 8th-round stoppage win over the Eddie Futch-trained prospect.

Norton regrouped but was still considered nothing more than a tune-up for Ali who was looking to fight his back into heavyweight title contention after Frazier had inflicted Ali’s first-ever defeat in the so-called Fight of the Century in 1971. Norton, a former sparring partner of Frazier who had earned a reported $300 for his previous fight, was given little chance of upsetting Ali. But Norton, with his unorthodox cross-armed defence, was a stylistic nightmare for Ali, and after breaking Ali’s jaw in the 2nd round, he won a split decision over the former champion. A rematch six months later was another close fight. Ali, this time getting the edge on the scorecards.

Futch had departed the scene when Norton was given his first chance of heavyweight glory against the fearsome punching Foreman and was bludgeoned to defeat in two rounds. Norton won seven on the spin before he got a third fight with Ali, this time with the world heavyweight title on the line. Ali had upset Foreman to win the title for a second time. He had gone life and death with Frazier to end their trilogy but was in the twilight of his wonderful but punishing career. Norton landed over eighty punches more. He thought he won at least nine rounds and was convinced he had been robbed. Many agreed. The judges scored it unanimously for Ali. In truth, it was anything but.

“I was never the same fighter after that. I never trained so hard again, never could put the same feeling into it. I was at my best that night, in the best shape I ever was.” The post-fight words from Norton.

But Norton fought on and he blasted out the unbeaten Duane Bobick inside a round in and edged past Jimmy Young to set up his last hurrah against Holmes in 1978, a fight he was again a narrow loser on the cards. Leon Spinks had upset Ali earlier in the year, and when Spinks refused to fight Norton, his mandatory challenger, the WBC stripped Spinks and handed the title to Norton. It was the last great effort inside a boxing ring from Norton.

There were spells in the acting world for Norton, and there were appearances in 80s TV shows like The A-Team and Knight Rider and he was even in line to play Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise until he dropped out of the running. Retirement wasn’t always kind to Norton. A horrific car crash in 1986 nearly killed Norton and badly affected his ability to walk and speak. Norton, ever the fighter, got back much of his health:

“At first they thought I might die, and if I didn’t die, I wouldn’t be coherent, now I’m talkin’ and walkin’ and I can even chew gum at the same time.” Norton showing once again his natural fighting instincts. He would need them again.

Norton was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, but he sadly passed away in 2013, aged 70. Norton had been battling failing health for a number of years, surviving multiple strokes, prostate cancer, a heart attack, and subsequent quadruple bypass surgery before the final bell sadly chimed.

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