By Ian S Palmer
Ken Norton, who along with Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Larry Holmes ruled boxing’s heavyweight division in the 1970’s died at the age of 70 on September 18. His son said he died at a health care facility in Las Vegas. Norton was a former world champion and is best known for this trilogy of bouts with Ali. He managed to beat “The Greatest” by a 12-round split decision in San Diego in 1973 breaking Ali’s jaw early in the fight and earning the NABF heavyweight crown with the win.
Ali won a rematch in just six months later by a close split decision at the Forum in Inglewood, California in another 12-round battle. They met for the third and final time in a rubber match at the old Yankee Stadium in New York in September of 1976 and Ali again prevailed by a close decision. However, this time it was a 15-round affair and a unanimous decision with Ali keeping his world title.
Norton was known to be in a poor state of health for the past few years and his speech had begun to slur after suffering from several strokes. He was also hurt badly in a 1976 auto accident and didn’t fully recover. Gene Kilroy, who used to act as Ali’s business partner, said Norton was one of the greats and gave Ali a hard time in the ring because of his cross-armed defensive style. Kilroy said, “He’s been fighting the battle for two years. I’m sure he’s in heaven now with all the great fighters. I’d like to hear that conversation.”
Norton laid claim to the vacant WBC (World Boxing Council) title in 1977 after beating Jimmy Young in a heavyweight elimination match. However, he lost it to Holmes in June of 1978 in one of boxing’s best-ever heavyweight contests. Holmes took the 15-round fight by close split decision. Norton, who was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, took on the best boxers of his era as he also met the likes of Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Randall ‘Tex’ Cobb, Scott LeDoux, Duane Bobick, Jerry Quarry, Ron Stander, Boone Kirkman and Gerry Cooney.
The 6-foot-3-inch muscular boxer got his start in the sweet science while he was in the U.S. Marines. He was released from duty in 1967 and turned pro in November of the same year. He built up a 16-0 record before losing his first bout to Jose Luis Garcia in 1970 when he was stopped in the eighth round. The only men to beat him in his 15-year career were Garcia, Ali, Shavers, Holmes, Foreman and Gerry Cooney with Cooney, Garcia, Foreman and Shavers stopping him.
He retired for good in 1981 with a 42-7-1 record along with 33 knockouts. His last bout was a first-round knockout to Cooney. After retiring he dabbled in acting and also worked as a commentator for boxing matches. Norton’s 46-year-old son, Ken Norton Jr, a former 13-year veteran NFL football player and currently a coach with the Seattle Seahawks, confirmed his father’s death.
Norton will be remembered as a boxer who wasn’t afraid to test his skills against the very best the heavyweight division had to offer. He may not have always emerged victorious, but he always displayed the heart of a lion and the boxing world will surely miss him.
