Ken Norton, the former world heavyweight champion who died aged 70, will always be remembered as the man who broke Muhammad Ali’s jaw on the way to outpointing “The Greatest” in a non-title fight in San Diego in March 1973.
A formidable opponent who ranked among the best in what can now be viewed as a golden era of heavyweights, the rugged former US Marine reinforced the view that he was Ali’s “bogeyman” by pushing him very close in two subsequent encounters.
In total the two men went 39 rounds together – and every one was closely-fought. While technically inferior to Ali, Norton clearly possessed the style to give him trouble. “I knew what to do and I never listened to his mouth,” he once reflected.
Norton’s other claim to fame was becoming heavyweight champion without throwing a punch. This farcical situation resulted when he was awarded the World Boxing Council crown in March 1978 after the WBC controversially stripped Leon Spinks of the title following his decision to give Ali a rematch. Norton – who had scraped past Jimmy Young on points the previous November – subsequently became their new champion.
Norton’s reign turned out to be one of the briefest in history, however, as he lost a titanic 15-round showdown with Larry Holmes just 72 days later. It proved to be his last great performance and a horrific first-round knockout at the hands of the emerging Gerry Cooney ended his career in 1981.
Born in Jacksonville, Illinois, on August 9 1943, Norton, who came from a stable, middle-class background, showed early promise as an athlete before leaving college to join the US Marines in 1964. Having been introduced to boxing during his service, he turned professional in September 1967 and proceeded to win his first 16 fights.
Norton’s first loss – an eighth-round knockout against Jose Luis Garcia in July 1970 – was attributed to over-confidence and led his trainer Eddie Futch to pin the photo of the knockout to Norton’s locker room door as an enduring warning against complacency.
Standing 6ft 3in and weighing 210 pounds, Norton had all the makings of a heavyweight champion; a fact recognised by Ali’s training camp, who in 1970 employed Norton as a sparring partner. Over the next two years he continued his rise up the rankings, knocking out Californian champion Henry Clark in nine rounds on November 21 1972, to ensure that his next showdown with Ali would be not as partner, but opponent.
A largely unknown 29-year-old, Norton was written off by most observers. Howard Cosell, the veteran fight commentator, even labelled the contest as “the worst mismatch in boxing history”.
Undeterred, Norton gave up his day job and prepared for the fight with a ferocious intensity. When the pair clashed in San Diego on March 31 1973, it was nothing like the routine victory Ali undoubtedly expected. The pair went toe-to-toe for 12 exciting rounds, Norton benefiting from the advice of cornerman Futch, who had first-hand knowledge of Ali’s style and tactics, having worked with Ali’s great nemesis Joe Frazier two years previously.
To the visible shock of many ringside, Norton was awarded a split decision, while Ali – whose jaw was broken in the early rounds – was whisked off to the nearest hospital to have his mouth wired shut.
Six months later, on September 10 1973, the pair met for the North American Boxing Federation title at the Los Angeles Forum. Again the outcome was desperately close with Ali, who had prepared far more diligently on this occasion, getting the nod on a split decision following a last-ditch effort in the final round.
Norton emerged from the defeat with his reputation enhanced, however, and on March 26 1974 he travelled to Caracas, Venezuela, to challenge the fearsome George Foreman – the WBC and World Boxing Association title-holder. Norton – by now without Futch – failed badly on the biggest night of his career. He was floored three times before being stopped in the second and later claimed he was distracted by promotional rows and a threat to kidnap his parents, who had travelled to watch the fight.
The biggest disappointment of Norton’s career was still to come, however. Following seven successive stoppage wins – including a revenge triumph over Garcia and fifth-round knockout of title contender Jerry Quarry – he sealed a third fight with Ali for the WBA and WBC titles at Yankee Stadium on September 28 1976.
Convinced he had Ali’s measure, Norton exuded confidence going into the fight. For 15 rounds the two men again went toe-to-toe, and Norton returned to his corner following the final bell convinced he had outworked the ageing champion. But the decision was a close but unanimous decision in favour of Ali, and Norton was heartbroken. “I was smiling and crying at the same time,” he recalled in his autobiography. “I had accomplished the unthinkable, beaten Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship of the world.”
Norton was now 31, but still not finished. On November 5 1977 he returned to face Duane Bobick, a much-touted white hope who had Futch in his corner, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Bobick was on the cusp of a world title shot and Futch clearly felt Norton was there for the taking; yet Norton turned back the clock to leave the hapless Bobick unconscious after just 58 seconds, effectively ending his career.
“I thought it was a fight Bobick could win,” Futch said plaintively afterwards. “Norton wasn’t a big puncher, except with the uppercut. If you kept him busy he couldn’t get it off.”
After two more victories Norton unexpectedly became WBC champion after Spinks was stripped of the title. Then on June 9 1978, Norton and Holmes staged one of the great heavyweight fights at Caesars Palace, the latter just edging the decision following 15 pulsating rounds. Norton was never able to scale such heights again.
Nine months later the big-hitting Earnie Shavers flattened him inside two minutes, and a draw with the limited Scott LeDoux – in which he was downed twice – should have persuaded Norton he was on the decline.
Instead, he took on future title challenger Randall “Tex” Cobb in Texas on November 7 1980, dropping a split decision. A final bout with Cooney at New York’s Madison Square Garden on November 5 1981 resulted in a gruesome first-round exit after a helpless Norton took dozens of unanswered punches. In all he had won 42 of his 50 bouts, losing seven with one draw.
Norton went on to reinvent himself as a film and television actor, with roles in Mandingo (1975), Drum (1976) and The A-Team (1983), among others. For a time he worked with NBC as a fight analyst, and also formed a management agency.
In 1986 a road accident in Los Angeles left him with brain injuries, but following a long spell in rehabilitation he had recovered sufficiently to open his own gym. His final years were blighted by ill health.
Ken Norton’s first marriage ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife, Jacqueline, whom he married in 1977, and by five children.
Ken Norton, born August 9 1943, died September 18 2013
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