Former heavyweight boxer Ken Norton Sr. dies at 70

[FORD]

Former heavyweight boxer Ken Norton Sr. dies at 70

By Claire Noland

3:36 PM PDT, September 18, 2013


Ken Norton Sr., left, trades punches with Muhammad Ali during their 1973 rematch at the Forum in Inglewood. Ali won the fight by split decision. (Associated Press / September 11, 1973)


Ken Norton Sr., a former heavyweight boxing champion who defeated Muhammad Ali in 1973, then lost in the rematch later that year, died Wednesday at a hospital in Arizona where he had been undergoing rehabilitation since suffering a stroke last year, according to his friend and manager Patrick Tenore. Norton was 70 and had congestive heart failure.

Norton broke Ali’s jaw in their initial fight, then lost at the Inglewood Forum in the rematch. Ali defeated Norton again in a decision at Yankee Stadium in New York in 1976.

In 1978, Norton won the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship when Leon Spinks chose not to fight him. He lost the title to Larry Holmes that June.

Norton finished with a record of 42-7-1 and 33 knockouts. He later went on to an acting career.

One of his sons, Ken Norton Jr., was a star linebacker at UCLA who played for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and now coaches for the Seattle Seahawks.

[FORD]

I think that 1973 match with Ali was the first fight I ever watched.... or at least the first I remember watching.

RIP

[vandeleur]

Rip Ken

[jhale667]

R.I.P. Watched the '73 fight again yesterday... didn't remember Ali looking like he was in trouble watching it as a kid, but clearly he was at more than one point in the fight. That, and you could visibly see him wince when he took a shot to the jaw... and the BALLS (or insanity) it took to fight 11 rounds with a busted jaw (Ali said it got broken in the 1st)... crazy.

Vic Ortiz by way of comparison, recently quit on his stool immediately after the round his got broken in.

[vandeleur]

11 rounds with a broken jaw does sound crazy when you actually think of it .

[jhale667]

11 rounds with a broken jaw does sound crazy when you actually think of it .

Crazy and downright agonizing.... imagine how bad it hurt every time he got nailed in the face... no wonder he buckled a couple of times. Watch the YouTube of it - Ali couldn't even speak after the fight.

[Von Halen]

I thought Norton won all 3 of the Ali fights. Fucking warriors. That was when boxing was boxing, if you ask me.

[SunisinuS]

RIP Ken. Man was a class act in the ring. He had that kinda eye of the tiger that showed the push of grill that the pastor thought he had.... He had the ligature that made you think he could perfectly punch. He would push in on Ali and connect. Something Foreman never understood in quite the same way.

R.I.P.

[binnie]

R.I.P

One of the guys who never really got his dues.

[binnie]

I thought Norton won all 3 of the Ali fights. Fucking warriors.

I agree - Ali just couldn't figure out the style.

Norton was probably the only really good defensive fighter Ali fought, and it makes me wonder how he'd have done with the other master-boxers in other eras.

[Green Manalishi]

Ken Norton , Sr. was a bad-ass personified . The '70's was the last great era of boxing . Ali , Frazier . Norton , Foreman , Wepner , Spinks , etc. I remember the Norton - Ali fights very well . Epic matches . R.I.P. Ken Norton , you were top-notch .

[Green Manalishi]

I forgot to mention Ernie Shaver in that class of boxers and that Ken Norton , Sr. was an ex- Marine . Shit , those cats were tough in that era . Best of boxing in my lifetime .

[Von Halen]

I agree - Ali just couldn't figure out the style.

Norton was probably the only really good defensive fighter Ali fought, and it makes me wonder how he'd have done with the other master-boxers in other eras.

Norton had that crazy style where he kept his arms up over his face sideways, elbows high. Kind of gave up the body, but he was a rock, and it didn't seem to affect him.

The Yankee stadium fight was fucking EPIC. So wish I could have been at that one.

[binnie]

Ken Norton , Sr. was a bad-ass personified . The '70's was the last great era of boxing . Ali , Frazier . Norton , Foreman , Wepner , Spinks , etc. I remember the Norton - Ali fights very well . Epic matches . R.I.P. Ken Norton , you were top-notch .

Let's not forget Larry Holmes - probably the best heavyweight ever.

[Green Manalishi]

Let's not forget Larry Holmes - probably the best heavyweight ever.

Damn ! Shame on me for not mentioning Larry Holmes . One tough s.o.b. for certain .