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Ken Norton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the boxer. For his son and American football coach and former player, see Ken Norton Jr. For other people, see Ken Norton (disambiguation).

Ken Norton
Norton in 1976
Born
Kenneth Howard Norton Sr.

(1943-08-09)August 9, 1943
Jacksonville, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 18, 2013(2013-09-18) (aged 70)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Other names
  • The Black Hercules[1]
  • The Jaw Breaker
  • The Fighting Marine
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
StanceOrthodox, Swarmer
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins42
Wins by KO33
Losses7
Draws1

Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013) was an American actor and professional boxer who competed from 1967 to 1981. He was awarded the WBC world heavyweight championship in 1978, after winning a close split decision over Jimmy Young in a title eliminator bout, after which Leon Spinks refused to fight with him.

He is best known for his fights with Muhammad Ali, in which Norton won the first by split decision, lost the second by split decision, and lost the final by a controversial unanimous decision. Norton also fought a slugfest with Larry Holmes in 1978 during the first defense of his championship, narrowly losing a split decision and his WBC title.

Norton retired from boxing in 1981, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Early life

[edit]

Norton was an outstanding athlete at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Illinois. He was selected to the all-state football team on defense as a senior in 1960. His track coach entered him in eight events, and Norton placed first in seven. As a result, the "Ken Norton Rule", which limits participation of an athlete to a maximum of four track and field events, was instituted in Illinois high school sports. After graduating from high school, Norton went to Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) on a football scholarship and studied elementary education.[2] In an interview with ESPN Fitness Magazine in 1985, Norton said that he would have become a teacher or a policeman if he had not taken up boxing.[3]

Amateur career

[edit]

Norton enlisted into the United States Marines Corps after leaving school, serving from 1963 to 1967. Norton was a manual morse intercept (MOS 2621), graduating from NCTC Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida. During his time with the Corps, he took up boxing, compiling a 24–2 record en route to three all-Marine heavyweight titles. In time, he became the best boxer to ever fight for the Corps and was awarded the North Carolina AAU Golden Gloves, International AAU, and Pan American titles.[4][5][6] Following the National AAU finals in 1967, he turned professional.

Professional career

[edit]

Norton built up a steady string of wins, some against journeyman fighters and others over fringe contenders like the giant Jack O'Halloran. He suffered a surprise defeat in 1970 just after The Ring magazine had profiled him as a prospect, to heavy-hitting Venezuelan boxer Jose Luis Garcia, who was unknown at the time. Norton overpowered Garcia in their rematch five years later, when both were rated contenders.

Norton was given the motivational book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill,[7][8][9] which he said "changed my life dramatically. I was going to fight Muhammad Ali. I was a green fighter, but yet I won, all through reading this book."[10] Upon reading Think and Grow Rich, he went on a 14-fight winning streak, including the shock victory over Muhammad Ali in 1973 to win the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight champion title.[11] Norton said, "These words [from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich] were the final inspiration in my victory over Ali: 'Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can'."[12] Norton also took a complete course by Hill on gaining wealth and peace of mind. "It can be related to anybody, to be the best in a career, to think positive", said Norton.[13][page needed]

In an article which appeared in The Southeast Missourian[14] Norton said, “One thing I do is only watch films of the fights in which I've done well or in which my opponent has done poorly.'" He also said, "In boxing, and in all of life, nobody should ever stop learning!"[15]

Rise to prominence

[edit]

Norton vs. Ali I, II

[edit]
Main article: Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton

Norton’s opponents were elusive in Norton's early career. His first big break came with a clear win over respected contender Henry Clark, which helped him gain world recognition. His big break was when Ali agreed to a match. Joe Frazier, who'd sparred with Norton and defeated Ali presciently said of Ali, "He'll have plenty of trouble!" Though both were top boxers in the mid-1970s, Norton and Frazier never fought each other, in part because they shared the same trainer, Eddie Futch, and also because they were good friends and didn't want to fight each other.[16][page needed]

For the first match, on March 31, 1973, Muhammad Ali entered the ring at the San Diego Sports Arena[17] wearing a robe given to him by Elvis Presley, as a 1–5 favorite versus Norton, then rated a number 6 world contender[18][better source needed] in a bout televised by ABC's Wide World of Sports.[19] Norton won a 12-round split decision over Ali in his adopted hometown of San Diego to win the NABF heavyweight title.[citation needed] In this bout, Norton broke Ali's jaw in the second round causing Ali to fight defensively for the remaining 10 rounds.[20] This led to only the second defeat for "The Greatest" in his career. (Ali's only previous loss was to Frazier, and Ali would later go on to defeat George Foreman to regain the heavyweight title in 1974.)

Almost six months later at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on September 10, 1973, Ali won a close split decision.[21] Norton weighed in at 206 lbs (5 pounds lighter than his first match with Ali) and some[who?] boxing writers suggested that his preparation was too intense and that perhaps he had overtrained. There were some furious exchanges in this hard-fought battle. From Ali's point of view, a loss here would have seriously dented his claim of ever being "The Greatest". During the ABC broadcast of the fight, broadcaster (and Ali confidant and friend) Howard Cosell repeatedly told viewers a dancing and jabbing Ali was dominating the action despite Norton's constant offense and Ali's inability to penetrate Norton's awkward crab-like cross-armed defensive style. The close scoring and decision favoring Ali were both controversial.[citation needed]

Norton vs. Foreman

[edit]
Main article: George Foreman vs. Ken Norton

In 1974, Norton fought Foreman for the world heavyweight championship at the Poliedro de Caracas in Caracas, Venezuela, suffering a second-round knockout. After an even first round, Foreman staggered Norton with an uppercut a minute into round two, pushing him into the ropes. Norton did not hit the canvas, but continued on wobbly legs, clearly not having recovered. He shortly went down a further two times in quick succession, with the referee intervening and stopping the fight.[citation needed]

Career peak

[edit]

Norton vs. Quarry

[edit]

In 1975, Norton regained the NABF heavyweight title when he impressively defeated Jerry Quarry by TKO in the fifth round. Norton then avenged his 1970 loss to Jose Luis Garcia by decisively knocking out Garcia in round five.[citation needed]

Norton vs. Ali III

[edit]
Norton in 1976
Main articles: Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III and Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali II

On September 28, 1976, Norton fought his third and final bout against Ali at Yankee Stadium in New York City.[21] Since their last meeting Ali had regained the world heavyweight championship title with an eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in 1974. Many observers have felt this fight marked the beginning of Ali's decline as a boxer. The Norton bout was a tough bruising battle for Ali. In one of the most disputed fights in history,[citation needed] the contest was even on the judges' scorecards going into the final round, which Ali won on both the referee's and judges' scorecards to retain the championship. The two judges, Harold Lederman and Barney Smith, scored the bout 8–7 for Ali, while referee Arthur Mercante scored it 8–6-1 for Ali. At the end of the last round, the commentator announced he would be "very surprised" if Norton had not won the fight.[22]

At the time of the bout, the last time a heavyweight champion had lost the title by decision was Max Baer to Jimmy Braddock, 41 years earlier. The January 1998 issue of Boxing Monthly listed Ali-Norton as the fifth most disputed title fight decision in boxing history. The unofficial United Press International scorecard was 8–7 for Norton, and the unofficial Associated Press scorecards were 9–6 for Ali (Ed Schuyler), and 8–7 Norton (Wick Temple).[citation needed]

Despite earning a victory, Ali received a pounding. His tactics were to try to push Norton back, but they had failed. He'd refused to 'dance' until the 9th. Norton has said the third fight with Ali was the last boxing match for which he was fully motivated, owing to his disappointment at having lost a fight he believed he had clearly won.[citation needed]

WBC heavyweight champion

[edit]

Norton vs. Young

[edit]

In 1977, Norton knocked out previously unbeaten top prospect Duane Bobick in one round, then dispatched European title holder Lorenzo Zanon in a 'tune-up' fight. Light-hitting but fast, Zanon was well ahead until a burst of heavy punches put him down and out.[23]

Norton then defeated polished number two contender Jimmy Young (who had beaten Foreman for the former champion's second loss, as well as twice top heavyweight contender Ron Lyle) via 15-round split decision in a WBC title-elimination bout, with the winner to face reigning WBC champion Ali. (However, Ali's camp told The Ring they did not want to fight Norton for a fourth time.) Both boxers fought a smart fight, with Norton using a heavy body attack whilst Young moved well and countered. The decision was controversial, with many observers thinking Young had done enough to win.[citation needed]

Although Norton was expected to face Ali for a fourth time, to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship, plans changed due to Ali's loss of his title to Leon Spinks on February 15, 1978. The WBC then ordered a match between the new champion and Norton, its number one contender. Spinks however, chose to face Ali in his first title defence, instead of facing Norton.[24][25] The WBC responded on March 18, 1978, by retroactively giving title fight status to Norton's victory over Young the year before and awarding Norton their championship, which split the heavyweight championship for the first time since Jimmy Ellis and Joe Frazier were both recognized as champions in the early 1970s.[4][26]

Norton vs. Holmes

[edit]
Main article: Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes

In his first defense of the WBC title on June 9, 1978, Norton and new number one contender Larry Holmes met in a brutal 15-round fight. Holmes was awarded the title via an extremely close split decision. Two of the three judges scored the fight 143–142 for Holmes while the third scored the bout 143–142 for Norton.[27] The Associated Press scored it 143–142 for Norton.[28] The March 2001 edition of The Ring listed the final round of the Holmes–Norton bout as the seventh most exciting round in boxing history and International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) member Monte D. Cox ranked the bout as the tenth greatest heavyweight fight of all time. Holmes went on to become the third-longest reigning world heavyweight champion in the history of boxing, behind Joe Louis and Wladimir Klitschko. Years later, Holmes wrote that the bout was his toughest fight of all his seventy-five contests.[29]

Post-title career

[edit]

Norton vs. Shavers

[edit]

After losing to Holmes, Norton won his next fight by knockout over sixth-ranked Randy Stephens in 1978[30] before taking on legendary puncher Earnie Shavers in another compulsory WBC title eliminator fight in Las Vegas on March 23, 1979. Shavers took the former champion out in the first round. underscoring Norton's difficulty with hard hitters such as Foreman, Shavers and later Cooney. However Norton himself always denied this, saying that he was past his prime when he was stopped by Shavers and Cooney.[31][32]

Scott LeDoux

[edit]

In his next fight, he fought to a split draw with unheralded but durable lower ranked contender Scott LeDoux at the Met Center in Minneapolis. Norton dominated until sustaining an injury when he took a thumb in the eye in the eighth round, which immediately changed the bout. LeDoux rallied from that point and Norton became decidedly fatigued. Norton was down two times in the final round, resulting in the draw; Norton fell behind on one scorecard, kept his lead on the second, and dropped to even on the third (the unofficial AP scorecard was 5–3–2 Norton).[33]

Tex Cobb

[edit]

After the fight, Norton decided that at 37 it was time to retire from boxing.[34] However, not satisfied with the way he had gone out, Norton returned to the ring to face the undefeated Randall "Tex" Cobb in Cobb's home state of Texas on November 7, 1980. In an all action back-and-forth fight, Norton escaped with a split decision, with referee Tony Perez and judge Chuck Hassett voting in his favor and judge Arlen Bynum giving the fight to Cobb. In the March 1981 issue of The Ring, Norton was still one of the world's top ten ranked heavyweights.[35]

Final bout

[edit]

Gerry Cooney

[edit]

The win over the title-contending Cobb gave Norton another shot at a potential title-fight, and on May 11, 1981, at Madison Square Garden he stepped into the ring with top contender Gerry Cooney, who, like Cobb, was undefeated entering the fight. Very early in the fight Norton was buckled by Cooney's punches. Norton took a series of big punches from Cooney in his corner before Tony Perez stepped in to stop the 54 seconds into the first round, with Norton slumped against the ropes, leaving Cooney the victor by first-round technical knockout. Norton retired after the fight and turned to charitable pursuits.[36]

Boxing style

[edit]

Norton was a forward-pressing fighter who was notable for his unusual crab-like cross-armed defense. The boxers that use this style are often called inside-fighters, swarmers, and crowders by boxing fans. In this stance, his left arm was positioned low across the torso with his right hand up by the right or left ear. When under heavy pressure both arms were brought up high across at face level while leaning forward, covering his head and leaving little room for his opponent to extend his arms. The guard was also used by boxers Archie Moore and Tim Witherspoon, as well as by Frazier in parts of his third fight with Muhammad Ali and Foreman during his famous comeback years.

Norton would bob and weave from a crouch, firing well placed heavy punches. He was best when advancing, unconventionally dragging or sliding his right foot behind him, relying on immense upper body strength to deliver his heavy blows. By comparison, most conventional boxers have elbows in at the torso with forearms vertically parallel to each another, the gloves being both near sides of the face and driving off their rear foot to deliver power punches.

Angelo Dundee wrote[where?] that Norton's best punch was the left hook. Many others lauded his overhand right. In a Ring Magazine article, Norton himself said that a right uppercut to Jerry Quarry was the hardest blow he recalled landing.[citation needed]

Awards and recognitions

[edit]

Norton was a 1989 inductee of the World Boxing Hall of Fame,[citation needed] a 1992 inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame,[37] a 2004 inductee into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame,[4] and a 2008 inductee into the World Boxing Council Hall of Fame.[citation needed]

The 1998 holiday issue of The Ring ranked Norton #22 among "The 50 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time".[citation needed] Norton received the Boxing Writers Association of America J. Niel trophy for "Fighter of the Year" in 1977.[citation needed]

Norton also received the "Napoleon Hill Award" for positive thinking in 1973.[38]

In 2001, Norton was inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame, honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.[39] Norton was also inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[40]

Later media career

[edit]
On set of Mandingo (1975) with actor Perry King

In 1975, at the peak of his boxing career, Norton made his acting debut starring in the Dino De Laurentiis blaxploitation film Mandingo, about a pre-Civil War slave purchased to fight other slaves for their master's entertainment. After starring in the 1976 sequel, Drum, Norton went on to play bit parts in a dozen other productions.[41]

Norton worked as an actor and TV boxing commentator following his retirement from boxing. He also was a member of the Sports Illustrated Speakers Bureau and started the Ken Norton Management Co., which represented athletes in contract negotiations.[citation needed]

Norton continued making TV, radio and public speaking appearances until suffering injuries in a near-fatal car accident in 1986 which left him with slow and slurred speech.[42][43][44]

He appeared along with Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Holmes in a video, Champions Forever, discussing their best times, and in 2000 he published his autobiography, Going the Distance.[citation needed]

Personal life

[edit]
Norton in 2010

Norton was married three times and had four children. Prior to his first marriage, he had a son named Keith. He married Jeannette Henderson in 1966 while still in the Marines. The marriage lasted until 1968 and produced football player and coach Ken Norton Jr. In 1977, he married Jacqueline 'Jackie' Halton, who also had a son, Brandon, from a previous marriage. Jackie gave birth to daughter Kenisha (1976) and son Kene Jon (1981). They remained married for over 24 years before divorcing around 2000. Around 2012, he married Rose Marie Conant.[45][46]

Norton was twice voted "Father of the Year" by the Los Angeles Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times in 1977.[42][47] To quote Norton from his biography, Believe: Journey From Jacksonville: "Of all the titles that I've been privileged to have, the title of 'dad' has always been the best."[42]

His second son, Ken Norton Jr., played football at UCLA and had a long successful career in the NFL. In tribute to his father's boxing career, Ken Jr. would strike a boxing stance in the end zone each time he scored a defensive touchdown and throw a punching combination at the goalpost pad.

Ken Norton's son Keith Norton was once the weekend sports anchor for KPRC in Houston, Texas.[48] He followed his father in serving in the Marine Corps.[49][better source needed] Keith graduated US Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego October 1987, 2nd Battalion, Hotel Company, Platoon 2080.[50][better source needed]

Norton died at a care facility in Las Vegas on September 18, 2013.[51] He was 70 years old and had suffered a series of strokes in later years.[52] Across the boxing world, tributes were paid, with Foreman calling him "the fairest of them all" and Holmes saying that he "will be incredibly missed in the boxing world and by many".[53] He was buried at Jacksonville East Cemetery, in Jacksonville, Illinois.[citation needed]

Professional boxing record

[edit]
50 fights 42 wins 7 losses
By knockout 33 4
By decision 9 3
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
50 Loss 42–7–1 Gerry Cooney TKO 1 (10), 0:54 May 11, 1981 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
49 Win 42–6–1 Randall Cobb SD 10 Nov 7, 1980 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
48 Draw 41–6–1 Scott LeDoux SD 10 Aug 19, 1979 Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
47 Loss 41–6 Earnie Shavers KO 1 (12), 1:58 Mar 23, 1979 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
46 Win 41–5 Randy Stephens KO 3 (10), 2:42 Nov 10, 1978 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
45 Loss 40–5 Larry Holmes SD 15 Jun 9, 1978 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Lost WBC heavyweight title
44 Win 40–4 Jimmy Young SD 15 Nov 5, 1977 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. WBC heavyweight title eliminator; Norton awarded title four months later
43 Win 39–4 Lorenzo Zanon KO 5 (10), 3:08 Sep 14, 1977 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
42 Win 38–4 Duane Bobick TKO 1 (12), 0:58 May 11, 1977 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
41 Loss 37–4 Muhammad Ali UD 15 Sept 26, 1976 Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. For WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
40 Win 37–3 Larry Middleton TKO 10 (10), 2:17 Jul 10, 1976 Sports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S.
39 Win 36–3 Ron Stander TKO 5 (12), 1:19 Apr 30, 1976 Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S.
38 Win 35–3 Pedro Lovell TKO 5 (12), 1:40 Jan 10, 1976 Las Vegas Convention Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
37 Win 34–3 Jose Luis Garcia KO 5 (10), 1:50 Aug 14, 1975 Civic Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
36 Win 33–3 Jerry Quarry TKO 5 (12), 2:29 Mar 24, 1975 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Won vacant NABF heavyweight title
35 Win 32–3 Rico Brooks KO 1 (10), 1:34 Mar 4, 1975 Red Carpet Inn, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
34 Win 31–3 Boone Kirkman RTD 7 (10) Jun 25, 1974 Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
33 Loss 30–3 George Foreman TKO 2 (15), 2:00 Mar 26, 1974 Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela For WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
32 Loss 30–2 Muhammad Ali SD 12 Sep 10, 1973 Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Lost NABF heavyweight title
31 Win 30–1 Muhammad Ali SD 12 Mar 31, 1973 Sports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S. Won NABF heavyweight title
30 Win 29–1 Charlie Reno UD 10 Dec 13, 1972 San Diego, California, U.S.
29 Win 28–1 Henry Clark TKO 9 (10) Nov 21, 1972 Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
28 Win 27–1 James J. Woody RTD 8 (10) Jun 30, 1972 San Diego, California, U.S.
27 Win 26–1 Herschel Jacobs UD 10 Jun 5, 1972 San Diego, California, U.S.
26 Win 25–1 Jack O'Halloran UD 10 Mar 17, 1972 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
25 Win 24–1 Charlie Harris TKO 3 (10) Feb 17, 1972 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
24 Win 23–1 James J. Woody UD 10 Sep 29, 1971 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
23 Win 22–1 Chuck Haynes KO 7 (10), 1:08 Aug 7, 1971 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.
22 Win 21–1 Vic Brown KO 5 (10) Jun 12, 1971 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.
21 Win 20–1 Steve Carter TKO 3 (10) Jun 12, 1971 Valley Music Theater, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
20 Win 19–1 Roby Harris KO 2 (10), 1:35 Oct 16, 1970 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
19 Win 18–1 Chuck Leslie UD 10 Sep 26, 1970 Valley Music Theater, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
18 Win 17–1 Roy Wallace KO 4 (10) Aug 29, 1970 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
17 Loss 16–1 Jose Luis Garcia KO 8 (10) Jul 2, 1970 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Ray Junior Ellis KO 2 (10), 0:53 May 8, 1970 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Bob Mashburn KO 4 (10), 1:40 Apr 7, 1970 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Stamford Harris TKO 3 (10), 1:59 Mar 13, 1970 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Aaron Eastling KO 2 (10), 3:06 Feb 4, 1970 Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Julius Garcia TKO 3 (10) Oct 21, 1969 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Gary Bates TKO 8 (10) Jul 25, 1969 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Bill McMurray TKO 7 (10) Jul 25, 1969 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Pedro Sanchez TKO 2 (10) Mar 31, 1969 International Sports Center, San Diego, California, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Wayne Kindred TKO 9 (10) Feb 20, 1969 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Joe Hemphill TKO 3 (10), 1:52 Feb 11, 1969 Valley Music Theater, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Cornell Nolan KO 6 (10) Dec 8, 1968 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Wayne Kindred TKO 6 (10) Jul 23, 1968 Circle Arts Theatre, San Diego, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Jimmy Gilmore KO 7 (8), 1:20 Mar 26, 1968 Community Concourse, San Diego, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Harold Dutra KO 3 (6) Feb 6, 1968 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Sam Wyatt PTS 6 Jan 16, 1968 Community Concourse, San Diego, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Grady Brazell TKO 5 (6) Nov 14, 1967 Community Concourse, San Diego, California, U.S.

See also

[edit]
  • Tomas Molinares - another world boxing champion who never won a world title fight

References

[edit]
  1. ^ de Beauchamp, Joseph (November 30, 2004) Rocky The Movie: The Kenny Norton Story or the Real Apollo Creed? saddoboxing.com
  2. ^ "Ebony". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company: 152–. June 1973. ISSN 0012-9011.
  3. ^ ESPN Fitness Magazine, February 1985
  4. ^ a b c Ken Norton Archived February 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. MCCS Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame
  5. ^ Newman, Eric (April 25, 2013) Best Late Bloomers in Sports, 4. Ken Norton. Bleacher Report
  6. ^ [1] How the spirit of Ken Norton's Marine toughness lives on in Ken Norton Jr., CBS Sports, November 10, 2015
  7. ^ Hypnotist Aided Norton – Confidence Key To Upset Of Ali, AP, April 2, 1973
  8. ^ Positive attitude key to Norton's boxing, AP, March 27, 1975
  9. ^ Think and Grow Rich Archived July 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine. Life Training (Discusses that Ken Norton attributed his win over Muhammad Ali to the principles he learned in Think and Grow Rich.)
  10. ^ Ken Norton about Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich". youtube.com
  11. ^ Murray, Jim (August 7, 1973) Ken the conqueror. The Free Lance-Star
  12. ^ Norton, p. 60
  13. ^ Lewiston Morning Tribune, July 28, 1973
  14. ^ The Southeast Missourian. March 12, 1976
  15. ^ The Ring Magazine, September 1976, p. 43
  16. ^ Norton autoBiography Going the Distance
  17. ^ Maffei, John (July 6, 2013). "Sports site No. 3: San Diego Sports Arena". U-T San Diego. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  18. ^ U-tube videos with Howard Coselle comentating
  19. ^ Today in Sports History: Elvis and Ali. Mettachronicles.com (January 2, 2013). Retrieved on June 21, 2014.
  20. ^ "Muhammed Ali Talks About Getting His Jaw Broken by Ken Norton - Carson Tonight Show - 05/17/1973". YouTube. June 2021.
  21. ^ a b Pacquiao-Marquez III: Celebrating the trilogies (Muhammad Ali–Ken Norton). Espn.go.com (November 7, 2011). Retrieved on June 21, 2014.
  22. ^ Video on YouTube
  23. ^ Snowden, Jonathan. "One Punch: How Ken Norton Became a Boxing Legend in a Single Night". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  24. ^ Spinks Snub Miffs Norton, AP via Ludington Daily News, March 11, 1978
  25. ^ Anderson, Dave (March 9, 1978) No. 1 Contender – Norton only boxer behaving like a champion, The New York Times via Star-News
  26. ^ "Norton-Young Bout May Be for the Title", Milwaukee Journal, November 5, 1977
  27. ^ "The judges' cards for Holmes vs. Norton". boxrec.com. June 9, 1978. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  28. ^ Holmes get boxing title. Associated Press via The Tuscaloosa News, June 10, 1978
  29. ^ Gray, Tom (June 19, 2018). "Larry Holmes: 'After Ken Norton my 20 title defenses were playground stuff'". The Ring. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  30. ^ A Lesson in Manliness From the Ex-Marine: Ken Norton, The Art of Manliness, November 12, 2012
  31. ^ Norton's biography Going the distance
  32. ^ Julian Compton. boxrec.com
  33. ^ LeDoux, Norton draw, UPI via The Bryan Times, August 20, 1979
  34. ^ Norton, p. 164
  35. ^ The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: 1980.
  36. ^ Grimsley, Will (November 10, 1979) "Ken Norton: Now He's Fighting For Children", AP via The Evening Independent
  37. ^ Ken Norton. International Boxing Hall of Fame
  38. ^ Norton, p. 46
  39. ^ "Ken Norton". Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). San Diego Hall of Champions
  40. ^ "KENNETH HOWARD NORTON – California Sports Hall of Fame 2011 Inductee". Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). California Sports Hall of Fame
  41. ^ "Ken Norton". IMDb.
  42. ^ a b c Norton, Ken; Hennessey, Donald Jr. & Amodeo, John (2009). Believe: Journey From Jacksonville. Fairfield, Iowa: 1st World Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4218-9119-4.
  43. ^ Roberts, Rich (December 26, 1987) "Ken Norton Is Now Fighting Back: Former Champ Is Learning to Talk Again After 1986 Car Accident", Los Angeles Times
  44. ^ Rosenthal, Phil (October 4, 1986) Ken Norton Jr. helps father overcome crippling injuries, Daily News Los Angeles
  45. ^ "Ken Norton Sr. dies at 70; former heavyweight boxing champion". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 2013.
  46. ^ "Obituary for Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel". www.meaningfulfunerals.net.
  47. ^ City, Big. (June 17, 2012) "Ken Norton: Two-Time Father of the Year", The Art of Manliness, June 17, 2012. Retrieved on June 21, 2014.
  48. ^ "Keith Norton". Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). KPRC Houston Sports News. 2008
  49. ^ Served with him in 29 Palms
  50. ^ Frank Lenihan USMC 1987-1991
  51. ^ Obituary Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. Jacksonville Courier, September 24, 2012
  52. ^ "Ken Norton, heavyweight boxing legend, dies at 70". BBC. September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  53. ^ Dirs, Ben (September 19, 2013). "Ken Norton was a colossal figure in heavyweight boxing's greatest era". BBC. Retrieved September 19, 2013.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Norton, Ken; et al. (2000). Going the Distance. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing. ISBN 1-58261-225-0.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ken Norton.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by NABF heavyweight champion
March 13, 1973 – September 10, 1973 		Succeeded by
Muhammad Ali
Vacant
Title last held by
Muhammad Ali 		NABF heavyweight champion
March 24, 1975 – January 1976
Vacated 		Succeeded by
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Leon Spinks 		WBC heavyweight champion
March 18, 1978 – June 9, 1978 		Succeeded by
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