Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton I: 40 Years Later

[elmersalsa]

It was March 31st, 1973 in San Diego, CA. The great Muhammad Ali, making a comeback to regain the world heavyweight title, was upset by former marine named Ken Norton. Norton broke his jaw somewhere around round 2. It was the greatest victory of the career of Norton, who before this fight, was a virtually unknown heavyweight contender.

Ali "won" the second and third fights. I still believe that Norton won all 3 fights.

[Tuff Customer]

It's a worn out story. Fact: Muhammad almost beat Kenny even with a Broken Jaw
and then came back to win the other two fights. Norton lost two out of three, and he almost got beat the first time despite breaking Ali's jaw. Guy made a name on a lucky punch. He never got that lucky again unless you count not having to be beat on for 15 rounds by George Foreman or Cooney another couple of lucky moments. At least those KO's were merciful. Oh yeah, and he never signed to fight a two round fight with Frazier....more good luck for him.

[hhaehre]

It's a worn out story. Fact: Muhammad almost beat Kenny even with a Broken Jaw
and then came back to win the other two fights. Norton lost two out of three, and he almost got beat the first time despite breaking Ali's jaw. Guy made a name on a lucky punch. He never got that lucky again unless you count not having to be beat on for 15 rounds by George Foreman or Cooney another couple of lucky moments. At least those KO's were merciful. Oh yeah, and he never signed to fight a two round fight with Frazier....more good luck for him.

Ali lost 40 years ago and it still hurts like hell doesn't it?

[MEISINGER]

Forgotten,,,,,,,,

The bout before facing Muhammad Ali,,,,,

Ken Norton 'struggled' in his bout with Charlie Reno.

Then goes out, and walks through every punch that Muhammad Ali could deliver,
and nearly 'stops him' by a TKO.

Boxing.......... :??

brilliant observation
any given day.......anything can happen

[BoxBuzz]

I'm thinkin' Kenny was sandbaggin, in order to make sure the Ali date was made. If he looked too good, Ali might have had to face Boone Kirkman again.....


Ok not what I believe, but I'm makin' it easy for the Ali detractors here....I'm guessin that's going to a popular notion now that I've shared it.

[BoxBuzz]

Not bad. And to make it really sellable he made a point to fold on foreman to give the whole mirage a sense of surrealism.


Kenny was a genius.

[dempseyfire]

From the one pre-Ali Norton fight on film vs Henry Clark he looks OK, but confidence can work wonders for an athlete. Norton had already paid his dues sparring with the likes of Frazier; he was respected as a tough, awkward fighter . . but the Ali victory shot him to another level. Just like Holmes . . Larry did not impress in many fights vs C grade comp before his "coming out party" vs Shavers. He automatically became a much more consistent fighter after that.

[BoxBuzz]

From the one pre-Ali Norton fight on film vs Henry Clark he looks OK, but confidence can work wonders for an athlete. Norton had already paid his dues sparring with the likes of Frazier; he was respected as a tough, awkward fighter . . but the Ali victory shot him to another level. Just like Holmes . . Larry did not impress in many fights vs C grade comp before his "coming out party" vs Shavers. He automatically became a much more consistent fighter after that.

Wholeheartedly Agree.

[yancey]

The same can be said about Cassius Clay,,,,,

A 'near loss' to Doug Jones,,,,,

And a near 'KO Loss' to Sir Henry Cooper.

Then a 'win' in Miami over an old man.......

Suddeny, he was The Greatest.......

Nah, he didn't become the Greatest until the devastating one punch knockout of Sonny "I have balance issues" Liston, followed by the prom dance with a cripple, and sealed with a performance for the ages against a 357 Magnum victim.

[hhaehre]

The same can be said about Cassius Clay,,,,,

A 'near loss' to Doug Jones,,,,,

And a near 'KO Loss' to Sir Henry Cooper.

Then a 'win' in Miami over an old man.......

Suddeny, he was The Greatest.......

Nah, he didn't become the Greatest until the devastating one punch knockout of Sonny "I have balance issues" Liston, followed by the prom dance with a cripple, and sealed with a performance for the ages against a 357 Magnum victim.

Yeah, too bad he was completely shot by March 8, 1971

[wvboxer]

I just remember the Elvis robe!!!!
Seriously, I first saw this fight on ESPN Super Bouts in the 80's. Those fights with "commentary" by Bob Halloron & Ferdie Pacheco. With canned applause too!! Yikes! One of the first Ali fights I saw. It's a strange fight in that Ali had been getting sharper in the fights prior to this & was just flat here. I thought he looked good against Quarry & Chuvalo. Norton fought a great fight & just had his number.

[BoxBuzz]

It's a worn out story. Fact: Muhammad almost beat Kenny even with a Broken Jaw
and then came back to win the other two fights. Norton lost two out of three, and he almost got beat the first time despite breaking Ali's jaw. Guy made a name on a lucky punch. He never got that lucky again unless you count not having to be beat on for 15 rounds by George Foreman or Cooney another couple of lucky moments. At least those KO's were merciful. Oh yeah, and he never signed to fight a two round fight with Frazier....more good luck for him.

Ali lost 40 years ago and it still hurts like hell doesn't it?

Hmm, who's feeling the pain here? For some folks it's the facts (ok perhaps not the "truth" which I admit could be subjective in this case) that are painful.