Ken Norton faced heavyweight legends in Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Larry Holmes.
Norton discovered his fighting prowess during his service in the Marines. Turning pro in 1967, he quickly gained recognition for his awkward stance and powerful jab, a combination that baffled many opponents. His career reached a pinnacle in 1973 when he shocked the world by defeating Muhammad Ali, breaking the legend’s jaw in the process.
Though he ultimately lost the rematch and a controversial rubber match, Norton’s performances against Ali solidified his status as a top contender. He beat Jimmy Young in a final eliminator for the WBC title in 1974 and was subsequently awarded the belt after champion Leon Spinks decided against the mandatory defence.
The Jacksonville native faced a who’s who of heavyweight legends, including Foreman, Holmes, and Gerry Cooney. ‘Big’ George scored a quick second round stoppage win in the fight whereas Holmes had to earn a split decision over 15 rounds. Cooney, in Norton’s final bout, knocked him out in one round.
Speaking to ESPN Radio, Norton unequivocally picked Ali as the best he faced in the ring. In fact, he says he is the best heavyweight ever. Asked about being ‘the only man he never beat convincingly,’ Norton said:
“A lot of it was the mental part of it. Ali defeated everyone mentally first. With Frazier, Ali had him so mad Joe was trying to kill him with every shot. With Foreman, he tried to kill him with every shot. Mentally, Ali could not defeat me and physically I felt I was as much a physical power as Ali was. He couldn’t upset me in any way and plus, I had Eddie Futch. Eddie knew how to fight Ali. You can’t go to the head with him. You have to go to the body first and then eventually he will bring his hands down and lower his head.”
Retiring in 1981 with a record of 42-7-1, Norton transitioned to acting, appearing in various films and television shows. His impact on boxing, however, remains undeniable. Ken Norton, the ‘Jawbreaker’ will forever be remembered as one of the sport’s true warriors. He passed away in 2013.
