Muhammad Ali Admitted He Couldn’t Beat One Heavyweight So Begged George Foreman To Do It For Him

Muhammad Ali is seen by many as the greatest heavyweight of all time but the man himself admitted there was one rival whose style was too much for him.

Ali faced all comers during an illustrious career that saw him become a two-time undisputed champion. During his 61 fights he shared the ring with the likes of Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Earnie Shavers and Larry Holmes.

However, out of all the men he faced he felt that Ken Norton had a style which he just couldn’t overcome.

“Kenny’s style is too difficult for me. I can’t beat him, and I sure don’t want to fight him again”

The two men met on three occasions. Norton won the first fight with Ali being victorious in the second and third. Both of Ali’s victories where controversial points decisions, with most fans believing Norton had done enough to get his hand raised – Ali even admitted he thought he lost their trilogy bout.

“I honestly thought he beat me in Yankee Stadium, but the judges gave it to me, and I’m grateful to them.”

One man who clearly had the beating of Norton however was Foreman. ‘Big’ George secured a second round knockout when the pair met back in 1974 to retain his heavyweight titles.

Not long after Foreman lost his belts in a shock upset to Muhammad Ali he retired from the sport for ten years. During his spell on the sidelines he revealed that Ali phoned him and begged him to come back and take care or Norton once again.

“He called me and complimented me for about twenty-minutes then he said, ‘ George, would you do me a favour? I said, ‘Certainly.’

“He said, ‘Please come back and beat Ken Norton and fight him for me. I can’t beat him. George, you can, he’s afraid of you. I’ll let you use my training camp and everything but please come back and beat him for me.”

Foreman would come back but not to fight Norton. After returning to the ring in 1987 the American would go on a run that would see him become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the tenth round to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles.