ken norton rip.

19 Sep 2013

anyone who followed boxing back in the seventies with remember the name Ken Norton.
he broke Muhammad ali's jaw and defeated him in 1973 also was world heavyweight champion when you had one true champion.
he fought in an era where boxing was a more brutal sport and fights like 'the thriller in manila' were superfights as both fighters went 15 rounds at the championship level.
Joe frazier, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali were all around when Ken norton was at the top of his game so he was up against the very best ever in the modern heavyweight ranks.
He fought Ali three times breaking his jaw in the first fight which he won on a split decision. ali was lucky to win the second and claimed a split decision six months later a fight which took place in yankee stadium.
Although he won the title in 1977 after leonard spinks chose not to fight him it took the great fighters to beat him including legend Larry Holmes who won the title from Norton.
Norton learnt to box in the marines and as well as a successful boxing career he featured in movies and television programmes after retirement.
in 1986 he suffered a near fatal car crash when his car left a on-ramp on the santa monica freeway but like a fighter he fought on.
his health did get worse in later life and it is reported congestive heart failure finally rung the last bell on one of boxings good guys.
No one had a bad word to say about Ken Norton and he lives us with his record.
42-4-1 and 33 knockouts. he was 70.
Ken Norton r.i.p.

19 Sep 2013

he was a great boxer and a gladiator they dont make boxers like this no more :sad: