Ken Norton
| Ken Norton | |
|---|---|
Norton in 1977
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. |
| Nickname(s) |
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| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm) |
| Born |
August 9, 1943 Jacksonville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 18, 2013 (aged 70) Henderson, Nevada, U.S. |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 50 |
| Wins | 42 |
| Wins by KO | 33 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 1 |
Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013), best known as Ken Norton, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1967 to 1981, and held the WBC heavyweight title from 1977 to 1978. He is best known for his classic trilogy with Muhammad Ali, in which Norton won the first fight by split decision, and controversially lost the latter two fights by another split decision and a unanimous decision, respectively. He also fought a classic slugfest with Larry Holmes in 1978, narrowly losing a split decision. Norton officially retired from boxing in 1981, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
Norton was an outstanding athlete at Jacksonville High School. He was selected to the all-state team Football team on defense as a senior in 1960. His track coach entered him in eight events, and Norton placed first in seven of them. 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. 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.
Norton started boxing when he was in the United States Marine Corps from 1963 to 1967, 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 Marines, and was awarded the North Carolina AAU Golden Gloves, International AAU and Pan American titles. Following the National AAU finals in 1967, he turned professional.
Norton built up a steady string of wins, some against journeyman fighters and others over fringe contenders like the giant Jack O'Halloran. He was learning and improving. But he suffered a surprise defeat, ironically just after The Ring magazine had profiled him as a prospect, at the hands of heavy hitting Venezuelan boxer Jose Luis Garcia in 1970. It was justifiably Garcia's career peak. But Garcia was overpowered, both then as rated contenders, in their rematch five years later.
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