Ken Norton scored numerous big and important wins during his sometimes underrated ring career: the former marine beating, among others, Muhammad Ali, Boone Kirkman, Duane Bobick, Jimmy Young, Randy “Tex” Cobb, and Jerry Quarry.
It is an era jam-packed to the brim with talent, hard work, blood, sweat, tears, and GUTS! Everyone who was everyone fought in the 1970s heavyweight division and anyone who was anyone made sure not to miss any of the fights.
Though he never won the title in the ring, Ken Norton was a major player during the talent-rich golden era of the heavyweight division that was the 1970s.
Some dates, when they roll around, instantly make a fight fan think about a special fight. Today, June 9th, is one such day and date.
Heavyweight king “Big” George Foreman really was a frightening figure back in the 1970s, never more so than on this day 50 years ago.
For a fighter who, aside from having so many positively fine assets, “couldn’t take a big punch”, former WBC heavyweight champ Ken Norton sure faced a who’s who of heavyweight bangers – George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Jerry Quarry (not an all-out banger but a puncher with authority), Larry Holmes (also, no lethal tranquilliser but a solid puncher all the same), Gerry Cooney, and one or two other guys.
Some dates, some fight dates, they stick in your mind. June 9th is one such date. Why? Because it just might have been that on this date, back in 1978, the world witnessed, A: one of the greatest heavyweight title fights of all-time.
Talk about a heavily hyped fighter being utterly and ruthlessly exposed. On this day in 1977, 26-year-old “Great White Hope” Duane Bobick, trained by the great Eddie Futch, put his glossy 38-0(32) pro record on the line against the fear greater experienced (and just far greater fighter, period) Ken Norton.
The boxing world was still getting over the momentous shock a young, raw, and savagely powerful George Foreman unleashed in January of that year; “Big George” destroying an unbeaten Joe Frazier to take the world heavyweight crown.
In the pantheon of heavyweight greats, Ken Norton ranks highly; the ex-Marine having earned his spurs with epic fights, both of the winning and losing variety, against superstars and nearly stars, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Jimmy Young, Jerry Quarry and Randy “Tex” Cobb.