It’s proven so, so hard for a number of great fighters to exit the sport on a win. So often we’ve seen legends battle on for too long; taking that ‘fight too many.’ Sadly it happened to at least three of the immortal heavyweights featured in the now 30 year old “Champions Forever” video tribute (still a fantastic watch a full three decades on).
Ken Norton
When the action was so great they did it three times: Boxing’s finest trilogies
Sometimes a fight is so great, we simply have to see it again. Sometimes we are treated to an unforgettable tirilogy of fights. Here are ten of the finest in boxing history.
Video: Ken Norton vs Larry Holmes – Classic Fight Recap
Rummy’s Corner proudly presents another edition of a new ongoing series that will explore some of the greatest bouts in the rich history of professional boxing. This week’s second installment of “Classic Fight Recap” features the epic fifteen round heavyweight championship contest that took place on June 9, 1978, between WBC heavyweight champion Ken Norton (40-4-0) and undefeated challenger Larry Holmes (27-0-0), which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When the ex-marine broke the draft dodger’s jaw – Norton-Ali
It might be something of a morbid subject, but Muhammad Ali, a man who literally gave everything he had in the pursuit of the greatness he achieved in the ring, is, despite the ghastly health problems he has been suffering with for over three decades, outliving his former ring rivals by a quite substantial amount of time. Ali, now aged 74 and more or less housebound, has lived longer than former foes including: Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Jimmy Ellis, Sir Henry Cooper, Jimmy Young, Ron Lyle, Jerry Quarry, Floyd Patterson and even his final ring rival, Trevor Berbick.
What If A Fight That Never Happened Actually Did Happen? Joe Frazier Vs Ken Norton
There are some fights that were possible but they never happened. In the case of Joe Frazier verses Ken Norton a little bit of alternative revisionist history is needed to set the stage for the fight to have happened. The following, of course, is fiction and it is my take on how such a fight may have transpired.
It is May 1974 and former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier is in training to fight fellow highly ranked contender Jerry Quarry who had defeated up and coming contenders Earnie Shavers and Ron Lyle the previous year. Frazier, who was fresh off a loss to fellow ex champion Muhammad Ali, knew a win over Quarry would solidify another heavyweight title shot against the man who had brutally taken his title from him, George Foreman. But as luck would have it Quarry, who was prone to cuts, was cut while training and the injury was severe enough to sideline him for the next couple of months. Frazier was told by several promoters and by representatives of the major sanctioning bodies that he had to beat a top ranked contender in order to be considered for another title shot. But the problem was that if Quarry, who fit the bill, was not available, and both Lyle and Shavers who had already been beaten by Quarry had slipped in the rankings, who was available for Frazier to fight?
A Tribute To Ken Norton – 1943-2013
As fans have no doubt read by now, heavyweight legend and former world champion Ken Norton passed away earlier today. The magnificently conditioned former U.S Marine, most famous for his three epic fights with Muhammad Ali, suffered a stroke last year and had been in poor health since. Today, fans and former champions everywhere are sending out messages of condolence to Norton’s family.
I had the opportunity to meet Kenny last year, in Las Vegas.
By way of a tribute to the Hall of Famer who met such heavyweight titans as: Ali, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Gerry Cooney, Earnie Shavers and many, many more – I recall the short amount of time I spent with Norton during the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto fight week of May 2012.
Hall Flags at Half-Staff For Ken Norton
CANASTOTA, NY – SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced its flags will fly at half-staff in memory of heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who passed away today in Las Vegas. He was 70.
1992 Hall of Fame Inductee Ken Norton
“Ken Norton was one of the standouts of the talent-filled 1970s heavyweight division,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “He was a great fighter in the ring and a great person outside of it. The Hall of Fame joins the worldwide boxing community in mourning his passing.”
Born August 9, 1943 in Jacksonville, Illinois, Norton was a gifted football, basketball and track star in high school. He began boxing while in the Marine Corps where he compiled a 24-2 record. After turning pro in 1967 Norton quickly became a key player in the heavyweight division. He engaged in a classic three-fight series with fellow Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali (W 12, L 12, L 12). Norton captured the NABF title twice (1973 and 1975) and held the WBC heavyweight championship (1978).
Ken Norton: He Boxed A Near Masterpiece Against Ali, Yet Somehow Came Up Short
By James Slater: Former World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight king Ken Norton has been in the news this week, but unfortunately for unpleasant reasons. The 69-year-old sadly suffered a stroke this week and he is currently in hospital, fighting hard.
Heavyweight Legend Ken Norton Suffers Stroke, In Stable Condition In Hospital
By James Slater: According to a number of boxing web sites (I read the sad news on SecondsOut.com), former WBC heavyweight king Ken Norton suffered a stroke earlier today and is in a stable condition in hospital. Ironically, today is Kenny’s birthday – either his 69th or, according to other records, his 67th.