LAS VEGAS, NV (August 15, 2006) — This Thursday! August 17, at 9 p.m. ET, OLN will televise the second installment of “Fight Night: Top Rank’s Legends of the Ring,” hosted by Michael Buffer. This week’s classic features the first bout between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton. Ali had reeled off 10 straight victories since his loss to Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” over the likes of Jimmy Ellis, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry, Bob Foster, Joe Bugner and Floyd Patterson when he met unheralded Ken Norton, who only started boxing when he joined the United States Marine Corps, in San Diego in 1973..
It became known as the “Broken Jaw Fight” because Ali fought from round two onwards with a broken jaw. Norton executed trainer Eddie Futch’s game plan perfectly – taking Ali’s jab away by catching it with his right glove and slamming his own jab simultaneously. Norton made it a very long night for Ali by out-jabbing him and winning a split decision, a harbinger of a memorable trilogy between former and future world champions.
“Fight Night: Top Rank’s Legends of the Ring,” will air during the weeks between the live events of “Fight Night” and will feature classic bouts from Top Rank’s extensive library, many which have not been seen since their original airing. In addition to seeing the fight in its entirety, each episode will also include the back-story of each fight as it happened — plus many will be enhanced to include interviews with the contenders, pre-fight press conferences, the weigh-in, and behind-the-scenes banter between the participants.
“Fight Night: Top Rank’s Legends of the Ring,” made its debut on August 3 with the 15-round Muhammad Ali- Oscar Bonavena NABF title fight, which took place on December 7, 1970. Other classic fights scheduled to air this year include:
* Ali vs. Frazier II
* Foreman vs. Morrison
* Duran’s Comeback: Duran vs. Cuevas & Duran vs. Moore
* Hagler vs. Antuofermo I
* Hearns vs. Barkley I & II
* Arguello vs. Mancini
* Carbajal vs. Gonzales II
* De La Hoya vs. Brehahl