01.12.06 – By James Slater: The year was 1974, and heavyweight champion of the world George Foreman was making the second defence of his recently acquired title. Once again defending his crown on foreign soil, Foreman met top contender Ken Norton in Caracas, Venezuela. George was no stranger to fighting abroad. He had won his title with a two round pulverising of “Smokin'” Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, and he had made his first defence – a one round blow-out of the overmatched Joe ” King” Roman – in Tokyo, Japan. Now he was having his third fight in a row in a country other than his own. The result, however, was the same.
Fighting the body-beautiful Kenny Norton, the man who, famously, had not only beaten Muhammad Ali but broken his jaw while doing so, George was in absolutely peak condition. He took Norton very seriously, acknowledging the fact that Ken had done very well in his two fights with The Greatest. Judging him on that form, Norton would present any heavyweight in the world with problems. So George whipped himself into even better shape than he had been when challenging Joe Frazier the year before. There was a lot at stake for the twenty-five year old Foreman. Not only was his title on the line, but a prospective showdown with the great Ali was also on the cards should he retain against Kenny.
And that match was one that would earn both Foreman and Ali an unprecedented Five million dollars each. The government of Zaire had put up the cash, Don King was ready to promote; all that was needed now was Foreman’s win over the confident sounding Norton.
Years later, on The Champions Forever video, George stated how he had been somewhat scared of Norton. Back in March of 1974, though, the undefeated monster that George was would give no inkling of thinking any such thing. He was all set to destroy any challenger foolish enough to get in a ring with him. What followed in Caracas was the very peak performance of the prime George Foreman.
Once again employing an intimidating stare-down, George found no returning eyes. Unlike Frazier, who had fearlessly matched Foreman’s fierce glare eyeball-to eyeball, Kenny chose to look at the floor. To Foreman it must have seemed he had the advantage psychologically already. Then the bell rang.
Foreman immediately began stalking Norton, who backed up and tried to get his left jab going. He did land it a few times, as he did his left hook. But nothing fazed George in the slightest and it must have been alarming to Ken how quickly the size of the ring was reduced. George was displaying great ability at cutting off the ring on his opponent and pretty soon Norton had no room in which to employ his tactics of boxing and moving in the hope of taking the KO king into the later rounds. Despite the aggression and effectiveness George was showing, however, Norton did okay in the round – certainly faring in the first three minutes of a boxing match with the mighty Foreman far better than the last two men to have shared a ring with him. George won the round, but it was somewhat close. So much so that Ali, commentating from ringside, told the viewing audience that he was prod of what Norton had just done as it showed everyone how great a fighter he was.
Ali, who had picked Norton to win the bout, went on to say how he knew George would not do away with Kenny as he had done with Frazier because “Anyone who goes twenty-four rounds with me has to be great, and ain’t no George Foreman, who’s still a good amateur, gonna destroy Ken Norton, ‘cos I couldn’t do it.” For once Ali was wrong. Round two saw to that.
The way in which Foreman was efficient at punching another man senseless was shown in all its brutal glory in the second round that day in March. His sheer power was as mesmerising to watch as it was frightening. Indeed, it would be very interesting to know just what emotions went through Ali’s mind at the point when Foreman’s final crushing blows landed on their intended target. A target which, of course, would be Ali’s jaw next time out and not Norton’s. As for Kenny’s mind and its contents, by the second half of round number two both had been knocked firmly onto queer street.
The ending was viciously put into motion when Norton found himself under pressure along the ropes. Trying to move from them, Ken was caught with a wide left uppercut. Sufficiently stunned for George to press for the KO, Norton felt the full force of five more power-punches to his head. All with his right hand, George unloaded with massive uppercuts and hooks. Ken fell into the ropes and a count was issued by referee, Jimmy Rondeau. As the eight count was being given Norton nervously fiddled around with the waistband of his shorts, only too aware of the painful punches that were soon to come crashing his way. Foreman rushed over to the dazed Norton and unleashed some more artillery. A right to the body followed by a left, right combination upstairs sent Kenny crumbling downwards for a second time, once again along the ropes. As he regained his full height though, Foreman cracked him with an illegal left to the side of the jaw. No warning was given, and neither was another count. Then came the finish, one of the most impressive ever seen by a big man.
A big left hook landed flush, as did a left uppercut, followed by a right uppercut, then a right hook, and then finally a left hand connected as Norton was already on the way down. Foreman’s accuracy and speed, along with his incredible power, were stunning to behold. Though the challenger somehow regained his feet inside of ten seconds – assisting himself by grabbing the ropes – the fight was over. Norton was in no shape to try and continue. With a menacing looking Foreman almost standing right in his face, Norton’s corner signalled to the ref what every person present already knew – George Foreman had won again and would now meet Muhammad Ali.
The stage was set for “The Rumble In The Jungle!”