Ken Norton, a former U.S. Marine, became one of boxing's toughest heavyweights, taking on legends like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes during his career from 1967 to 1981.
Norton's journey in boxing began in the Marines, where he found out he had a knack for fighting. He turned pro in 1967, catching eyes with his unusual stance and strong jab. But it wasn't until 1973 that Norton really made his mark.
That year, Norton shocked everyone by beating Muhammad Ali and breaking his jaw. This win kicked off a trio of fights between the two. Norton won the first, lost the second, and then lost a controversial third match. These battles with Ali put Norton firmly in the spotlight as a top contender.
In 1974, Norton won a WBC title eliminator against Jimmy Young. Later, he got the WBC heavyweight belt when Leon Spinks didn't want to defend it. But Norton's time at the top was short-lived.
He lost to George Foreman in just two rounds. Then came a nail-biting 15-round fight with Larry Holmes, which Norton lost in a split decision. His last fight was a quick loss to Gerry Cooney, ending in the first round.
When asked about his toughest opponent, Norton didn't hesitate to name Ali. He said:
"A lot of it was the mental part of it. Ali defeated everyone mentally first. With Frazier, Ali had him so mad Joe was trying to kill him with every shot. With Foreman, he tried to kill him with every shot. Mentally, Ali could not defeat me and physically I felt I was as much a physical power as Ali was. He couldn't upset me in any way and plus, I had Eddie Futch. Eddie knew how to fight Ali. You can't go to the head with him. You have to go to the body first and then eventually he will bring his hands down and lower his head."
Norton's strategy against Ali was clear: stay mentally strong, match Ali's physical power, follow coach Eddie Futch's advice, and focus on body shots before going for the head.
After hanging up his gloves in 1981 with a record of 42 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw, Norton tried his hand at acting in movies and TV shows.
Fans remember Norton, nicknamed "Jawbreaker", as one of boxing's true warriors. He passed away in 2013, leaving behind a legacy as one of the toughest heavyweights of his era.
