Muhammad Ali, the man known as "The Greatest," once admitted there was a heavyweight from his era he couldn't beat. The boxer who gave Ali fits? Ken Norton.
Ali, famous for predicting the rounds he'd finish opponents and projecting zero doubts even as an underdog, said Norton's style was just too tricky for him.
"Kenny's style is too difficult for me. I can't beat him, and I sure don't want to fight him again. I honestly thought he beat me in Yankee Stadium, but the judges gave it to me, and I'm grateful to them."
Ali and Norton fought three times. Their first bout saw Norton break Ali's jaw and hand him only his second loss after Joe Frazier. Ali won the rematch, but many disputed the result. Their third and final fight went Ali's way again, but Norton called it a "robbery," and Ali himself admitted it was a "gift."
Norton went on to be elevated to full heavyweight world champion after beating Jimmy Young. He racked up 42 wins from 50 fights in his career and became a Hall of Famer. Norton passed away in 2013, three years before Ali.
Ali's struggle with Norton led to an unexpected phone call to another heavyweight great. George Foreman shared a story with Jim Lampley about Ali reaching out to him.
"Ali called me. He complimented me for about twenty minutes. Then he said, 'George, I need a favor. Please come back and beat Ken Norton and fight him for me. I can't beat him. George, you can, he's afraid of you. I'll let you use my training camp and everything but please come back and beat him for me.'"
Foreman had previously knocked out Norton in just two rounds. Ali's call likely came before his third and final fight with Norton, showing just how much Norton's style troubled "The Greatest."
