Norton, Kenneth H.

Boxing

b. Aug. 9, 1945, Jacksonville, IL

Career Record

Other Resources

While serving for four years in the Marine Corps, Norton won three all-Marine championships. He became a sparring partner for Joe Frazier after being discharged. Norton's first professional fight was a 9th-round knockout of Grady Brazell in San Diego on November 14, 1967.

The angular 6-foot-3, 210-pound Norton had a powerful punch and an awkward boxing style that often puzzled opponents. He won 16 straight fights, 15 by knockout, before being knocked out by Jose Luis Garcia on July 2, 1970. He then won 13 more matches to earn a fight against Muhammad Ali for the North American Boxing Federation version of the heavyweight championship.

In a stunning upset, Norton took a 12-round decision from the former world champion on March 31, 1973. After the fight, it was learned that he had broken Ali's jaw in the 7th round. Ali reclaimed the NABF title with a 12-round decision on September 10.

George Foreman knocked Norton out in the 2nd round of a match for the world championship on March 26, 1974, in Caracas, Venezuela. After Ali won the title from Foreman, Norton faced Ali for the third time on September 28, 1976. He put up a good fight but lost a 15-round decision.

The title fell into confusion less than two years later. After Michael Spinks beat Ali to win the championship, Norton was ranked as the top contender by the World Boxing Council. Spinks signed for a rematch with Ali instead of fighting Norton, and the WBC stripped him of his crown and proclaimed Norton champion on March 29, 1978. Norton lost the title in his first defense, on June 9, 1978, when Larry Holmes won a 15-round decision in Las Vegas.

In 50 professional fights, Norton had 42 victories, 33 by knockout. He lost 7, 4 by knockout, and also had one draw. His son, Ken Jr., played football at UCLA and was a starting linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys when they won Super Bowl XXVII after the 1992 season.

International Boxing Hall of Fame