Seven and a half years ago the very personable and popular Ken Norton was enshrined
in Boxing’s Hall of Fame. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
I met Ken a couple of years ago in Canastota. His rapport with the fans and
his willingness to mingle and sign autographs endeared him to the crowd. Being
an ambassador for boxing is one thing and being a Hall of Fame caliber boxer
is another. After watching Jimmy Bivins wait for years to be rightfully inducted
it made me wonder what the qualifications really are. Does Ken really deserve
to be enshrined? Let’s examine his career.
Ken began his career in a promising fashion reeling off an unbeaten streak against
mediocre opposition. He was beginning to gain recognition as a top prospect
until the roof caved in. A wiry Venezuelan named Jose Luis Garcia bombed Ken
out and forced Norton to start all over. It took some time but Ken finally re-established
himself with tough victories over men like Jack O’Halloran and Henry Clark.
Norton was ranked but no one gave him a chance when he met ex-champion Muhammad
Ali in March of 1973. In a fight that will forever be remembered as “The
Jaw Breaker”, Norton walked off with the upset decision and Ali left to
have his jaw wired. Their September 1973 rematch saw a better-conditioned Ali
win a very close verdict.
In splitting two bouts with Ali. Ken got his first shot at the world crown against
George Foreman. Foreman had destroyed Ken’s friend Joe Frazier in two
rounds to capture the title. George duplicated the feat halting Kenny in round
two of a mismatch. Again Norton would rebuild his career and after Ali stripped
Foreman of his cloak of invincibility in Zaire, Ken became the logical contender.
They met in their rubber match for Ali’s title in September of 1976 at
Yankee Stadium. Ali retained his title with an unpopular decision. Personally,
I felt Kenny deserved the verdict.
When Norton destroyed previously unbeaten Duane Bobick in one round in 1977,
he put himself in line for a fourth meeting with Ali. Then boxing politics intervened.
Ali lost his title in a major upset to Leon Spinks. The W.B.C. ordered Spinks
to defend his title against Norton. Instead Spinks opted for a more lucrative
rematch with Ali. Norton then met clever Jimmy Young. The winner to be proclaimed
“champion” by the W.B.C. Norton won a dull decision over Young and
he was bestowed the W.B.C. crown. So never having won the title in the ring,
Kenny lost it in his first defense to Larry Holmes in a terrific battle. Everyone
was looking forward to a rematch but Kenny got himself knocked out in one round
by Earnie Shavers.
Ken would again try to re-establish himself but his age had finally caught up
to him. A life and death struggle to secure a draw with journeyman Scott LeDoux
pretty much spelled the end. He did re-surface briefly to edge Tex Cobb, but
that only led to disaster as a red hot Gerry Cooney put a final exclamation
point on Ken’s career with a brutal one round knockout. Ken did beat some
notables during his distinguished career. Contenders like Henry Clark, Jerry
Quarry, Boone Kirkman, and Garcia in a rematch, Jimmy Young, Cobb, and Larry
Middleton adorn his record.
In reality, Ken lived off his reputation earned in his trio of bouts with Ali.
For some reason Ken always proved troublesome to Muhammad. Ken’s best
bout may have been his losing venture against Holmes in an all time classic.
Ken’s chin was suspect ever since the first Garcia bout. Anytime he faced
a big, big puncher he was usually sent home early. Reference to his bouts with
Foreman, Shavers, and Cooney. Quarry and Henry Clark were on the downside of
their careers when Ken beat them. Kirkman was overrated. Young and Middleton
were fast and smart but light hitters. Cobb was game and tough but slow. Kenny
was well ahead of LeDoux before his legs gave out and Scott gamely battled back
to almost halt Ken. Why did Ken never meet Ron Lyle?
Ken Norton was a very good heavyweight, make no mistake about it. He was not
a GREAT heavyweight. Only the greats should be honored as a member of The International
Boxing Hall of Fame.
By Jim Amato
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