Ken Norton Interview (Thoughts)

I've been called worse. You should probably watch the fight again.

 

I heard about the flamingos, but what's this about a policeman?

I always love looking at the crowds in old fights, particularly Ali abroad, they got packed in like sardines and went wild. I would have loved it at some point, now I think I'd be too worried about a stampede.

 

Strue.

 

The fact Norton could put up a fight with Ali should say more about Muhammad then Norton.

 

I was rewatching the 2nd Ali vs Norton fight. During a rough patch during the fight for Ali, it was interesting to hear the commentators muse (preemptively?) as to how the sport of boxing would cope WITHOUT Ali.

Ali's return rematch with Ken was extremely important - victory a must for Ali, otherwise, back to back losses to Norton. It was a very close fight, could've gone either way imo but another loss on Ali's ledger would've altered Ali's most ideal career trajectory and perhaps made the regaining of the title so much more difficult.

As it was, Ali went on to reverse the loss to Frazier and ultimately roll Foreman over in Zaire. Whether he actually did beat Norton or not in the rematch, the health of boxing was definitely served by Ali winning the rematch.

When training for the rematch, an article featured in a boxing magazine quoted Ali as saying, more or less, that Norton would've eaten up the younger of himself (Ali). Doesn't mean that's correct but it is something that Ali said.

Norton won the 3rd fight going away imo. No one is pretending that Ali hadn't slipped somewhat but even factoring that, Norton won the fight clearly - beating that version exactly as he should (meaning, exactly as you would expect a near great fighter like Norton to have done).

If you watch the weigh/press conference before the THIRD fight, a 221 lb Ali clearly stated that he believed he was "too light" (at 212 lbs) for their return match, that he didn't plan to dance, that his hands were "better" and that he was hitting hard.

On the heels of his successful stoppages of Foreman, Frazier and Lyle, Ali was more or less stating that he could take Norton out and was going to strategize himself to that end - and in the opening rounds vs Norton, I believe the vision corroborated that objective.

After the rubber match, in reply to a question as to whether he thought he lost, Ali did state in a whisper, "Yeah, I lost", no sarcasm or following tag line. That in itself doesn't constitute as evidence that he did lose but it's worthy of note.

 

I definitely scored the second fight for Ali 7 - 5 in rounds or at least 6 - 5 - 1 Ali. The third fight I score for Ken 9 - 6 in rounds. But a lot of those rounds were close in my book.

 

I loved Kenny Norton. He wasn't the greatest, biggest puncher or best chin, but he was such an important part of the golden era.

 

Very true,Fergy. His second fight with Muhammad Ali is one of my favourite heavyweight fights of the 70s. By far the best of their trilogy in my opinion and one of my fave Ali performances of his post exile career.

 

They brought out the best in each other, Stevie, imo, as did Frazier with Ali.
And Ken fight with Holmes!!
That's up there for me, as one of the greatest heavyweight title fights.

 

I agree, he was a real gentleman, I'd loved to have met him.
I don't think he even minded being the 5th Beatle behind Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Holmes

 

Fifth Beatle - I like that.

 

Holmes-Norton was a great finale to the 1970s Heavyweight Golden Age. Fight of the Century 1971 was the opener.

 

You could have a top 10 heavyweight clashes of the 70's thread going.
Quarry-Shavers and Lyle-Foreman obviously belong up there

 

Fifth Beatle.. Love it.