The Ali - Norton I pre fight & aftermath

By Rick Farris (boxer)
In March 1973 I was working out at the Main St. Gym in Los Angeles one day when my manager, Johnny Flores, informed me I'd be replacing a boxer in a preliminary bout the next day in San Diego. "You'll be fighting a six rounder on the undercard of the Ali - Norton fight".

I had been lucky enough to fight on the undercard of several world title fights during my career but the prospect of fighting on one that featured Ali was something special.

The next day I arrived at the San Diego International Sports Arena and was ushered to the dressing room. There was a long corridor with cubicles and lockers where most of the fighters on the card would change and two small rooms, one on each end reserved for Ali and Norton. I had my mind on my fight but also was curious about Ali. I knew Kenny Norton and we had fought on the same card more than once in the past. I had my second pro fight the night he was KO'ed by Jose Luis Garcia at the Olympic Auditorium in 1970 in his first pro loss. We had also shared a dressing room at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1971. However, two years later he was facing a legend and entered the dressing room area almost unnoticed about ten minutes after I did.

A little later I noticed Dr. Ferdie Pacheco enter with Angelo Dundee and they were directed to Ali's room at the other end of the corridor. My dressing area was located right outside of Norton's room and when he passed by we shook hands and I wished him luck. In my mind I thought, "He's going to need a lot of luck tonight. This wasn't Jose Luis Garcia, it was Ali".

A moment later I heard a commotion at the other end of the hall and sure enough Muhammad Ali had arrived. Bundini Brown entered first as if making way for Ali who followed him. Bundini was talking 100 miles an hour but Ali was quiet. Muhammad looked almost bored as he made his way to the room where Pacheco and Dundee awaited him. Also in tow was Ali photographer Howard Bingham and several others. Once Ali had arrived there was a constant noise coming from outside the dressing area.

The prelim fights went on as scheduled and I came away with a six round decision victory in a tough fight. There would be one more match on the card prior to the main event and I hurried to shower so I would be ready for it.

I waited in the dressing area so as I could watch the fighters leave for the ring and when Norton came out of the dressing room he looked relaxed and confident. Ali looked bored, almost disinterested.

You all know that Ken Norton scored one of the biggest upsets in Heavyweight boxing when he broke the great Ali's jaw and won a decision over the former champ that night. However, it was what I saw in the dressing room after the fight that I will never forget.

When I returned to the dressing room to retrieve my equipment I had to push my way thru the crowd of reporters and God knows who else just to grab my bag. Everybody wanted to speak with Norton. The crowd that had come with Ali were now fighting to see Norton.

When I finally got to my locker I slipped out down at the other end of the corridor and passed by Ali's dressing room. I couldn't help but stop outside the room and peak in. There were only a few people in the room and nobody was saying much. Ali was sitting on a fold up chair holding an ice bag to the side of his face while Dr. Pacheco was on the phone making arrangements for Ali at a local hospital. Howard Bingham was standing in the corner talking with somebody about his pictures and two reporters were firing questions at Ali. Bundini Brown turned around from a bad he was packing and shouted at the eager reporters. "Can't you see the man is in pain. Take a walk", Bundini ordered, pushing the two men out the door I was looking in.

A moment later Angelo Dundee walks past me as he entered the dressing room. Dundee was munching on a hot dog and began to tell a stories about some of the women they had met over the years. "Hey Muhammad, remember that redhead who was after me in Miami. The old broad had more chins than a china town phone book" Dundee laughed. Ali just sat expressionless.

Ali was a beaten fighter and in no mood to joke. Losing was not something Ali was used to. He was supposed to win.

I picked up my bag and walked out of the San Diego Sports Arena feeling very strange. It wasn't Ali losing that gave me these feelings, it was the lonely look in his eyes as he sat holding that ice bag to his face. It was quite a sight, one I will never forget.