Ken Norton dead at 70

You have a stange concept of sincerity.

Sensitivity is clearly not your strong point.

In more basixc terms...f*cking rude.

 

Am absolutely gutted about this, heard it on the 7AM news (UK time) this morning and felt a lump come up in my throat. A lot of nmessages to & from some gutted friends of mine today.

Kenny was one of my favourite half dozen fighters ever, and I've been watching boxing for over 40 years. My friends know me as "Ken Norton's number 1 fan!".

My first memory of Ken was staying up watching his first bout with Ali in March of '73 and being thrilled with his win and having found a new hero to look up to, and what a hero! Exciting fighter, certainly looked the part, great fights with Ali & Holmes, carried himself with class. A great role model, a great Father by all accounts; ex-marine and a gentle and humble guy. They don't make many like Ken sadly...

Was unlucky in Ali 3 & also meeting (imo) the best ever version of Big George, who was full of confidence after Kingston but before Zaire stripped George of his confidence and aura of invincibility.

In my eyes, Norton was the real Heavyweight champ form 28 September 1976 to 9 June 1978.

A great fighter in the original golden era of heavyweight boxing...RIP champ...am sorry I never got to meet you.

 

Indeed. Even after his accident he was able to be dignified. A tremendous athlete with a spectacular physique, a champion's heart, and a Marine's work ethic. Also, his boy played linebacker for my Cowboys when I was a kid, so he was one of the first HW champs outside the usual names that I had on my radar.

Rest well, champ. You earned it.

 

Farewell, Kenny Boy. Farewell Champion. You helped make the 70s HW era a golden one.

Give Joe and the gand our regards

 

That era is thinning out a bit now, and that's sad.

Ken was a very good fighter who was right in the mix of a great bunch of fighters.

Thanks for the memories, Ken.

 

Didn't lift any weights at all apparently. Just a natural specimen.

 

True.

3 close fights vs. Ali (1 win), a close loss vs. Holmes, and a close win over Young. A case can be made that he didn't lose any of these fights. Fighting on par with these men is very impressive.

Ali should have fought Norton a 4th time instead of fighting Leon Spinks.

After L. Spinks beat Ali he should have fought Norton... he didn't, this resulted in the WBC proclaiming Norton as their Champ.

Ali beat Spinks in the rematch then retired. He should have fought Norton before he retired.

He should have received a rematch with Holmes.

He looked very good vs. fighters like Henry Clark KO9, Boone Kirkman KO7, Jerry Quarry KO5, Jose Luis Garcia KO5 (rematch), Ron Stander KO5, Larry Middleton KO10, Duane Bobick KO1, Lorenzo Zanon KO5.

Late in his career he drew with Scott LeDoux and beat Tex Cobb by decision.

He was stopped in 2 by George Foreman but so was Joe Frazier. The other stoppage losses either came before he peaked or when he was past prime.

I'd pick Norton over L. Spinks and over Ali in a 4th fight. Holmes rematch? By this time Norton was slipping and Holmes was reaching his peak, not sure Norton could have pulled it off but he'd have a shot.

 

Very sad news.


I knew he was ill but it's still a shock when they actually leave us,is n't it ?

Ken was always one of my favourite heavyweights. Muhammad Ali was my number one but as opposed to some football (soccer) fans,it's not seemingly mandatory for boxing buffs to loathe our favourite's main rivals.

Norton was one of the best in a very competitive era. It certainly was the golden age of heavyweights. Obviously he'll be best remembered for his three wars with Ali and the one with Larry Holmes but right now I'm thinking of the one round blow out of Duane Bobick. Ken was on a mission that night.


R.I.P. Ken - You'll be missed.

 

I'm just amazed that a specimen like Norton was in his youth could die of congestive heart failure at a relatively young age of 70. congestive heart failure usually means an enlarged heart unable to beat effectively.

 

Met him a few years ago, imposing even then. Dude didn't even look to be in his late 60s. Amazing physical speciman. Very shocked to see this.

 

"An intelligent being. A caring being. An individual who, even though he was very competitive, in his heart he never wanted to injure anybody. And that he was a man that believed in God." --Kenny Norton, on how he hoped to be remembered.

RockySplitNose, for some reason, your sentiment of watching Champions Forever tonight nearly brings a tear to my eye. That nostalgic video, with its nostalgic music, is becoming more and more precious as the years grind on. Kenny is a moving presence in that footage, particularly where he is shown grinning widely in slo-mo, as a Champion Forever!

As a 10-year-old, I was shocked and saddened when Larry Holmes narrowly edged out Kenny for the title in '78. Watching on network TV, my two brothers, my Dad and I went crazy during that 15th Round, along with the crowd, as the two went at it with pure hunger and desire, with a majestic sense of self-worth and dignity that taught my young self a mesmerizing life lesson in how to stand in the ring center of life and fight like a man.

"Kenny! Kenny!" was Howard Cosell's plaintive call in trying to catch up to Norton seconds after the close but just decision had been announced. That was exactly what my young heart was crying as well: "Kenny, Kenny, I'm so sorry you lost, but you did your very best and I'm still proud of you!"

And now, I say, thank you Kenny, for being a man, a man who was intelligent, world-class competitive and world-class successful, a man who believed in God.

 

God bless you Kenny.

A true gentleman in and out of the ring....you will not be forgotten.

Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle, Ken Norton...

It really hits home when we lose one of the 70's icons but what really astounds me is Ali is somehow outlasting them all.

I do not even want to contemplate how i will feel when we lose him.

I am just thankful i was privilaged to have lived through that amazing era.

R.I.P. Kenny.

 

RIP Mr. Norton and condolences to his family.

Always enjoyed watching him fight and also enjoyed his TV and film appearances. He starred in segments of "Superstars", that used to match athletes in different sports in various events. He was a good boxing commentator too.

Can anyone forget his film career also? He starred in Mandingo and Drum. Not exactly PC but still entertaining.

I'd say he lived a very full life.

 

RIP Ken Norton.
Always get chills during the 15th of the Holmes fight.
Amazing fighter.

 

Nice post,Prime :good