Ken Norton dead at 70

Special fighters from a special age.

 

Ken was a good fighter....but never a great one.

 

another one gone..and not so old...seems to be a pattern.Amazing that Muhammad has outlived Joe and Ken. I read his book...seemed a good human being.
Fantastic fighter,such a shame he'd been so ill and been short changed of a few years.
His fight with Holmes was astonishing.
The greatest.. Ali couldnt master him. Top bloke.

 

Ban this scum.

 

Always loved watching him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXFBWPDNXJk

Beastly

R.I.P

 

A much better way of remembering the guy.:good

 

youtu.be/VKPe5QqyngI

 

Ken Norton was THE iconic heavyweight star of the 1970s, the big man who most defined that decade exclusively.

Ali was a product of the 1960s who came back late in 1970, and was not active in 1979. Frazier's peak ended with the FOTC in 1971, and he did not compete more than twice a year between 1968 and 1976. Shavers and Lyle registered frequent bouts through the decade, but often they were brief, and away from the television spotlight. George Foreman had a grand total of ten fights in four years of action from Frazier I in 1973 to Young in 1977, and originally made his name in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he inserted himself into the social turbulence of that decade by waving the American flag when Tommie Smith and John Carlos were raising Black Power salutes on the podium.

But Ken, an amateur product of the USMC, was a fixture on television screens from at least Henry Clark in 1972 to Scott LeDoux in 1979. Whether competing, providing broadcast commentary [as early as Manila], performing in the ABC Superstars competition or Circus of the Stars, or as a lead actor in those movie roles, he really was the personification of 1970s boxing, competing almost exclusively in the featured event of all cards he appeared on from the beginning to end of the decade. He and Ali were the only two prominent heavyweights I recall from the era who had a significant female following, raising his profile tremendously with a demographic which otherwise would have paid no attention.

Whenever he was not participating in a HW Title bout from Manila to Shavers, he was always the elephant in the room [and as with Manila, and Ali-Shavers, often a voice behind the microphone]. After Leon Spinks upset Ali, I asked my father what he thought about the new champion as we headed upstairs to out respective bedrooms for the night. "I can't see him beating Norton!" was all my father replied. He and I recalled that today after learning of Ken's passing. He gave us so many rounds of boxing during the decade that it was remarkable even when he didn't, whether it was Foreman, Bobick or Shavers. Not necessarily exciting, but always compelling.

In his own way, influenced many people during the "Me" decade as Ali did in raising social consciousness during the 1960s. "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill was given to him after his loss to Garcia several months before Hill's death. Ken's subsequent success revived Hill's 1937 classic, inspiring a new generation which might otherwise not have been aware of it at all to obtain a copy for themselves. [Alexis Arguello likewise read Dale Carnegie's 1936 milestone, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."] Because Hill's self help literature changed his life, it changed other lives in turn for the better. "An intelligent being" indeed, and as distinct an original as his foremost rival.

He laid the groundwork for the success of his own children on their own merits, particularly his son Ken, Jr., who became the first three time Super Bowl Champion in consecutive years. For that, gridiron fans of the UCLA Bruins, Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers can be grateful to him, and now as an assistant coach for the Seahawks at age 46, Ken, Jr. isn't done yet. Time will tell if his father has left behind the beginnings of a further sports dynasty, as others before him have done.

 

I remember that bout...norton vs Bobick was shown live on Friday night in NJ. The next evening Saturday Night Live kept running the ko over and over all during the show as a running gag. It was hilarious.

One thing with Norton it always seemed he punched at times...perhaps often with slightly open gloves. He would block or parry with open gloves then not completely close his glove prior to landing his shots.

 

It was no doubt caused in large part due to the medications he would've been taking for this and that. He seemed to have alot wrong with him in recent years and ever since the accident in 86 there was a probably a cascade of ailments which directly or indirectly led to this unfortunate situation.

 

It's such a shame....a national tragedy that two of the most intelligent well spoken fighters who ever lived...Ali and Norton...were never able over the years to be ambassadors of the sport. Both silenced for the most part the last 25 years. Can you imagine how entertaining it would have been to see both men as they were with all their faculties the last few decades? Again it's a national tragedy.

 

Well said. If Norton got the fair judging, he's 2-1 vs. Ali, and has a better resume of wins in comparison to Frazier.

When people think of Norton they might talk about his sneaky jab, solid right, or hand speed. But he was a very good body puncher too!

And he was in a lot of great fights.

 

Never in a dull fight, fought even with Ali except for the first one....intelligent man

 

Hmm... vs Young?

 

That was n't a BAD fight by any means. Comes under the 'okay' category.