Editor’s Note: This feature originally appeared in the January 1976 issue of The Ring Magazine. As much as getting a George Foreman interview was impossible, a talk with Ken Norton presented no difficulties. The Ring found Ken eager, revealing and confident. He said he was ready to meet Muhammad Ali a third time anywhere. He barred only Joe Frazier, his pal, and indicated that Don King wanted him to take on a fight in suburban New York before shooting for the title again. He was not averse to the proposal. Here is The Ring’s interview with Ken Norton as he gave it, question and answer: THE RING: Will Ali give you another chance? Anything in the wind? KEN NORTON: I feel that Muhammad Ali will give me another chance. We do have a score to settle in the rubber match. Ali’s a fighting champion and he’s never ducked anyone before. He knows as well as the fans that I am deserving of a title shot. He said publicly I would – I have to believe it. THE RING: If it is made mandatory that you fight Foreman to get another shot at Ali, how would you feel about it? Under what conditions would you do so? KN: I have already gone on record as saying that if getting a title shot with Ali is predicated upon me meeting George Foreman to get it, then I am ready to meet Foreman now. The sooner, the better. I have a score to settle with Foreman also. Bob Biron, my manager, makes the business deals and if he feels the terms for a Foreman fight, or any other fight for that matter, are equitable, I go to work. THE RING: What happened in your Caracas fight Foreman? Can you account for your poor showing? KN: As far as Caracas is concerned, that’s water over the dam. There have been many stories about what happened in Caracas, but I make no excuses. That night George Foreman was the better man. The next time – if there is a next time – it’ll be different. THE RING: What would you do differently in a return with Foreman? Analyze Foreman – has he changed in any way since your meeting? KN: Win! It’s very difficult for me or anyone else to really analyze George Foreman because he’s been inactive. I don’t think anyone knows what his loss to Ali has done to him. But George is still young and strong and must get back into action. THE RING: Analyze Ali – Is he going downhill? Or – as some state – is he improving with age? What makes him great – if you think he is? How has Ali changed since your last meeting with him? Or has he? How would you fight Ali the next time out? KN: Muhammad Ali has certainly not gone downhill. He has changed his style a bit. He uses his head more, and this is where his experience and flexibility come into play. He’s also punching better now because he has come down off his toes and plants himself. The fact that his hands, which he has problems with, are now better, has allowed him to throw punches with new-found authority. He’s an exceptional athlete who has tremendous pride. He has the ability to give more than 100 percent. He reached back against me when there wasn’t much left, in our second fight, and won the final round, which saved the fight for him on two of the official cards. He also reached back in Manila against Joe Frazier when it seemed the fight was lost. The great ones have this ability, so I would definitely call Ali a great fighter. Since I met Ali, he appears to be moving less and punching better. My trainer, Bill Slayton, and myself would sit down and work out a basic fight plan for a third meeting with Ali. We are flexible enough to change at any time during the fight. I can box and fight, and we will use whatever formula or combination thereof that it takes to win. THE RING: Would Foreman have a good or better chance against Ali in a return fight, and if so, why? KN: I don’t think that Foreman would have a better chance against Ali in a return fight. Foreman would have to get back on the winning track against a couple of contenders first to ever make me believe otherwise. He would also have to prove that he can be more adaptable to different ring situations than he has shown in the past. THE RING: Will Ali give you another chance? Anything in the wind? KEN NORTON: I feel that Muhammad Ali will give me another chance. We do have a score to settle in the rubber match. Ali’s a fighting champion and he’s never ducked anyone before. He knows as well as the fans that I am deserving of a title shot. He said publicly I would – I have to believe it. THE RING: If it is made mandatory that you fight Foreman to get another shot at Ali, how would you feel about it? Under what conditions would you do so? KN: I have already gone on record as saying that if getting a title shot with Ali is predicated upon me meeting George Foreman to get it, then I am ready to meet Foreman now. The sooner, the better. I have a score to settle with Foreman also. Bob Biron, my manager, makes the business deals and if he feels the terms for a Foreman fight, or any other fight for that matter, are equitable, I go to work. THE RING: What happened in your Caracas fight Foreman? Can you account for your poor showing? KN: As far as Caracas is concerned, that’s water over the dam. There have been many stories about what happened in Caracas, but I make no excuses. That night George Foreman was the better man. The next time – if there is a next time – it’ll be different. THE RING: What would you do differently in a return with Foreman? Analyze Foreman – has he changed in any way since your meeting? KN: Win! It’s very difficult for me or anyone else to really analyze George Foreman because he’s been inactive. I don’t think anyone knows what his loss to Ali has done to him. But George is still young and strong and must get back into action. THE RING: Analyze Ali – Is he going downhill? Or – as some state – is he improving with age? What makes him great – if you think he is? How has Ali changed since your last meeting with him? Or has he? How would you fight Ali the next time out? KN: Muhammad Ali has certainly not gone downhill. He has changed his style a bit. He uses his head more, and this is where his experience and flexibility come into play. He’s also punching better now because he has come down off his toes and plants himself. The fact that his hands, which he has problems with, are now better, has allowed him to throw punches with new-found authority. He’s an exceptional athlete who has tremendous pride. He has the ability to give more than 100 percent. He reached back against me when there wasn’t much left, in our second fight, and won the final round, which saved the fight for him on two of the official cards. He also reached back in Manila against Joe Frazier when it seemed the fight was lost. The great ones have this ability, so I would definitely call Ali a great fighter. Since I met Ali, he appears to be moving less and punching better. My trainer, Bill Slayton, and myself would sit down and work out a basic fight plan for a third meeting with Ali. We are flexible enough to change at any time during the fight. I can box and fight, and we will use whatever formula or combination thereof that it takes to win. THE RING: Would Foreman have a good or better chance against Ali in a return fight, and if so, why? KN: I don’t think that Foreman would have a better chance against Ali in a return fight. Foreman would have to get back on the winning track against a couple of contenders first to ever make me believe otherwise. He would also have to prove that he can be more adaptable to different ring situations than he has shown in the past. THE RING: Who makes up the strategy as you prepare for a coming fight? How is it accomplished? Do you watch movies of your opponent’s fights? KN My trainer, Bill Slayton, who has helped me considerably since we got together almost two years ago, works up pre-fight strategy together with me. We discuss the films we watch and evaluate from there. He knows me very well, and we have a tremendous rapport. He accepts suggestions from me and I from him. It’s a mutual admiration society. THE RING Many fighters die broke. Have you made arrangements to insure your future? KN: I have done very well financially and will do better. I have good business advisors and have not thrown my money around. I have a young son that I’m raising by myself and it’s a tremendous responsibility. People in all walks of life die broke. I’m a positive thinker and the possibility hasn’t even entered my mind, nor will it! THE RING: Many experts pick you as the next man to be the heavyweight champion. That if you hadn’t been so cautious in your second fight with Ali you might have won. How do you feel about this criticism? KN: Second-guess nonsense! If I hadn’t broken Ali’s jaw the first time, he might have won. THE RING: Are you happy with your manager and those who surround you in fight preparation? KN: I feel very fortunate to have Bob Biron, a respected businessman from San Diego, a sincere manage who cares. He has always tried to give me proper advice and has gone through some very trying times on my behalf. Not many fighters have been as fortunate as I am. My trainer, Bill Slayton, is the most underrated, under-publicized trainer in boxing. My other men, like Thell Torrence, who has been a longtime friend and assistant trainer, and close buddy, Hedgemon Lewis, are aces. Hedge is a great fighter and has always been an advisor and loyal companion. THE RING: Do you feel you have gotten a fair shake out of boxing? Would you do it again? KN: It was a longtime coming but I started so late, I had to go to school to learn. Boxing has been very good to me and I hope that I have always been a credit to boxing.
THE RING: What happened in your Caracas fight Foreman? Can you account for your poor showing? KN: As far as Caracas is concerned, that’s water over the dam. There have been many stories about what happened in Caracas, but I make no excuses. That night George Foreman was the better man. The next time – if there is a next time – it’ll be different. -Meaning next time he'll just lay down as soon as the bell rings.
