Ken Norton - The Man

I've seen alot of people comment on him as a fighter, what about him as a person? I've always thought he came across as a pretty good guy outside the ring, unless someone knows something I don't. What's everyone's thoughts on Ken Norton as a person?

 

He's always seemed like a decent guy to me, you never heard of him getting into trouble, or him being a complete A-Hole to people.

 

I agree......Anyone else?

 

Ken seemed a lot more articulate than many former champs. I'm only guessing, but I think Ken was a bit of a thinker, a guy who was big on self-improvement.

 

I've never heard nor read anything negative about him, and as far as I know, he wasn't much of a trash talker. In the documentary " champions forever ", he seemed very humble and said that for as long as he boxed, he never really wanted to hurt anybody, and that he was a man who believed in God.

 

Frazier said Norton was one of the funniest guys he ever met.

Ali said Norton came off as arrogant (then again who is he to talk?) but that was probably just pre-fight talk as usual.

You never really heard a bad word about him. It's amazing to me that he only took up boxing in his 20's and ended up being as successful as he was.

 

Kenny was cool, man, yeah :hat

 

I recommend people read his book "Going the Distance". Great read and Kenny comes across great, with a dry wit and good outlook on his career and life.

What's funny is that Larry Holmes hated Cosell in his autobiography and yet Norton can't give him enough praise in the book. That's the kind of guy Norton was, only saw the good in people.

 

LOL. Perhaps Holmes chose to hate Cosell, just because he wanted to show that we was not Ali :yep

 

Norton was a Marine.....and it showed in the late 60's and early 70's

For some reason he wasn't intimidated by Ali and all his mouth...maybe because he had seen it before with the Drill Sargents...you have to get by the Drill Sargents to survive in the Marines.

 

Strange. I recall Larry Holmes saying some pretty uncomplimentary things about Ken's character and personal life in his autobiography.
Not that it's particularly important either way,but still....

 

Consider the source.

 

I've always considered Larry Holmes as a man with mental issues -- but ones that enhanced his performance in the ring.

 

Holmes and Norton had some needle in the build up to their fight, nothing more. Most of the arrogance supposedly displayed by Norton was a figment of Holmes embittered imagination I would say.

 

I get that impression to, but him and Frazier are big pals, and Frazier comes across as a decent guy. :huh Oh well :L