Ken Norton 'The Uncrowned Heavyweight Champion'

'Big Show Ready To Go - Kenny Norton vs. Jimmy Young'

The 'highly anticipated' Heavyweight Championship Bout between Champion
* Kenny Norton and #1 Challenger - Jimmy Young is set for Caeser's Palace
on Saturday Night - November 5, 1977.

The 34 year-old Kenny Norton at 44-3-0 (36 KO's) will be looking to make his
'7th' Title Defense and '6th' this year when he tangles with the 'clever and tricky'
Philadelphia Heavyweight - 29 year-old - 'Little Jimmy' Young 27-5-2 (11 KO's)

All of Kenny Norton's opponents have been stopped, and none have taken the
Champion the 'full distance'.

Jimmy Young caused quite a 'stir' this year, by decisioning former Champions -
George Foreman in February (W Dec 12), and 'stalling' Muhammad Ali's comeback
bid in May, by scoring another (W Dec 12).

Both former Champions retired after losing to 'Little Jimmy'. Jimmy, is a classic
stand-up boxer, with a great left jab, and brilliant counter-punching abilities.

Young has also fought a 10-Round Draw with Earnie Shavers (November 1974),
and holds 'two' Decision victories over Ron Lyle (February 1975 and May 1976)

Jimmy Young
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November 5, 1977

'Kenny Norton and Jimmy Young to Tango Tonight'

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World Heavyweight Champion - Kenny Norton goes for his 'Lucky 7'
defense tonight at Caesar's Palace versus 'ring tactician' #1 Ranked
Jimmy Young.

Tale of the Tape

Ken Norton (San Diego, California)
Record.......44-3-0 (36 KO's)
Age...........34 years, 2 months
Height........6' 3"
Reach........80"
Weight.......215 lbs.

Jimmy Young (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Record.......27-5-2 (11 KO's)
Age...........28 years, 11 months
Height........6' 2"
Reach........79"
Weight.......213 lbs.

The Skinny

Kenny Norton has defended his Championship a remarkable '6-times'
in 13-months, stopping each of his challengers. He goes for the 'Lucky 7'
here tonight in Las Vegas. Kenny has been very busy with defenses in
September and October, and is in 'perfect fighting condition.'

The Challenger has 'burst out' this year, by scoring 12-Round Decision
wins over former Champion - George Foreman (February) and former
two-time Champion - Muhammad Ali (May), moving the Philadelphia
Heavyweight into the #1 Challenger.

Jimmy has also fought 'two' other bouts this year, by scoring a win
(KO 7) over (February 1977) Title Challenger - John 'Dino' Denis, and a
winning a 10-Round Decision over 'journeyman' Jody Ballard (September 19th).

 

Saturday Night - November 5, 1977

'Kenny Norton Defeats The Elusive Jimmy Young'

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World Heavyweight Champion - Kenny Norton overcame some early
fight difficulty in landing any telling blows on the 'elusive and crafty'
Jimmy Young, and rallied strongly over the middle-rounds of the bout
with a 'hard punch thumping' body attack, to win a 'Split' 15-Round
Decision.

The Challenger had success in the early rounds, as the Champion
could not break through with punches aimed at his head, while Jimmy
countered with his own crisp right hands to the Champion's head.

Mid-way through Round 4, the Champion who was unable to score
effectively to the head, changed to a body attack.

The Champion landed some heavy punches in Round 5, including a left
hook that staggered the Challenger at the end of the round.

By the end of Round 9, it looked like the Champion was going to cruise to
a decision win, as Kenny had the 'crafty' Challenger figured out, by pounding
the body with a relentless attack of hard hooks.

But Jimmy Young stemmed the tide in Round 10, when he shook the Champion
with a great combination, then 'stunned' Kenny Norton with two hard
right hands to the jaw, bringing the Caesar's Palace fans to their feet and
cheering for the 2-1 Underdog - Challenger.

In Round 11, the Champion returned with heavy body punches, and again was
the effective aggressor with a steady barrage of left hooks.

But the 'cagey' Jimmy Young was able to mount a 'steady' fast-handed rally
over Rounds 12, 13 and 14, to close the gap.

In the all important 'final round', it was the Champion - Kenny Norton who was
the effective aggressor, by landing the harder punches, and took the round, which
help insure the victory in this well-fought closely contested bout.

Scorecards;
Judge, Jimmy Rondeau..........147-143 (7-3-5 in Rounds) for Kenny Norton
Judge, Art Lurie...................144-142 (8-6-1 in Rounds) for Jimmy Young
Judge, Raymondo Baldeyrou...147-143 (7-3-5 in Rounds) for Kenny Norton

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Kenny Norton, 'I knew Jimmy would be difficult. He's a great defensive fighter and an excellent counter-puncher.
I never missed so many punches in my life. I will gladly fight him again in 1978.'

Jimmy Young, 'I think I landed the cleaner punches tonight. I will give him his due, he is the best body puncher
I have ever faced. It was a close fight, and somebody has to win and somebody has to lose.'

Fight Purses;
Kenny Norton.....$3,000,000
Jimmy Young......$1,500,000

 

November 11, 1977

"Kenny Norton To Defend His Championship Again, In December"

The remarkable World Heavyweight Champion - 34 year-old Kenny Norton
announced that he will defend his time a 7th time in 1977, which will
establish a new record for Heavyweight Champions.

The Champion will defend his Title on December 31 (New Years Eve) in his
hometown of San Diego. The bout will take place at 9:00 PM, and
Kenny Norton plans to proclaim his defense as 'The Greatest Achievement
of any Heavyweight Champion'.

An opponent has not yet been named, but the list has included Heavyweights
- Ron Lyle, Mike Koranicki, Scott LeDoux, Bill Sharkey and two other potential fighters.

Former Heavyweight - Muhammad Ali has asked to be the New Years Eve opponent,
but Kenny Norton has mentioned that an Ali fight could only be fought on Halloween or 'Clowns Day'.

Ali, since losing to Kenny Norton in September 1976 and Jimmy Young in May 1977, has
returned with '3' straight wins, and recently (September 1977) won a 15-Round Decision
over #3 World-Ranked - Earnie Shavers at Madison Square Garden. Muhammad Ali is currently
ranked as the #2 Heavyweight, behind #1 Jimmy Young.

World Ratings

Champion - Kenny Norton

#1.....Jimmy Young
#2.....Muhammad Ali
#3.....Earnie Shavers
#4.....Ron Lyle
#5.....Larry Holmes
#6.....Duane Bobick
#7.....Stan Ward
#8.....Leroy Jones
#9.....Alfredo Evangelista
#10...Leon Spinks
#11...Scott LeDoux
#12...John Lewis Gardner
#13...Dale Ibar Arrington
#14...Alfio Righetti
#15...Mike Koranicki