Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali II

Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali II, billed as Battle of the Broken Jaw, was a professional boxing match contested on September 10, 1973, for the NABF heavyweight championship.[1]

Battle of the Broken Jaw
DateSeptember 10, 1973
VenueThe Forum, Inglewood, California
Title(s) on the lineNABF heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Ken Norton United States Muhammad Ali
Nickname "The Black Hercules" "The Greatest"
Hometown San Diego, California Louisville, Kentucky
Purse $200,000 $275,000
Pre-fight record 30–1 (23 KO) 41–2 (31 KO)
Age 30 years, 1 month 31 years, 7 months
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg) 212 lb (96 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA/WBC
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
NABF heavyweight Champion
WBA/WBC
No. 2 Ranked Heavyweight
Former undisputed heavyweight champion
Result
Ali wins via 15-round split decision (7-5, 6-5, 5-6)

Background

edit

Norton was in good shape going into the second fight while Ali took to training at his training camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, where he "sought to whip his once Adonis-like physique back into shape."[2] Ali weighed in at 211 for this fight, 10 pounds lighter than the first. Norton was 210 in the first and 205 for the second. Norton weighed in at 206 lbs (5 pounds lighter than his first match with Ali) and leading to some boxing writers suggesting that his preparation was perhaps too intense and that he may had overtrained.

The fight

edit
 
Ali and Norton in action

As the fight began, both Ali and Norton appeared in shape and energetic. However, Ali demonstrated his physical stamina by skipping without pause and standing between rounds. Norton came out aggressively in the beginning of the fifth round, leading with a barrage of jabs and pushing Ali to a more defensive posture. During the ABC broadcast of the fight, broadcaster (and Ali confidant and friend) Howard Cosell repeatedly told viewers a dancing and jabbing Ali was dominating the action despite Norton's constant offense and Ali's inability to penetrate Norton's awkward crab-like cross-armed defensive style. In the final round, Ali dominated with a series of combinations. Though the match was close, Ali ended up winning the split decision with Dick Young scoring it 7-5 and John Thomas 6-5 with George Latka having for Norton 6-5.[3][4]

Aftermath

edit

The decision was controversial. Norton had the edge in shots landed, hitting Ali with 197 punches while Ali hit him with 175, and leading 144 to 91 in power punches and 40% to 28% in accuracy. Norton landed more punches in 7 rounds and Ali did so in 4, with 1 round even. The Associated Press scored it 6–5 for Norton while United Press International had it 9–2 for Ali. In an unofficial ringside poll of sportswriters: 8 scored it for Ali, 6 scored it for Norton, and 1 scored it even.

After the bout, Ali stated: "Ken Norton is the best man I have ever fought. No man could hit me as much as Norton did in the shape that I am. Frazier couldn't do it... Foreman wouldn't do it. I imagine if you watched films of my old fights, I'm not too much slower, but I can't be 22 again."[5]

Undercard

edit

Confirmed bouts:[6]

Broadcasting

edit
Country Broadcaster
  Mexico Televisa
  Philippines KBS 9
  United Kingdom BBC[7]
  United States ABC

References

edit
  1. ^ "Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton (2nd meeting)". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Sept. 10, 1973: Ali vs Norton II". The Fight City.
  3. ^ Pacquiao-Marquez III: Celebrating the trilogies (Muhammad Ali–Ken Norton). Espn.go.com (November 7, 2011). Retrieved on June 21, 2014.
  4. ^ Stevenson, Jack (11 September 1973). "Ali Escapes Boxing Oblivion". The Newburgh Evening News. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  5. ^ Canobbio and Groves, p. 144-145.
  6. ^ "BoxRec - event".
  7. ^ "Big Fight Special". BBC Programme Index. 11 September 1973. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
edit
Preceded by Ken Norton's bouts
10 September 1973
Succeeded by
Muhammad Ali's bouts
10 September 1973
Succeeded by