Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton, billed as The Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on March 31, 1973, for the NABF heavyweight championship.[1]
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| Date | March 31, 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | NABF heavyweight title | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norton wins via 15-round split decision (7-4, 5-4, 5-6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editStill rebuilding a winning record after his first professional loss to Joe Frazier, Ali faced Norton on March 31, 1973, at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California. The fight was aired live on free TV in the United States via ABC.
The fight
editThe fight against Norton started a years-long rivalry. Ali was outmaneuvered by Norton's unorthodox fighting style, which involved jabbing from below and crossing his hands for defence. As the final bell rang, Norton won on a split decision, igniting a controversy in the boxing world. Soon after the fight, Ali was treated in hospital for a broken jaw.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee claimed that Ali's jaw was broken in the first round, while Norton's trainer, Eddie Futch, claimed that it was the eleventh.[9] Norton landed 233 punches (43% accuracy) to Ali's 171 (26% accuracy), with a lead of 124 to 78 in power punches. Ali outlanded Norton in 4 rounds, while Norton outlanded Ali in 8.[10]
Aftermath
editAccording to Dr. Gary Manchester, who performed the operation to wire Ali's jaw together: "The bone which was broken had three or four jagged edges and they kept poking into his cheek and mouth. It was a very bad break." Ali accepted his defeat graciously, agreeing to shake Norton's hand in the ring. Norton in turn visited Ali's hospital room afterward, which he believed cemented a friendship. Both sides immediately began talks for a rematch, with Ali claiming he'd win another bout and Norton saying he'd knock out Ali next time.[11]
Ali was quoted in The Ring after the fight: "I have nobody to blame but myself for my loss to Ken Norton. I didn't train properly because I really didn't think Ken was that great a fighter. I was wrong. This time things will be different. You'll see the real Muhammad Ali."
Second match
editOn September 10, 1973, Ali and Norton met at the Forum, Inglewood, California, USA, for their highly anticipated rematch. Though the match was close, Ali ended up winning the split with 2 votes to 1.
Third match
editAli and Norton met for the third and last time on September 28, 1976, at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, USA, completing their trilogy. Although most commentators gave the fight to Norton. Ultimately, Ali won by a unanimous decision, thereby retaining the world title. Ali said during an interview with Mark Cronin in October 1976: "Kenny's style is too difficult for me. I can't beat him, and I sure don't want to fight him again. I honestly thought he beat me in Yankee Stadium, but the judges gave it to me, and I'm grateful to them." Norton was bitter, stating after the fight: "I won at least nine or ten rounds. I was robbed."[12]
Undercard
editConfirmed bouts:[13]
Broadcasting
edit| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
 Mexico |
Televisa |
 Philippines |
KBS 9 |
 United Kingdom |
BBC[14] |
 United States |
ABC |
References
edit- ^ a b Snowden, Jonathan. "One Punch: How Ken Norton Became a Boxing Legend in a Single Night". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Thrice As Nice: Ali-Norton". ESPN. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ Felix Dennis; Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. pp. 198–202, 250.
- ^ Stephen Brunt (2002). Facing Ali. The Lyons Press. pp. 167–83.
- ^ "The mouth that nearly roared". Sports Illustrated. 23 April 1973. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "ALL SET TO SLAM IN THE RUBBER MATCH". Sports Illustrated. 27 September 1976. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Sept. 28, 1976: Ali vs Norton III". The Fight City. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
- ^ Bob Canobbio and Lee Groves. "Muhammad Ali: By The Numbers." CompuBox: Feb 17, 2018. Page 142.
- ^ Canobbio and Groves, p. 142, 164-165.
- ^ Canobbio and Groves, p. 142-143.
- ^ BoxRec: Norton vs Ali 3
- ^ "BoxRec - event".
- ^ "Match of the Day: The Grand National: Ali v Norton". bbc.co.uk/. BBC Programme Index. 31 March 1973. Retrieved 12 June 2024.