Sport
Ken Norton, former boxing heavyweight champion dies at 70
“My heart has been heavy since hearing the news earlier today,” boxer Larry Holmes wrote on Twitter. “He was a good man.”
Norton was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and was an award-winning athlete in American football and track and field at Jacksonville High School. His prowess on the gridiron earned him a scholarship to Northeast Missouri State University.
He started boxing during his four year-stint in the United States Marine Corps, which he joined in 1963. In March 1973, Norton shocked the boxing world by winning a split decision over Ali at the San Diego Sports Arena.
He would go on to fight Ali twice more, losing both times. He lost a split decision to Ali later in 1973 and by a unanimous decision in 1976 at Yankee Stadium.
In 1974, Norton fought and lost to Foreman in Venezuela for the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight titles. The fight was stopped in the second round after Foreman knocked him down three times.
Norton, who was nicknamed “The Black Hercules”, also fought Holmes, losing his title late in his career to the up-and-coming heavyweight in 1978. It was the first defense of the WBC title for Norton, who fought in the era where championship fights lasted 15 rounds.
Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson said he met Norton when Tyson was still an amateur boxer. “Today a great man passed away,” Tyson wrote on Twitter. “A legend in the boxing world and a good man.
“Ken Norton was always nice to me even when I was just an amateur fighter. He always treated me like I was somebody. Remarkable man. Condolences to Ken Norton’s family on this very sad day.”
