Sport
Ken Norton, former boxing heavyweight champion dies at 70
Norton had what some called an unconventional style. He would lean forward backing his opponent up while holding both arms up high and across his face like he was looking through the bars of a gridiron helmet. That style helped him win scores of fights and after he retired he starred in movies, appearing in about 20 Hollywood films.
The character of Apollo Creed in “Rocky” was originally going to be played by Norton, but when he backed out of the role, Carl Weathers took the job.
Norton was involved in a serious car accident in 1986 on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, California. He recovered, and three years later he was inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Reflecting a strong athletic pedigree, one of Norton’s sons, Ken Jr., played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
Copyright 2013 AFP
