RIP Ken Norton, 70
 

Just heard that Ken Norton has died, complications following a stroke.

Heck of a boxer.

With all of Ali's medical issues, who'd have thought Norton would go first?

Famed boxer Ken Norton, who defeated Muhammad Ali, dies at age 70 - CNN.com

From a time when athletes were worth looking up to...RIP

Kenny Norton seemed to be a top notch guy.

I watched him in a fight with the high and mighty Cassius Clay sometime in the early 70's. He was beating the daylights out of Clay. Clay had clearly not gotten in shape for the fight, but Norton was in absolutely top condition.

Along about the ninth round or so, Norton's trainer, for whatever strategic reason, told him to go in and give Clay the round. Norton went in with gloves at his cheeks and it didn't take Clay very long to figure out what was going on. Norton let Clay put him against the ropes and wale away. Clay was so exhausted, that it appeared that he would drop himself to the mat at any moment.

The referee grabbed Clays arm and raised it, calling the fight. I thought the ref was going to have to hold up Clay to keep him from falling down. Norton immediately started jumping up and down and waving his arms in protest. Norton was COMPLETELY unhurt. Clay was clearly exhausted and Norton looked as if he could have run a marathon at that point.

It was the most obviously crooked fight I ever saw, and the last professional boxing I ever paid any attention to.

Although Norton KNEW he had been screwed, he took it like a gentleman, which was no surprise with him being a marine.

RIP Kenny Norton

Norton had a heckofa punch. Broke Ali's jaw in one of their fights. Probably got hosed by the officials in one of the Ali fights.