Ken Norton was a solid heavyweight never to win the Heavyweight title in the ring. He was a match up problem for Muhammad Ali. Styles make fights and Norton’s style made for tough fights for Ali. Three fights in all. Only the last of their trilogy was for the heavyweight title. Which Ali won by a close decision. Norton fought the top contenders including Ali …yet one fighter Norton didn’t face in the ring…Joe Frazier. Norton style while it made life hard for Ali was taylor made for George Foreman and made Norton an easy target for the man who would fight in the shadows of Ali …Larry Holmes. Ken Norton was awarded the heavyweight title or a portion of the heavyweight title when Leon Spinks refused to fight Ken Norton and gave Ali a rematch. The WBC took their portion of the heavyweight title away from Spinks and gave it to Ken Norton making him the WBC Champion. It was the only time he would be champ and then lost it in his first title defense against Larry Holmes who would then hold the heavyweight title for nearly seven years. But for now Smallthoughts:Old School Tuesday salutes …Ken Norton.
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