Ken Norton

Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1967 to 1981. He is considered by some to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He was awarded the WBC world heavyweight championship in 1978, after winning a close split decision over Jimmy Young in a title eliminator bout, after which Leon Spinks refused to fight with him. He is best known for his fights with Muhammad Ali, in which Norton won the first by split decision, lost the second by split decision, and lost the final by a controversial unanimous decision. Norton also fought a slugfest with Larry Holmes in 1978 during the first defense of his championship, narrowly losing a split decision and his WBC title. Norton retired from boxing in 1981, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. ()