Ken Norton is an American professional boxer, who had a net worth of $5 million when he died in 2013. Ken Norton began his professional career after leaving the military in 1967. He went on to fight 50 matches in his professional career, winning 42 and 33 via knockout.
Who was Ken Norton?
Ken Norton was born on August 9, 1943, in Jacksonville, Illinois. As an adolescent, he attended Jacksonville High School and excelled in football and track. He was an All-State football player who also competed in eight separate track and field events during his senior year, winning seven of them. After winning seven of the eight events, the “Ken Norton Rule” was adopted for all Illinois track and field teams. A student-athlete could only participate in four track and field events.
Norton is well known for being one of just two boxers who defeated Muhammad Ali in his heyday. He shattered Ali’s jaw in the 12th round of their fight in March 1973. They battled twice more. He lost both fights, though the third is still being contested. Norton was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
He died on September 18, 2013. Ken’s son, Ken Norton Jr. went on to become a professional football player and coach.
How old was Ken Norton?
He was 70 years old when he died.
What was Ken Norton’s net worth?
He was estimated to be worth $5 million.
What was Ken Norton’s career?
After dropping out of college, Norton joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served from 1963 to 1967. During this period, he began boxing and went 24-2 while capturing three all-Marine heavyweight titles. Norton finished his amateur career as the best boxer ever in the Corps, winning the North Carolina AAU Golden Gloves, International AAU, and Pan American crowns.
After going professional in 1967, Norton went on an unbroken winning streak. During his first three years as a professional boxer, he defeated Grady Brazell, Harold Dutra, Jimmy Gilmore, Wayne Kindred, Gary Bates, Stamford Harris, and Ray Junior Ellis.
Norton’s first loss came in July 1970 to the unproven Jose Luis Garcia, which surprised many. Not long after, he was handed the motivational book “Think and Grow Rich”; after reading it, he went on a 14-fight winning streak, culminating in his stunning split-decision victory over Muhammad Ali in March 1973.
As a result, Norton won the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight championship. Later that year, he narrowly lost the heavyweight title in a rematch against Ali. In 1974, Norton faced George Foreman for the world heavyweight championship but lost in the second round.
Norton won the NABF heavyweight championship in 1975, defeating Jerry Quarry via TKO. The next year, he faced Ali for a third and final time in a closely contested fight. With the judges’ scores tied heading into the last round, Ali came out strong and won both the judges’ and referee’s scorecards, retaining his world championship title.
Norton had better results against the previously unbeaten Duane Bobick, whom he defeated in 1977. He went on to defeat both Lorenzo Zanon and Jimmy Young. In 1978, the WBC scheduled a fight between Norton and new world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. However, Spinks elected to face Ali in his first title defense. In reaction, the WBC retroactively awarded Norton’s victory over Young the previous year, making him a world heavyweight champion.
Norton lost his first defense of the WBC heavyweight title to Larry Holmes in 1978 by a tight split decision. The fight was a full slugfest and is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight battles in history. Following his defeat, Norton defeated Randy Stephens. He lost his next fight to Earnie Shavers in 1979. Norton later drew with Scott LeDoux.
Norton, now 37 years old, felt it was time to retire from professional boxing; but, in order to end on a high note, he chose to meet the undefeated Tex Cobb in late 1980. Norton won the thrilling fight via a split decision.
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Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
