Ex-Heavyweight Champ Ken Norton

[@JBthree24]

Ken Norton - the perfect athletic machine! RIP champ

[@phillipcotton833]

The 70's was in INCREDIBLE era for Heavyweights.

[@yessirrr5182]

Every era was, in 20 years they’ll say the same thing about today’s ,

[@theinformationbomber7102]

@@yessirrr5182 lool

[@Dempsey1873]

​@@yessirrr5182haha no they won't.

[@beans3158]

@@Dempsey1873 I disagree, I honestly feel like more people are finally starting to respect modern fighters. half the time people don't even have an actual motive its just "modern boxers are trash compared old fighters'

[@hungfao]

RIP - Kenny. The only fighter Ali could never quite figure out.

[@josephshields2922]

Add Smoking Joe to that list.

[@hungfao]

@@josephshields2922 I feel that Ali had Joe figured out, but Ali didn't punch hard enough to make much of an impression on Joe's chin. Joe was one of those fighters that didn't knock out easily. I mean, jeez, he got hit solidly several times against Foreman but always got up. Ali clearly dominated in their 3rd fight. Any other fighter would have hit the floor under Ali's persistent pummeling in the 14th, but not good old Joe. Ali always did best with Norton when he danced and jabbed, but he didn't have the stamina to do this for 15 rounds under Ken's constant pursuit. When they stood toe-to-toe it was up for grabs. Since Ali was practically never a body puncher, one thing I believe would have helped Ali was a strategic upper cut to get under and through Norton's crab-like defense. He just never seemed to do that.

[@TheBatugan77]

@@hungfao In Manila, Joe pummeled Ali in rounds 6-10. Ali withstood it all. I was rooting for Smoking Joe, but mad props to both of them!

[@discernment8963]

I'd say that's a pretty accurate statement as well as a testament to the old adage "Styles make Fights".

[@COLEEN322]

ken was always in shape

[@peterjmondini]

YOU said it RIGHT, Kenny......your ERA FIGHTERS would KICK the SHIT out of THESE FIGHTERS today.......

[@saltwell80]

A men to that pete

[@ecavuto]

Sixty years old and still built like a battleship??? Whatever that man had going, sign me up for it immediately! LOL

[@theinformationbomber7102]

Damn true

[@moderatemexicanamericanpat4904]

The marine corps , you still wanna sign up lol

[@you3ee]

Norton had he best physique I have ever seen on a fighter...Reminds me of Rick Rude

[@TartarusPyro]

yes he could easy be a bodybuilder

[@rmznogz5777]

Evender hollyfield had the best shape to me

[@therealc.t.7085]

@@rmznogz5777 Roids

[@rmznogz5777]

@@therealc.t.7085 so? Does injecting roids get you in shape while lying on the couch?

[@therealc.t.7085]

@@rmznogz5777 Actually if you were on a decent diet, yes you’d see improvements. Never said Holyfield didn’t work hard but he had a clear advantage.

[@jimmyd10100]

my friend-ken norton. you will be missed. semper fi.

[@milojanis4901]

Kenny Norton is probably the most underrated HW Champion who ever lived. Yet he did exactly what Joe Frazier did-He fought 45 rounds with Ali, and won 1 of the 3 fights. He didn't knock Ali down like Frazier did, but he was also never stopped by Ali, like Frazier was. Many of us from back in the day think Norton won at least 2 of the 3 fights with Ali, and some believe he won all three 😀.

[@tlig]

He also got stopped by Foreman. Like Frazier.

[@ModinikiLuli-m5n]

He won the 3rd not the 2nd.

[@KhalidMNur]

I love this Boxer.Missed.

[@jnightmare0]

Love the old school boxers

[@Thisismyusername7]

Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton all had slurred speech when they got older, Foreman didn't.

[@loyaldude10]

Norton was involved in a very serious car accident where he almost died and had to learn to speak again due to head injuries. I think that is where his slurred speech came from, more so than boxing.

[@kevinquinn3763]

Hey Kareem Gerry Quary and his brother Mike Quarry both passed because of what they call pugilist dementia. How sad.

[@issizplays2187]

Because they effected negatively due to shots. But Foreman had iron chin and super strong punches. So he spend less rounds. And his rock hard head protected him even from strongest punches.

[@matepavic6929]

Some get pugilistic dementia, some don't.

[@shaunfisher9292]

It's because of the car crash this time.

[@michaelhubbard4023]

Always a class act and great champion, Ken Norton.

[@pajasa62]

I always liked Ken Norton. I was at the 3rd Ali-Norton fight and the weather was so cold and breezy that night and I think the weather effected him more then Ali. He probably re-thought that 15th round over and over and how he should have shown more urgency when the fight was SOOOOO close.

[@loyaldude10]

Norton was robbed in that 3d Ali fight

[@pajasa62]

@@loyaldude10 I hear what you are saying and a lot of people thought Norton won, not necessarily that he was "robbed". I checked out the fight program for that night a few years ago and I had Norton winning 6-5-4 (yes, that night I had 4 even rounds -embarrassing) When I saw the fight again I had some of those even rounds going for Ali. I wanted Norton in that fight. I don't know what kind of advice Bill Slayton was giving him in the corner, but he should have come out roaring in those final 2 rounds. That last round was ridiculous with Norton eating all those soft jabs and then in the final 15 seconds he fought the way he should have been fighting. I mentioned the weather...I was in row A of the upper level (right at the lip) and I had binoculars that I had to brace my elbows on my knees to keep my hands from shaking. Norton was clearly effected by the weather...the reason he wasn't sweating and the reason he did not sit down at all between rounds.

[@maarontaylor7698]

Ken Norton slow but articulate and quite gracious to Ali. I agree with everything he said. That was the era of Heavyweight Monsters, and one thing Kenny.... don't leave out Larry Holmes...

[@andrewvitale2700]

All the great and hard fights you can hear in his voice.

[@stevestarr9769]

Yes, but don't forget he had a VERY bad car accident after his boxing career ended that left him partly paralyzed. I think that's 90% of the problems with his speech in this interview.

[@rubyparrondo6139]

@@stevestarr9769 That is 100% the problem with his speech in this interview, and was ever after his horrific accident in 1986. He cracked his skull. It was a miracle he survived, could walk again, and talk again, as none of the doctors thought he would. Courageous man. Strong as hell. Smart and kind. A true champ in all respects.

[@masterblackmon]

Rest easy king NORTON.❤

[@SDSen]

Everything else aside, this guy had swag in the way he carried himself and his clothes

[@cnwil4594]

Jerry Quarry was a tough fighter. As in the past era, styles made fights.

[@JimmyPlato1]

Kenny Norton said in his book that the Jerry Quarry fight was his very best performance in his boxing career.

[@Colt-ii4qn]

@@JimmyPlato1and Jerry’s worst as he was leading the party lifestyle and was crazy enough to walk in out of shape for the fight. Have said that Jerry’s reflexes were shot, he had no chance against Norton today Jerry would be in a different division called cruiser weight. Just too small for a heavyweight 😐

[@JimmyPlato1]

I totally agree with you. You cannot come into a big match with a perfectly in shape Ken Norton out of shape and semi unprepared like Jerry did. It is amazing how well Quarry did in the Norton fight considering this fact....

[@atlienrider6048]

His smile is infectious.

[@dextermorgan6665]

Unbelievable athlete serious, serious dedication

[@earnestwilliams4850]

The broken jaw narrative added to the impeccable legend of Ali genius

[@blokeliontigerbalm9596]

Kenny Norton has Honesty

[@Pleasurechest985]

Liked his style. Peace

[@ianboyce8202]

A true legend

[@davidward3171]

Rest in peace Big Guy.

[@lwdhmrcy4990]

The 70ties Ali vs Frazier, Foreman vs Norton, Lyle vs Shavers, Shavers vs Ali, Frazier vs Foreman, Ali vs Lyle. Duran vs Leonard, Hagler vs Hearns,, Benitez vs Leonard, Hearns vs Duran what an era. Now w everyone avoids everyone.

[@tolgasalfun]

RIP Champ

[@jimmys6435]

My man norton

[@korvstopparen]

He was 60 years here

[@SugarRayCharles.]

Watching this clip now in year 2022, I would agree and somewhat disagree to what Norton said here. I agree that Ali and Howard Cosell popularized boxing with a much greater notoriety. However I disagree about current fighters not having the same dedication as the fighters of old. It takes dedication to be champion regardless.

[@daviddufresne343]

Lennox Lewis would have likely beat Norton really bad, and if Norton did catch him in the first fight, Lewis would have gotten him in the second. David Tua seemed to be a disappointment in this time period, and then you had the spoiler light hitting Chris Byrd, but the 70s had light hitting Jimmy Young. Shavers was a guy who never really got it together despite his immense gifts. Probably not much he could have done about his chin, but he often threw wild when he had his man in trouble and sometimes lost big fights because of it. The 70s were the best because of Ali and Foreman. I'm not sure even Joe Frazier would have ruled boxing in the late 90s early 2000s. Anyone further down the foodchain would not have held the belts for long if at all.

[@bathelion777]

Yeah....I'm not so sure he could beat lennox or prime mike.

[@jolvinchacky4342]

Beat that😂. Anywayz ken Norton had the best physique in my mind & estimation than all the boxers i ave seen so far. Same to Rick Rude interms of wrestlers. In this interview(2003) Norton was 60 yrs old.....now tell me how many 60 yrs old would stand tall with the shape anyway near that no no at all. Much respect to him and R.I.P.

[@j.c.n9718]

Still in great shape here.

[@TheBatugan77]

Ken Norton, USMC.

[@Boombastic82]

I noticed oldschool particularly 70s fighters trained daily in and out of camp, i also noticed they fought far more often than the fighters of this era. Bare in mind that their gloves were not is thick as this and they didnt have access to the training facilities and technologies we see today. They had better nutrition. Their immunity was far better, these guys were real men. Nothing effeminate in them. The 90s fighters were the same. After lenox Lewis i just couldn't comprehend what was going on in the heavyweight division. I guess politics overshadowed hard work and dedication.

[@MiggsMultiple]

The thing of it is.....

[@Taylor.Dude.]

I don’t know if Norton could beat Lewis. Maybe. Lewis is one of those who’d be a challenge for any heavyweight in history.

[@user-pk6ty9yx9h]

‘anybody in our era would of beat anyone today’ definitely! lennox lewis , mike tyson, evander holyfield & tyson fury would of had a good chance in Ali’s era.

[@shadicalplayz8932]

What about shavers?

[@goodantics866]

i do think old fighters were tougher back in the day but lewis would of beat the majority of the old heavyweights if not all of em

[@theradgegadgie6352]

Lewis was the best of his era, but only in the last four or five years of his career, weirdly.

[@angeloiodice9304]

I don’t know about that. I love Kenny Norton but Lennox Lewis was one of the greatest of all time in his prime. Hard to beat that size, quickness, agility and punching power.

[@Taylor.Dude.]

I agree. He was underselling Lewis here.

[@nickbritten8132]

Something about that interviewer seems off.

[@holmes1978]

Word !!!

[@surrealistidealist]

The average fighter in the 70s on back probably got paid a lot more, adjusting for inflation. These days you can't support a family on the salary of the average fighter. That brings the whole sport down when it comes to opposition.

[@alirashada2006]

These fighters today are making tons of money because of Muhammad Ali not because of Howard Cosell. .

[@timcarr6401]

The last decent heavyweight there was --referring to Jerry Quarry. What about Gerry Cooney?

[@surrealistidealist]

I don't think Cooney was as great as Quarry. The skill and experience was on another level.

[@Spencerjones_music3]

Lennox was a beast

[@allahson4967]

R.i.p.k.norton a goon

[@JMC786]

He wouldn’t have beaten Lewis. Norton didn’t fare well against big hitters

[@pajasa62]

Norton lost to BIG hitters...those knockouts from Foreman, Shavers and Cooney were devastating.

[@ModinikiLuli-m5n]

Lewis don't hit like foreman and shavers and cooney when he was past his best. Lewis had a glass jaw so anybody has a chance against him and lennox got tired way quicker and if its a 15 rounder. I'm going with Kenny all day.

[@OgedayKhan]

KEN NORTON STYLE BOXING ALWAYS MY DEFENCE STRATEGY. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

[@yessirrr5182]

See i come to an conclusion, all the older generations talk shit about the new generation, now you got the Lewis and Tyson’s talking smack about today’s boxers, it’s that old back in my time talk

[@brando4422]

We all do it. When I was in school we used to handle it like men coming from people who peaked in high school and if you go further in life just like them we all will say we worked for it earned it blah blah. People 30000 yrs ago probably we're annoyed with the younger kid's thinking less of the way they hunted. It's also visa versa kids are generation will fix things were smarter more advanced. Everybody bitches young and old.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

Sorry, but Lennox Lewis would have beaten Norton.

[@shadicalplayz8932]

1:12

[@lordburlap4514]

Ken had been in a real bad automobile accident that nearly killed him...hence his slurred speech here....

[@Chris_M1127]

You're exactly right smh I heard his brake lines were cut...something to do with not taking a dive in a fight back in the day

[@lordburlap4514]

Conspiracy theory with no basis in fact....sorry....

[@RareMan-d3w]

This man he never win a belt inside the ring and he think he will beat the best man in elite era 90s Lennox lewis, this is funny wallah

[@longislandairgunner1600]

I like Ken Norton, but the punches to his head had caught up to him. Lennox would easily KO Norton within 3 rounds. Let’s cut the crap, Norton couldn’t handle a 6”5 250 pound puncher like Lennox.

[@alcottdevalte7440]

Oliver and Hashim ko'd Lewis, and Norton could have done it as well...

[@longislandairgunner1600]

@@alcottdevalte7440, you moron!!! Both of Lennox loses he rematched and won. Ken Norton was slow as shit!!! He had a draw with Scott LeDoux!!! That’s a joke. Anytime he went up against a puncher he lost. Dummy educate yourself!!!!!

[@alcottdevalte7440]

@@longislandairgunner1600 Just saying that Lewis never recovered after he got dropped, and wasn't invincible... His best wins were later on when most of his opponents where not what they once were... And Lewis never beat Oliver who had some problems and shouldn't even have fought the first place... The second fight was weird. The way Oliver ko'd him can't even be compared to how Lewis won the rematch by not even much of a fight... I thought Ray Mercer beat Lewis though. Emanuel Stewart trained Lewis at his best while Eddie Futch, also trainer of Emanuel Stewart, trained Norton at his best. It would have been an awesome fight. Just my opinion that I think Norton would have won...

[@longislandairgunner1600]

@@alcottdevalte7440 , you just don’t understand. The late great Emanuel Steward who I met on a few occasions, knew if Lewis came in bigger it would break Olivor mentally. Emanuel knew Oliver was weak mentally because he trained him. Remember, Lewis was winning the first fight when he got caught with a lucky punch and beat the count. Norton was a slow moving robotic fighter who lost a lot of steam in the later rounds. And small in stature compared to Lennox. Norton couldn’t handle Foreman who was 225 at that time. Lewis beat all the top fighters at his time. If you know anything, Tyson, Holyfield and Bowe all avoided Lennox. None of them wanted to fight him. Holyfield fought him because he HAD too. Bowe chickened out. And Tyson fought him because he needed the money. As far as Ray Mercer fight, I was there at Madison Square Garden for that fight. It was close, but Lennox won. He needed the last round and got it. Ali said that Lennox was the greatest fighter he ever saw. That’s the only time I ever agreed with Ali.

[@Chris_M1127]

Wasn't the punches it was from a bad car accident....

[@dextermorgan6665]

Let's be fair straight facts holyfield and Lennox and 80s tyson would thrive in there era facts cold hard facts there 2x 3x champs and Tyson's was incarcerated for the bones of 3 years that's why I say mike in the 80s and a dedicated Bowe those 4 would whoop and lose some to those guys all on a different fihhts all ATG but Lewis was a pugilist to the max he beat everyone and anyone there was to beat and rematched the ones who clipped him Lewis is a HARD ,HARD ,HARD nightsbiut for and man over 200lbs throughout the course of history man was a beast with all the marbles up stairs to

[@rojosik9385]

Norton talk funny not from boxing but he was in car crash but people think was from boxing

[@MrKeepitreal81]

I know that the heavyweight division is in shambles but I'm sick and tired of hearing everyone talk about how much of a joke today's heavyweight division is. There are good fighters in the heavyweight division. I wish people would stop comparing eras and just appreciate shit.

[@mantle64]

@Chris Warren bingo

[@brianwwilson9]

Any who. These fighters ain't shit, today.

[@DaddyOKaboom]

he is a figure, a great boxers but i think he talks alot of bullshit here,(which is obviously confirmed by the universe already looking at what Lennox Lewis has become - besides that anybody can have a worse day). I really hardly doubt that much of the boxers of any era could stand against huge guys like Fury, or even Wilder(who is supposedly not having much skill but punches very hard, is tall, athletic and very fast) because unfortunately these guys i think would dispose of most HW's of previous ERA's besides some GOAT's like Foreman,Ali,Lennox or Holyfield.

[@jamescrabb8766]

Absurd - Gerry Coney was a good white fighter. As Kenny should remember first hand.

[@Colt-ii4qn]

Maybe he didn’t remember 😂

[@micowikstrom7182]

Norton whipped Ali's ass THREE times - not once! Louiville Lip was scorecard judges' golden boy and they were going to keep him as a Champion forever. Ali lost also Evangelista, Young, Shavers, Spicks (twice) and Frazier (twice). Fortunately Holmes and Berbick put end to that larking.

[@saltwell80]

Ken the jaw was broken in the 2nd round I saw the fight,it was a left hook, he just want to believe no one could fight him with a broken jaw 4 10 rds, that's his ego and pride speakin,I challenged any one, go to u tube and search bar the fight ,and u'll see

[@moderatemexicanamericanpat4904]

I hate the way Lennox fights and commentes

[@tbolin25]

Hmm.......Lennox Lewis KO'd by Rahman and McCall two 1st ballot Hall of Fame inductees!!!! Norton KO'd by Foreman, Shavers & Cooney three of the hardest bombers in boxing history and yet, Norton had the glass jaw. Nights make fights and the Norton who beat Ali, nearly beat Holmes, destroyed Quarry and Bobick would have done what McCall & Rahman did, nite nite Lennox!!!

[@josephthistle7026]

Sad what boxing does to these warriors

[@mantle64]

Norton's speech difficulties were caused by a serious car accident in the mid eighties

[@josephthistle7026]

Ok but i boxed and the old timers came in and you could hardly understand them it was scary sad i kept boxing how dumb was i

[@boxeolocopunch762]

I do box and i love it..but i respect my life too.. i didnt want to be brain damage but as an sportman you have to know when to stop

[@caliswine4306]

This guy still swoll lol

[@mikefields2243]

Lennox Lewis beats Ken Norton

[@MC-yq6us]

Lennox Lewis knocks Norton the fuck out, if this guys gets knocked out by Shavers, Foreman and Cooney. Lewis does it 100%

[@brando4422]

I'd still take the 4 guys in the 70s over any 4 of the 90s and take any over this group now.

[@swedenoble6083]

Here's a real facts Kenny could never take a power shot with a big boys 💪he was a little light in the loafers he lifted far too many weights and as chops were not that good🥺 every fight that he had against a power puncher he had his ass handed to him🤗😉 good man nice guy but not near as good or great as most people think and I'm far older than Kenny and I make him look like a little schoolgirl 🤭😭💪😁

[@boxeolocopunch762]

Well he couldnt ideal against real punchers. But ali and holmes could throw punches to him.and he will keep coming and throwing big punches. And ali and Holmes did ko many people. But not Norton. So his chin is relative

[@therealc.t.7085]

Weights didn’t have anything to do with Kenny’s inability to take power punches...

[@swedenoble6083]

@@therealc.t.7085 Never said it did Skippy 😁

[@therealc.t.7085]

@@swedenoble6083 ah just got the context of your comment, misread. I was really just addressing the myth the weight lifting is bad for fighters but I somewhat agree with your sentiments. Kenny was overrated is certain ways, really a second tier fighter from that era but his style coupled with a physical gifts were a nightmare for the boxers who didn’t quite have that brutal power to put him away. If you couldn’t knock Norton out, you were I’m for a long night.

[@cnwil4594]

You do know Ken took up professional boxing at 22 years old, right? Given this, and he excelled as a natural athlete in multiple sports, including serving in the Marines, I believe Ken was an excellent heavyweight boxer who could easily hand you your ass. Outsiders babbling there mouths are pathetic, hating wannabes - SMH. Two years ago you were a hater and are probably the same today. Do you really know what it takes to get in condition fight for upwards of 15 rounds. Going to the gym lifting damn weights (plus taking these BS PEDs and eating like a vacuum cleaner) and doing crossfit is no where near the condition of being a conditioned fighter. You are truly delusional.

[@gyujiko]

Always same shit. Our era is better then now ))

[@bennyadler5882]

Interviewer is an amateur, though knowledgeable, should shut up and let Ken speak.

[@wallaceb9120]

He and Quarry, too many head shots..very sad

[@Guillermo19548]

Is he drunk?

[@Malaka300]

Sadly punch drunk.

[@Mike-kv5pl]

He had a serious car accident in the late 1980's and was in a coma for a while. When he finally recovered, his speech was never the same.

[@NativePillowFist]

😂😂

[@mh2584]

Im sorry but norton wasn't no great heavyweight champion he only known for the ALi fight he lost to all those other champs

[@Mike-kv5pl]

His fight with a peak Holmes could have gone his way.

[@wallaceb9120]

Too many head shots,,,sad

[@Taylor.Dude.]

No. His car accident in 1986 that nearly killed him did this.