Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton
Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton, billed as The Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on March 31, 1973, for the NABF heavyweight championship.
Background
Still rebuilding a winning record after his first professional loss to Joe Frazier, Ali faced Norton on March 31, 1973, at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California. The fight was aired live on free TV in the United States via ABC.The fight
The fight against Norton started a years-long rivalry. Ali was outmaneuvered by Norton's unorthodox fighting style, which involved jabbing from below and crossing his hands for defence. As the final bell rang, Norton won on a split decision, igniting a controversy in the boxing world. Soon after the fight, Ali was treated in hospital for a broken jaw. Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee claimed that Ali's jaw was broken in the first round, while Norton's trainer, Eddie Futch, claimed that it was the eleventh.Bob Canobbio and Lee Groves. "Muhammad Ali: By The Numbers." CompuBox: Feb 17, 2018. Page 142. Norton landed 233 punches to Ali's 171, with a lead of 124 to 78 in power punches. Ali outlanded Norton in 4 rounds, while Norton outlanded Ali in 8.Aftermath
According to Dr. Gary Manchester, who performed the operation to wire Ali's jaw together: "The bone which was broken had three or four jagged edges and they kept poking into his cheek and mouth. It was a very bad break." Ali accepted his defeat graciously, agreeing to shake Norton's hand in the ring. Norton in turn visited Ali's hospital room afterward, which he believed cemented a friendship. Both sides immediately began talks for a rematch, with Ali claiming he'd win another bout and Norton saying he'd knock out Ali next time.Ali was quoted in The Ring after the fight: "I have nobody to blame but myself for my loss to Ken Norton. I didn't train properly because I really didn't think Ken was that great a fighter. I was wrong. This time things will be different. You'll see the real Muhammad Ali."