The record shows clearly that ALI fought NORTON 3 times.
The record also shows clearly that ALI won 2 of the 3 contests.
HOWEVER MANY fans who were ACTUALLY in attandance believe that a blatant robbery took place that night.
SCORES of viewers that have seen the fight since feel the same way
MANY theorize that ALI was GIVEN the decision because of his IMMENSE POPULARITY
A popularity that at THAT TIME was arguably more prolific that MICHAEL JORDAN in the 90's or EVEN BABE RUTH!
The accusation was that ALI HAD TO WIN for the GOOD OF BOXING!
SO YOU TELL ME!
Did ALI LOSE 2 out of 3 to NORTON?
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Mark-Andrew M // May 14, 2008
Well, I wasn't at the fight because I wasn't born when it happened, but I have seen it, and I can say without hesitation that Ken Norton was robbed in his third fight with Muhammad Ali. Watch this clip from youtube from the end of the fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVhLzpw_m_Y
At the end of the last round, after Norton was punishing him against the ropes and Ali was just holding on, the bell rings. Norton takes his mouthpiece out and says something like "I wooped you tonight!" (you can't hear it on the clip). Ali just walks away and goes back to his corner with the look of a beaten man. He knew that he had lost his title and Norton, as well as everyone else knew that he was the new heavyweight champion of the world. BUT, Ali got the split decision from the judges because of who he was (same thing happened in his fight with Jimmy Young). I think that in terms of accomplishments and abilities, Ali was the better fighter, but on that night (and the first fight), Norton was simply the better fighter and he just had Ali's number. His crab-style defense frustrated Ali and he was the more effective fighter in AT LEAST two of their fights- the only one that was really close and could have gone Ali's way in my opinion was the second fight, which Ali won a close decision in. Ali officially won the series against Norton, but in my eyes Norton won that series by at least 2-1.
Edit: King- they gave the decision to Norton in the first fight because there was NO WAY that you could make a legitimate case for Ali in that fight. Norton broke Ali's jaw in that fight and the judges still had it as a split decision (which shows you how much they were in favor of Ali back then). The only reason he got the W in the third fight is because of Ali's stature.
2 KING // May 14, 2008
Wow..I never knew he fought Norton 3 Xs. The only bouts they ever mention is there first 2 bouts. That's just like Leonard & Duran. They fought 3Xs but they only mention 2 of their bouts.
BTW,
Ali > Norton
(2-1 for the series)..Lol
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Edit: If what you are saying is right then why did they give the decision to Norton in their first fight? Ali was a big star then!
3 Jo S // May 14, 2008
Ali actually lost to Norton all three times they fought. Only the second fight was even close. They even had a special about it on Wide World Of Sports. They had a panel of experts including Joe Louis, Archie Moore, and Ray Robinson. They went over all the fights round by round and all concurred the Norton won all of the fights. The judges in all of their fights were hand selected by Don King who controlled Ali.
4 chris z // May 14, 2008
Maybe…. maybe not all I know is that Ali is the G.O.A.T when it comes to boxing, he's the Jordan of Boxing.
5 lestermount // May 14, 2008
yes, I saw all of the fights, and there was no doubt in my mind that he lost the third fight.
I think his popularity got him a few decisions in his later years.
Personally I wish he had retired sooner, rather than later.
It tarnishes his career, and many other fighters who insist on continuing to fight when their talents have waned.
I never thought their was a conspiracy to give him any decisions.
6 elmer_fuddstien // May 14, 2008
It was close, could have gone either way, but Norton stopped fighting in the 14th and paid for it. You got Ali all but defeated, you don't cruise in the last round, you try to knock him on his butt to put and exclamation point on your performance, like Frazier did with Ali, like Hopkins did with Trinidad.
But your sentiment is right, and it's not the first time scoring is affected by financial interests.
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