RIP Ken Norton Sr.

 For the second time in less than a month we lose a boxing legend, Ken Norton Sr. passed away today at the age of 70 years old. Over the past few years Norton has had some serious health issues including multiple strokes, cancer, heart attack and major surgeries and was actually residing in a hospice following a stroke last year.

 

Norton, who had a 42-7-1 (33 knockouts) career record, is known for his battles with Muhammad Ali in the early 1970s including when Norton broke Ali’s jaw on the way to a split decision win in their first bout in 1973. Ali won the next two fights but Norton earned Ali’s respect to the point where Ali said he never wanted to fight Norton again. In 1978 Norton won the vacated WBC title after beating Jimmy Young in an eliminator match, he lost the title a couple of months later to Larry Holmes. Following his loss to Holmes he only fought a couple of more times before retiring in 1981.

 

There are not many options for his cards, Norton was included in some early 1990s-era sets like Kayo and All World, which can be found for a couple of dollars each, but then nothing until the Ringside sets of the past few years. He has a couple of autographs in the 2011 Ringside Boxing Round Two release as well as the Lead Muhammad Ali release, prices don’t seem to be very set though with only a couple of cards showing activity.