All boxersKen Norton
Boxing · Deceased42-7-1RECORD
33WINS BY KO / TKO
9WINS BY DECISION
50PRO FIGHTS
Profile
| Full name | Kenneth Howard Norton |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Not added yet |
| Date of birth | 9 Aug 1943 |
| Died | 18 Sep 2013 |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Jacksonville, Illinois, USA |
| Based in | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Weight classes | Heavyweight |
| Trainers | Eddie Futch |
| Height | 191 cm (6′3″) |
| Reach | 203 cm (80″) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Years active | 1967–1981 |
| Status | Deceased |
| Pro debut | 14 Nov 1967 |
| Last fight | Loss vs Gerry Cooney, 11 May 1981 |
Details on this page were compiled from public information on 8 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date).
Titles and honours
- WBC heavyweight champion in 1978
- NABF heavyweight champion (1973 and 1975–1976)
- Won the NABF title by split decision over Muhammad Ali in 1973
- Challenged for the heavyweight title against George Foreman (1974) and Muhammad Ali (1976)
Background
Former U.S. Marine who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw in winning a split decision in 1973. He was awarded the WBC heavyweight title in 1978 and lost it in his first defence to Larry Holmes.
Fight history
50 professional fights. Newest first.
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round | Time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Gerry Cooney | TKO | 1 | 0:54 | 11 May 1981 | New York City, New York, USA | |
| Win | Randall Cobb | Decision (split) | 10 | 7 Nov 1980 | San Antonio, Texas, USA | ||
| Draw | Scott LeDoux | Decision (split) | 10 | 19 Aug 1979 | Bloomington, Minnesota, USA | ||
| Loss | Earnie Shavers | KO | 1 | 1:58 | 23 Mar 1979 | Winchester, Nevada, USA | |
| Win | Randy Stephens | KO | 3 | 2:42 | 10 Nov 1978 | Paradise, Nevada, USA | |
| Loss | Larry Holmes | Decision (split) | 15 | 9 Jun 1978 | Paradise, Nevada, USA | Lost WBC heavyweight title | |
| Win | Jimmy Young | Decision (split) | 15 | 5 Nov 1977 | Paradise, Nevada, USA | WBC title eliminator; awarded WBC title four months later | |
| Win | Lorenzo Zanon | KO | 5 | 3:08 | 14 Sep 1977 | Paradise, Nevada, USA | |
| Win | Duane Bobick | TKO | 1 | 0:58 | 11 May 1977 | New York City, New York, USA | |
| Loss | Muhammad Ali | Decision (unanimous) | 15 | 26 Sep 1976 | New York City, New York, USA | For WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles | |
| Win | Larry Middleton | TKO | 10 | 2:17 | 10 Jul 1976 | San Diego, California, USA | |
| Win | Ron Stander | TKO | 5 | 1:19 | 30 Apr 1976 | Landover, Maryland, USA | |
| Win | Pedro Lovell | TKO | 5 | 1:40 | 10 Jan 1976 | Paradise, Nevada, USA | |
| Win | Jose Luis Garcia | KO | 5 | 1:50 | 14 Aug 1975 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA | |
| Win | Jerry Quarry | TKO | 5 | 2:29 | 24 Mar 1975 | New York City, New York, USA | Won vacant NABF heavyweight title |
| Win | Rico Brooks | KO | 1 | 1:34 | 4 Mar 1975 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA | |
| Win | Boone Kirkman | TKO (corner retirement) | 7 | 25 Jun 1974 | Seattle, Washington, USA | ||
| Loss | George Foreman | TKO | 2 | 2:00 | 26 Mar 1974 | Caracas, Venezuela | For WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| Loss | Muhammad Ali | Decision (split) | 12 | 10 Sep 1973 | Inglewood, California, USA | Lost NABF heavyweight title | |
| Win | Muhammad Ali | Decision (split) | 12 | 31 Mar 1973 | San Diego, California, USA | Won NABF heavyweight title | |
| Win | Charlie Reno | Decision (unanimous) | 10 | 13 Dec 1972 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Henry Clark | TKO | 9 | 21 Nov 1972 | Stateline, Nevada, USA | ||
| Win | James J. Woody | TKO (corner retirement) | 8 | 30 Jun 1972 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Herschel Jacobs | Decision (unanimous) | 10 | 5 Jun 1972 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Jack O'Halloran | Decision (unanimous) | 10 | 17 Mar 1972 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Charlie Harris | TKO | 3 | 17 Feb 1972 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | James J. Woody | Decision (unanimous) | 10 | 29 Sep 1971 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Chuck Haynes | KO | 7 | 1:08 | 7 Aug 1971 | Santa Monica, California, USA | |
| Win | Vic Brown | KO | 5 | 12 Jun 1971 | Santa Monica, California, USA | ||
| Win | Steve Carter | TKO | 3 | 12 Jun 1971 | Woodland Hills, California, USA | ||
| Win | Roby Harris | KO | 2 | 1:35 | 16 Oct 1970 | San Diego, California, USA | |
| Win | Chuck Leslie | Decision (unanimous) | 10 | 26 Sep 1970 | Woodland Hills, California, USA | ||
| Win | Roy Wallace | KO | 4 | 29 Aug 1970 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Loss | Jose Luis Garcia | KO | 8 | 2 Jul 1970 | Los Angeles, California, USA | ||
| Win | Ray Junior Ellis | KO | 2 | 0:53 | 8 May 1970 | San Diego, California, USA | |
| Win | Bob Mashburn | KO | 4 | 1:40 | 7 Apr 1970 | Cleveland, Ohio, USA | |
| Win | Stamford Harris | TKO | 3 | 1:59 | 13 Mar 1970 | San Diego, California, USA | |
| Win | Aaron Eastling | KO | 2 | 3:06 | 4 Feb 1970 | Paradise, Nevada, USA | |
| Win | Julius Garcia | TKO | 3 | 21 Oct 1969 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Gary Bates | TKO | 8 | 25 Jul 1969 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Bill McMurray | TKO | 7 | 25 Jul 1969 | Los Angeles, California, USA | ||
| Win | Pedro Sanchez | TKO | 2 | 31 Mar 1969 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Wayne Kindred | TKO | 9 | 20 Feb 1969 | Los Angeles, California, USA | ||
| Win | Joe Hemphill | TKO | 3 | 1:52 | 11 Feb 1969 | Woodland Hills, California, USA | |
| Win | Cornell Nolan | KO | 6 | 8 Dec 1968 | Los Angeles, California, USA | ||
| Win | Wayne Kindred | TKO | 6 | 23 Jul 1968 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Jimmy Gilmore | KO | 7 | 1:20 | 26 Mar 1968 | San Diego, California, USA | |
| Win | Harold Dutra | KO | 3 | 6 Feb 1968 | Sacramento, California, USA | ||
| Win | Sam Wyatt | Decision (points) | 6 | 16 Jan 1968 | San Diego, California, USA | ||
| Win | Grady Brazell | TKO | 5 | 14 Nov 1967 | San Diego, California, USA |