Ken Norton

Ken Norton was an American heavyweight boxer who was awarded the WBC world heavyweight title in 1978 and broke Muhammad Ali's jaw during their first bout.

Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. was born on 9 August 1943 in Jacksonville, Illinois, and was an outstanding all-around athlete at Jacksonville High School, earning all-state honours in football. He played football at Northeast Missouri State College before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963, where he took up boxing during his four years of service, winning three All-Marine heavyweight titles. Norton turned professional in 1967, developing into one of the most physically imposing heavyweights of his era, standing 6 feet 3 inches with an 80-inch reach. He faced Muhammad Ali in a trilogy of fights that defined his career: on 31 March 1973, in only his second fight against a top contender, Norton famously broke Ali's jaw in the second round en route to a stunning 12-round split-decision upset, becoming just the second man to defeat Ali as a professional. Norton lost a close rematch to Ali by split decision later in 1973, and lost a controversial final meeting by unanimous decision in 1976. He was awarded the WBC world heavyweight championship in 1978 after a split-decision win over Jimmy Young in a title eliminator, but lost the belt in his first defence, a razor-thin split decision to Larry Holmes widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight fights ever contested. Norton retired in 1981 with a record of 42 wins, seven losses, and one draw, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. He also pursued an acting career, appearing in several films, and died on 18 September 2013, at age 70, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Awkward cross-armed guard style that created difficult angles for opponents

Hall of Fame heavyweight who defeated Muhammad Ali and held WBC heavyweight title

• International Boxing Hall of Fame 1992