And after he lost by just one point to Larry Holmes in their 1978 heavyweight title fight, Norton's career was all but over. ''Kenny was a good, good fighter. He beat a lot of guys,'' said Ed Schuyler Jr., who covered many of Norton's fights for The Associated Press. ''He gave Ali fits because Ali let him fight coming forward instead of making him back up.''
Norton, who died Wednesday at the age of 70, was forever linked to Ali for their trio of fights. Ali was beating everyone around him at the time but he always had trouble with Norton, even in the two fights he won. Norton did briefly become the heavyweight champion, but he didn't do it in the ring. His title was given to him after winning an elimination contest when Leon Spinks vacated the belt after deciding to fight Ali in a rematch instead of facing his mandatory challenger.
In his first defense, he and Holmes waged a bruising battle that went 15 rounds and could have gone to either man. It went Holmes' way, and Norton would fight just five more times before finally retiring.
While boxing fans still talk about the bruising battle he waged with Holmes for the title, it was his first fight with Ali that made the former Marine a big name and the two fights that followed that were his real legacy.
Few gave Norton, who possessed a muscular, sculpted body, much of a chance against Ali in their first meeting, held at the Sports Arena in San Diego, where Norton lived. But his awkward style and close-in pressing tactics confused Ali, who fought in pain after his jaw was broken.
''Ali tore up his ankle while training and we were going to call the fight off but didn't,'' former Ali business manager Gene Kilroy said. ''Ali said it's not going to be that tough.''
''Norton was unorthodox,'' Kilroy said. ''Instead of jabbing from above like most fighters he would put his hand down and jab up at Ali.''
Kilroy said after the fight Norton visited Ali at the hospital where he was getting his broken jaw wired. Ali, he said, told him he was a great fighter and he never wanted to fight him again.
