Editing Ken Norton

{{short description|American boxer (1943–2013)}}
{{About|the boxer|his son and American football coach and former player|Ken Norton Jr.|other people|Ken Norton (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox boxer
| image =Ken Norton 1976cr.jpg
| caption = Norton in 1976
| name = Ken Norton
| realname = {{nowrap|Kenneth Howard Norton Sr.}}
| nickname = {{plainlist|
*The Black Hercules<ref>de Beauchamp, Joseph (November 30, 2004) [http://www.saddoboxing.com/296-rocky-norton-creed.html Rocky The Movie: The Kenny Norton Story or the Real Apollo Creed?] saddoboxing.com</ref>
*The Jaw Breaker
*The Fighting Marine
}}
| height = 6 ft 3 in
| reach = 80 in
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|8|9}}
| birth_place = [[Jacksonville, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|9|18|1943|8|9}}
| death_place = [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]], U.S.
| total = 50
| wins = 42
| KO = 33
| losses = 7
| draws = 1
| stance=Orthodox
}}

'''Kenneth Howard Norton Sr.''' (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013) was an American actor and [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1967 to 1981. He was awarded the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world [[heavyweight]] championship in 1978, after winning a close split decision over [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]] in a title eliminator bout, after which [[Leon Spinks]] refused to fight with him.

He is best known for his fights with [[Muhammad Ali]], in which Norton won the first by [[split decision]], lost the second  by split decision, and lost the final by a controversial [[unanimous decision]]. Norton also fought a slugfest with [[Larry Holmes]] in 1978 during the first defense of his championship, narrowly losing a split decision and his WBC title.

Norton retired from boxing in 1981, and was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 1992.

==Early life==
Norton was an outstanding athlete at [[Jacksonville High School (Illinois)|Jacksonville High School]] in [[Jacksonville, Illinois]]. He was selected to the all-state football team on defense as a senior in 1960. His track coach entered him in eight events, and Norton placed first in seven. As a result, the "Ken Norton Rule", which limits participation of an athlete to a maximum of four track and field events, was instituted in Illinois high school sports. After graduating from high school, Norton went to Northeast Missouri State University (now [[Truman State University]]) on a football scholarship and studied elementary education.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Ebony|journal = Ebony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s9MDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA152|date=June 1973|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|pages=152–|issn=0012-9011}}</ref> In an interview with ''ESPN Fitness Magazine'' in 1985, Norton said that he would have become a teacher or a policeman if he had not taken up boxing.<ref>''ESPN Fitness Magazine'', February 1985</ref>

==Amateur career==
Norton enlisted into the [[United States Marines Corps]] after leaving school, serving from 1963 to 1967. Norton was a manual morse intercept (MOS 2621), graduating from NCTC Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida. During his time with the Corps, he took up boxing, compiling a 24–2 record en route to three all-Marine heavyweight titles. In time, he became the best boxer to ever fight for the Corps and was awarded the North Carolina AAU Golden Gloves, International AAU, and Pan American titles.<ref name="usmc-mccs">[http://www.usmc-mccs.org/sports/hof/2004-norton.cfm Ken Norton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209032214/http://www.usmc-mccs.org/sports/hof/2004-norton.cfm |date=February 9, 2014 }}. MCCS Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame</ref><ref>Newman, Eric (April 25, 2013) [http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1615081-best-late-bloomers-in-sports/page/20 Best Late Bloomers in Sports, 4. Ken Norton]. Bleacher Report</ref><ref>[http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25367520/a-marines-legacy-heavyweight-ken-norton-sr-lives-on-through-his-son] How the spirit of Ken Norton's Marine toughness lives on in Ken Norton Jr., CBS Sports, November 10, 2015</ref> Following the National AAU finals in 1967, he turned professional.

==Professional career==
Norton built up a steady string of wins, some against journeyman fighters and others over fringe contenders like the giant [[Jack O'Halloran]]. He suffered a surprise defeat in 1970  just after ''The Ring'' magazine had profiled him as a prospect, to heavy-hitting Venezuelan boxer Jose Luis Garcia, who was unknown at the time. Garcia floored Norton five times, before Norton was eventually knocked out. Norton overpowered and avenged his loss to Garcia in their rematch five years later, when both were rated contenders.

Norton was given the motivational book ''[[Think and Grow Rich]]'' by [[Napoleon Hill]],<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R89OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-gEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5103%2C2240102 Hypnotist Aided Norton – Confidence Key To Upset Of Ali], AP, April 2, 1973</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19750327&id=f6RHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kP8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1908,3609127 Positive attitude key to Norton's boxing], AP, March 27, 1975</ref><ref>[http://lifetrainingonline.com/blog/think-and-grow-rich.htm Think and Grow Rich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717195829/http://lifetrainingonline.com/blog/think-and-grow-rich.htm |date=July 17, 2022 }}. Life Training (Discusses that Ken Norton attributed his win over Muhammad Ali to the principles he learned in Think and Grow Rich.)</ref> which he said "changed my life dramatically. I was going to fight [[Muhammad Ali]]. I was a green fighter, but yet I won, all through reading this book."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7OirsJwk2E Ken Norton about Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich"]. youtube.com</ref> Upon reading ''Think and Grow Rich'', he went on a 14-fight winning streak, including the shock victory over Muhammad Ali in 1973 to win the [[North American Boxing Federation]] heavyweight champion title.<ref name="news.google">Murray, Jim (August 7, 1973) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=omoQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3YsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5142%2C814605 Ken the conqueror]. The Free Lance-Star</ref> Norton said, "These words [from Napoleon Hill's ''Think and Grow Rich''] were the final inspiration in my victory over Ali: 'Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can'."<ref>[[#Norton|Norton]], p. 60</ref> Norton also took a complete course by Hill on gaining wealth and peace of mind. "It can be related to anybody, to be the best in a career, to think positive", said Norton.<ref>Lewiston Morning Tribune, July 28, 1973</ref>{{page needed|date=May 2021}}

In an article which appeared in ''The Southeast Missourian''<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sXIpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rNUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3458,1401872&dq=ken+norton+napoleon+hill&hl=en The Southeast Missourian]. March 12, 1976</ref> Norton said, "One thing I do is only watch films of the fights in which I've done well or in which my opponent has done poorly." He also said, "In boxing, and in all of life, nobody should ever stop learning!"<ref>''The Ring'' Magazine, September 1976, p. 43</ref>

=== Rise to prominence ===
====Norton vs. Ali I, II====
{{Main|Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton}}
Norton’s opponents were elusive in his early career. His first big break came with a clear win over respected contender Henry Clark, which helped him gain world recognition. His big break was when Ali agreed to a match. [[Joe Frazier]], who'd sparred with Norton and defeated Ali, presciently said of Ali, "He'll have plenty of trouble!" Though both were top boxers in the mid-1970s, Norton and Frazier never fought each other, in part because they shared the same trainer, [[Eddie Futch]], and also because they were good friends and didn't want to fight each other.<ref>Norton autoBiography Going the Distance</ref>{{page needed|date=May 2021}}

For the first match, on March 31, 1973, Muhammad Ali entered the ring at the [[San Diego Sports Arena]]<ref name="sut130706">{{cite news |first=John |last=Maffei |work=[[U-T San Diego]] |title=Sports site No. 3: San Diego Sports Arena |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/06/travel-top-50-sites-sports-arena-john-ooden/ |date=July 6, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> wearing a robe given to him by [[Elvis Presley]], as a 5-1 favorite versus Norton, then rated a number 6 world contender<ref>YouTube videos with Howard Coselle commentating</ref>{{better|date=July 2024}} in a bout televised by ABC's ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref>[http://mettachronicles.com/today-in-sports-history-elvis-and-ali/ Today in Sports History: Elvis and Ali]. Mettachronicles.com (January 2, 2013). Retrieved on June 21, 2014.</ref> Norton won a 12-round split decision over Ali in his adopted hometown of [[San Diego]] to win the NABF heavyweight title.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} In this bout, Norton broke Ali's jaw in the second round causing Ali to fight defensively for the remaining 10 rounds.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojM50OQn_YQ | title=Muhammed Ali Talks About Getting His Jaw Broken by Ken Norton - Carson Tonight Show - 05/17/1973 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=June 2021 }}</ref> This led to only the second defeat for "The Greatest" in his career. (Ali's only previous loss was to Frazier, and Ali would later go on to defeat [[George Foreman]] to regain the heavyweight title in 1974.)

Almost six months later at The Forum in [[Inglewood, California]], on September 10, 1973, Ali won a close split decision.<ref name="ESPN">[https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/7202235/celebrating-trilogies-muhammad-ali-ken-norton Pacquiao-Marquez III: Celebrating the trilogies (Muhammad Ali–Ken Norton)]. Espn.go.com (November 7, 2011). Retrieved on June 21, 2014.</ref> Norton weighed in at 206&nbsp;lbs (5 pounds lighter than his first match with Ali) and some{{who|date=January 2022}} boxing writers suggested that his preparation was too intense and that perhaps he had overtrained. There were some furious exchanges in this hard-fought battle. From Ali's point of view, a loss here would have seriously dented his claim of ever being "The Greatest". During the ABC broadcast of the fight, broadcaster (and Ali confidant and friend) [[Howard Cosell]] repeatedly told viewers a dancing and jabbing Ali was dominating the action despite Norton's constant offense and Ali's inability to penetrate Norton's awkward [[Crab Defense (boxing style)|crab-like]] cross-armed defensive style. The close scoring and decision favoring Ali were both controversial.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

====Norton vs. Foreman====
{{main|George Foreman vs. Ken Norton}}
In 1974, Norton fought Foreman for the [[World heavyweight boxing championship|world heavyweight championship]] at the [[Poliedro de Caracas]] in [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]], suffering a second-round knockout. After an even first round, Foreman staggered Norton with an uppercut a minute into round two, pushing him into the ropes.  Norton did not hit the canvas, but continued on wobbly legs, clearly not having recovered. He shortly went down a further two times in quick succession, with the referee intervening and stopping the fight.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

=== Career peak ===
====Norton vs. Quarry====
In 1975, Norton regained the NABF heavyweight title when he impressively defeated [[Jerry Quarry]] by [[technical knockout|TKO]] in the fifth round, although being hurt by a left-hook to the body in the second round. Norton would go on to dominate Quarry for the remainder of the fight, until the referee stopped the fight in the Fifth Round. Norton then avenged his 1970 loss to Jose Luis Garcia by decisively knocking out Garcia in round five, flooring Garcia five times with shots to the mid-section before Garcia was counted out.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

====Norton vs. Ali III====
[[File:Ken Norton 1976b.jpg|thumb|Norton in 1976]]
{{Main|Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III|}}
On September 28, 1976, Norton fought his third and final bout against Ali at [[Yankee Stadium]] in [[New York City]].<ref name="ESPN"/> Since their last meeting Ali had regained the world heavyweight championship title with an eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in 1974. Many observers have felt this fight marked the beginning of Ali's decline as a boxer. The Norton bout was a tough bruising battle for Ali. In one of the most disputed fights in history,{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} the contest was even on the judges' scorecards going into the final round, which Ali won on both the referee's and judges' scorecards to retain the championship. The two judges, [[Harold Lederman]] and Barney Smith, scored the bout 8–7 for Ali, while referee Arthur Mercante scored it 8–6-1 for Ali. At the end of the last round, the commentator announced he would be "very surprised" if Norton had not won the fight.<ref>{{YouTube|Atzy49nQoNM}}</ref>

At the time of the bout, the last time a heavyweight champion had lost the title by decision was [[Max Baer (boxer)|Max Baer]] to [[James J. Braddock|Jimmy Braddock]], 41&nbsp;years earlier. The January 1998 issue of ''Boxing Monthly'' listed Ali-Norton as the fifth most disputed title fight decision in boxing history. The unofficial [[United Press International]] scorecard was 8–7 for Norton, and the unofficial [[Associated Press]] scorecards were 9–6 for Ali (Ed Schuyler), and 8–7 Norton (Wick Temple).{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Despite earning a victory, Ali received a pounding. His tactics were to try to push Norton back, but they had failed. He'd refused to 'dance' until the 9th. Norton has said the third fight with Ali was the last boxing match for which he was fully motivated, owing to his disappointment at having lost a fight he believed he had clearly won.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

=== WBC heavyweight champion ===
====Norton vs. Young====
In 1977,  Norton knocked out previously unbeaten top prospect [[Duane Bobick]] in one round. The fight had an interesting narrative to it, as Norton's previous trainer, Eddie Futch, opted to train Bobick instead of Norton. Norton then dispatched European title holder, Lorenzo Zanon in a 'tune-up' fight. Light-hitting but fast, Zanon was ahead on the scorecards until a barrage of right-overhands and looping-body shots put him down and out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snowden |first=Jonathan |title=One Punch: How Ken Norton Became a Boxing Legend in a Single Night |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1779469-one-punch-how-ken-norton-became-a-boxing-legend-in-a-single-night |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

Norton then defeated polished number two contender [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]] (who had beaten Foreman for the former champion's second loss, as well as twice top heavyweight contender  [[Ron Lyle]]) via 15-round split decision in a WBC title-elimination bout, with the winner to face reigning WBC champion Ali. (However, Ali's camp told ''The Ring'' they did not want to fight Norton for a fourth time.) Both boxers fought a smart fight, with Norton using a heavy body attack whilst Young moved well and countered. The decision was controversial, with many observers thinking Young had done enough to win.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Although Norton was expected to face Ali for a fourth time, to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship, plans changed due to Ali's loss of his title to [[Leon Spinks]] on February 15, 1978. The WBC then ordered a match between the new champion and Norton, its number one contender. Spinks however, chose to face Ali in his first title defence, instead of facing Norton.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wZQKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NkwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4835,5436403&hl=en Spinks Snub Miffs Norton], AP via ''Ludington Daily News'', March 11, 1978</ref><ref name="news.google_a">Anderson, Dave (March 9, 1978) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZewVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KhMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2403,1808741&hl=en No. 1 Contender – Norton only boxer behaving like a champion], ''The New York Times'' via ''Star-News''</ref> The WBC responded on March 18, 1978, by retroactively giving title fight status to Norton's victory over Young the year before and awarding Norton their championship, which split the heavyweight championship for the first time since [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]] and Joe Frazier were both recognized as champions in the early 1970s.<ref name="usmc-mccs"/><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XuAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fykEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2358%2C2878012 "Norton-Young Bout May Be for the Title"], ''Milwaukee Journal'', November 5, 1977</ref>

====Norton vs. Holmes====
{{main|Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes}}
In his first defense of the WBC title on June 9, 1978, Norton and new number one contender [[Larry Holmes]] met in a brutal 15-round fight. Holmes was awarded the title via an extremely close split decision. Two of the three judges scored the fight 143–142 for Holmes while the third scored the bout 143–142 for Norton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ken_Norton_vs._Larry_Holmes
|title=The judges' cards for Holmes vs. Norton |publisher=boxrec.com |date= June 9, 1978|access-date=March 17, 2011}}</ref> The Associated Press scored it 143–142 for Norton.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1gcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-J0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2555,2232253 Holmes get boxing title]. Associated Press via ''The Tuscaloosa News'', June 10, 1978</ref> The March 2001 edition of ''The Ring'' listed the final round of the Holmes–Norton bout as the seventh most exciting round in boxing history and International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) member Monte D. Cox ranked the bout as the tenth greatest heavyweight fight of all time. Holmes went on to become the third-longest reigning world heavyweight champion in the history of boxing, behind [[Joe Louis]] and [[Wladimir Klitschko]]. Years later, Holmes wrote that the bout was his toughest fight of all his seventy-five contests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Tom |date=2018-06-19 |title=Larry Holmes: 'After Ken Norton my 20 title defenses were playground stuff' |url=https://www.ringtv.com/537941-larry-holmes-after-ken-norton-my-20-title-defenses-were-playground-stuff/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=The Ring}}</ref>

=== Post-title career ===
====Norton vs. Shavers====
After losing to Holmes, Norton won his next fight by knockout over sixth-ranked Randy Stephens in 1978<ref>[http://community.artofmanliness.com/profiles/blogs/on-the-marine-corps-birthday-a-lesson-in-manliness-from-usmc-hall A Lesson in Manliness From the Ex-Marine: Ken Norton], ''The Art of Manliness'', November 12, 2012</ref> before taking on legendary puncher [[Earnie Shavers]] in another compulsory WBC title eliminator fight in Las Vegas on March 23, 1979. Shavers took the former champion out in the first round. underscoring Norton's difficulty with  hard hitters such as Foreman, Shavers and later Cooney. However Norton himself always denied this, saying that he was past his prime when he was stopped by Shavers and Cooney.<ref>Norton's biography ''Going the distance''</ref><ref name="boxrec">[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Julian_Compton Julian Compton]. boxrec.com</ref>

====Scott LeDoux====
In his next fight, he fought to a split draw with unheralded but durable lower ranked contender [[Scott LeDoux]] at the [[Met Center]] in [[Minneapolis]]. Norton dominated until sustaining an injury when he took a thumb in the eye in the eighth round, which immediately changed the bout. LeDoux rallied from that point and Norton became decidedly fatigued. Norton was down two times in the final round, resulting in the draw; Norton fell behind on one scorecard, kept his lead on the second, and dropped to even on the third (the unofficial AP scorecard was 5–3–2 Norton).<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q6NPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tlEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4540%2C5165358 LeDoux, Norton draw], UPI via ''The Bryan Times'', August 20, 1979</ref>

====Tex Cobb====
After the fight, Norton decided that at 37 it was time to retire from boxing.<ref>[[#Norton|Norton]], p. 164</ref> However, not satisfied with the way he had gone out, Norton returned to the ring to face the undefeated [[Randall "Tex" Cobb]] in Cobb's home state of Texas on November 7, 1980. In an all action back-and-forth fight, Norton escaped with a split decision, with referee [[Tony Perez (referee)|Tony Perez]] and judge Chuck Hassett voting in his favor and judge Arlen Bynum giving the fight to Cobb. In the March 1981 issue of ''The Ring'', Norton was still one of the world's top ten ranked heavyweights.<ref>[https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine%27s_Annual_Ratings:_1980 The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: 1980].</ref>

===Final bout===
====Gerry Cooney====
The win over the title-contending Cobb gave Norton another shot at a potential title-fight, and on May 11, 1981, at [[Madison Square Garden]] he stepped into the ring with top contender [[Gerry Cooney]], who, like Cobb, was undefeated entering the fight. Very early in the fight Norton was buckled by Cooney's punches. Norton took a series of big punches from Cooney in his corner before Tony Perez stepped in to stop the 54 seconds into the first round, with Norton slumped against the ropes, leaving Cooney the victor by first-round technical knockout. Norton retired after the fight and turned to charitable pursuits.<ref>Grimsley, Will (November 10, 1979) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ScFaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GFkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6604%2C2886928 "Ken Norton: Now He's Fighting For Children"], AP via ''The Evening Independent''</ref>

==Boxing style==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2019}}
Norton was a forward-pressing fighter who was notable for his unusual crab-like cross-armed defense. The boxers that use this style are often called inside-fighters, swarmers, and crowders by boxing fans. In this stance, his left arm was positioned low across the torso with his right hand up by the right or left ear. When under heavy pressure both arms were brought up high across at face level while leaning forward, covering his head and leaving little room for his opponent to extend his arms. The guard was also used by boxers [[Archie Moore]] and [[Tim Witherspoon]], as well as by Frazier in parts of his third fight with Muhammad Ali and Foreman during his famous comeback years.

Norton would bob and weave from a crouch, firing well placed heavy punches. He was best when advancing, unconventionally dragging or sliding his right foot behind him, relying on immense upper body strength to deliver his heavy blows. By comparison, most conventional boxers have elbows in at the torso with forearms vertically parallel to each another, the gloves being both near sides of the face and driving off their rear foot to deliver power punches.

[[Angelo Dundee]] wrote{{where|date=January 2019}} that Norton's best punch was the left hook. Many others lauded his overhand right. In a ''Ring Magazine'' article, Norton himself said that a right uppercut to Jerry Quarry was the hardest blow he recalled landing.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Awards and recognitions==
Norton was a 1989 inductee of the World Boxing Hall of Fame,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901000000*/https://www.ibroresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/the-world-boxing-hall-of-fame.pdf |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> a 1992 inductee of the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]],<ref>[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/norton.html Ken Norton]. International Boxing Hall of Fame</ref> a 2004 inductee into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame,<ref name="usmc-mccs" /> and a 2008 inductee into the World Boxing Council Hall of Fame.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

The 1998 holiday issue of ''The Ring'' ranked Norton #22 among "The 50 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time".{{cn|date=July 2024}} Norton received the Boxing Writers Association of America J. Niel trophy for "Fighter of the Year" in 1977.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Norton also received the "Napoleon Hill Award" for positive thinking in 1973.<ref name=n46>[[#Norton|Norton]], p. 46</ref>

In 2001, Norton was inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame, honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdhoc.com/awards/hall-of-fame/boxing/ken-norton/ |title=Ken Norton |access-date=2009-03-01 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103152153/http://www.sdhoc.com/awards/hall-of-fame/boxing/ken-norton/ |archive-date=January 3, 2009 }}. San Diego Hall of Champions</ref> Norton was also inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://californiasportshalloffame.org/inductees/2011/boxing/Ken-Norton.php |title=KENNETH HOWARD NORTON – California Sports Hall of Fame 2011 Inductee |access-date=2014-06-21 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831062156/http://californiasportshalloffame.org/inductees/2011/boxing/Ken-Norton.php |archive-date=August 31, 2013 }}. California Sports Hall of Fame</ref>

==Later media career==
[[File:Perry King and Ken Norton 1975.jpg|thumb|270px|On set of ''[[Mandingo (film)|Mandingo]]'' (1975) with actor [[Perry King]] ]]
In 1975, at the peak of his boxing career, Norton made his acting debut starring in the [[Dino De Laurentiis]] [[blaxploitation]] film ''[[Mandingo (film)|Mandingo]]'', about a pre-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] slave purchased to fight other slaves for their master's entertainment. After starring in the 1976 sequel, ''[[Drum (1976 film)|Drum]]'', Norton went on to play bit parts in a dozen other productions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636243/|title=Ken Norton|website=IMDb}}</ref>

Norton worked as an actor and TV boxing commentator following his retirement from boxing. He also was a member of the Sports Illustrated Speakers Bureau and started the Ken Norton Management Co., which represented athletes in contract negotiations.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Norton continued making TV, radio and public speaking appearances until suffering injuries in a near-fatal car accident in 1986 which left him with slow and slurred speech.<ref name="BelieveJourney">{{Cite book|ref=Norton2009 |title=Believe: Journey From Jacksonville |first1=Ken |last1=Norton |first2=Donald Jr. |last2=Hennessey |name-list-style=amp |first3=John |last3=Amodeo |location=Fairfield, Iowa |publisher=1st World Publishing |isbn=978-1-4218-9119-4 |year=2009 }}</ref><ref>Roberts, Rich (December 26, 1987) [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-26-sp-7367-story.html "Ken Norton Is Now Fighting Back: Former Champ Is Learning to Talk Again After 1986 Car Accident"], ''Los Angeles Times''</ref><ref>Rosenthal, Phil (October 4, 1986) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gdhRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T24DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7008%2C2066923 Ken Norton Jr. helps father overcome crippling injuries], Daily News Los Angeles</ref>

He appeared along with Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Holmes in a video, ''Champions Forever'', discussing their best times, and in 2000 he published his autobiography, ''Going the Distance''.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

==Personal life==
[[File:Kenny Norton.jpg|thumb|Norton in 2010]]
Norton was married three times and had four children. Prior to his first marriage, he had a son named Keith. He married Jeannette Henderson in 1966 while still in the Marines.  The marriage lasted until 1968 and produced football player and coach [[Ken Norton Jr.]] In 1977, he married Jacqueline 'Jackie' Halton, who also had a son, Brandon, from a previous marriage. Jackie gave birth to daughter Kenisha (1976) and son Kene Jon (1981). They remained married for over 24 years before divorcing around 2000. Around 2012, he married Rose Marie Conant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2013-sep-18-la-me-ken-norton-20130919-story.html|title=Ken Norton Sr. dies at 70; former heavyweight boxing champion|date=September 18, 2013|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/obituary/2245238?lud=E1A3BF2C4B6CB74B6AC6FA85FC0B4477&fh_id=12328|title=Obituary for Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel|website=www.meaningfulfunerals.net}}</ref>

Norton was twice voted "Father of the Year" by the ''[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]'' and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in 1977.<ref name="BelieveJourney" /><ref>City, Big. (June 17, 2012) [http://community.artofmanliness.com/profiles/blogs/ken-norton-two-time-father-of-the-year "Ken Norton: Two-Time Father of the Year"], ''The Art of Manliness'', June 17, 2012. Retrieved on June 21, 2014.</ref> To quote Norton from his biography, ''Believe: Journey From Jacksonville'': "Of all the titles that I've been privileged to have, the title of 'dad' has always been the best."<ref name="BelieveJourney"/>

His second son, Ken Norton Jr., played [[American football|football]] at [[UCLA]] and had a long successful career in the [[National Football League|NFL]]. In tribute to his father's boxing career, Ken Jr. would strike a boxing stance in the end zone each time he scored a defensive touchdown and throw a punching combination at the goalpost pad.

Ken Norton's son Keith Norton was once the weekend sports anchor for [[KPRC-TV|KPRC]] in [[Houston, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.click2houston.com/sports/10851855/detail.html |title=Keith Norton |access-date=2009-03-06 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015003057/http://www.click2houston.com/sports/10851855/detail.html |archive-date=October 15, 2008 }}. KPRC Houston Sports News. 2008</ref>

Norton died at a care facility in Las Vegas on September 18, 2013.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/myjournalcourier/obituary.aspx?n=kenneth-howard-norton&pid=167132226&fhid=9059#fbLoggedOut Obituary Kenneth Howard Norton Sr.] ''Jacksonville Courier'', September 24, 2012</ref> He was 70 years old and had suffered a series of [[stroke]]s in later years.<ref name=BBC_death1>{{cite web|title=Ken Norton, heavyweight boxing legend, dies at 70|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24155378|work=BBC|access-date=September 19, 2013|date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> Across the boxing world, tributes were paid, with Foreman calling him "the fairest of them all" and Holmes saying that he "will be incredibly missed in the boxing world and by many".<ref name=BBC_death2>{{cite web|last=Dirs|first=Ben|title=Ken Norton was a colossal figure in heavyweight boxing's greatest era|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/24162167|work=BBC|access-date=September 19, 2013|date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> He was buried at Jacksonville East Cemetery, in [[Jacksonville, Illinois]].{{cn|date=July 2024}}

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|ko-wins=33
|ko-losses=4
|dec-wins=9
|dec-losses=3
}}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-align=center
|50
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|42–7–1}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gerry Cooney]]
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|0:54}}
|May 11, 1981
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Randall "Tex" Cobb|Randall Cobb]]
|SD
|10
|Nov 7, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[HemisFair Arena]], [[San Antonio, Texas]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|48
|{{draw}}Draw
|41–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Scott LeDoux]]
|{{abbr|SD|Split draw}}
|10
|Aug 19, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Metropolitan Sports Center]], [[Bloomington, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|47
|{{no2}}Loss
|41–6
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Earnie Shavers]]
|KO
|1 (12), {{small|1:58}}
|Mar 23, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Las Vegas Hilton]], [[Winchester, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Randy Stephens
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:42}}
|Nov 10, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|45
|{{no2}}Loss
|40–5
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Larry Holmes]]
|SD
|15
|[[Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes|Jun 9, 1978]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost WBC heavyweight title}}
|-align=center
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]
|SD
|15
|Nov 5, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|WBC heavyweight title eliminator; Norton awarded title four months later}}
|-align=center
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Lorenzo Zanon
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|3:08}}
|Sep 14, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Caesars Palace]], Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Duane Bobick]]
|TKO
|1 (12), {{small|0:58}}
|May 11, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|41
|{{no2}}Loss
|37–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Muhammad Ali]]
|UD
|15
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III|Sept 26, 1976]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For WBA, WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-align=center
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Larry Middleton
|TKO
|10 (10), {{small|2:17}}
|Jul 10, 1976
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Ron Stander]]
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|1:19}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Young|Apr 30, 1976]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]], [[Landover, Maryland]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Pedro Lovell]]
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|1:40}}
|Jan 10, 1976
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Las Vegas Convention Center]], Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Jose Luis Garcia
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|1:50}}
|Aug 14, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[St. Paul Civic Center|Civic Center]], [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jerry Quarry]]
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|2:29}}
|Mar 24, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant NABF heavyweight title}}
|-align=center
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Rico Brooks
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:34}}
|Mar 4, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Red Carpet Inn]], [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Boone Kirkman]]
|RTD
|7 (10)
|Jun 25, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Seattle Center Coliseum|Center Coliseum]], [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|33
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[George Foreman]]
|TKO
|2 (15), {{small|2:00}}
|[[George Foreman vs. Ken Norton|Mar 26, 1974]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Poliedro de Caracas|Poliedro]], [[Caracas]], Venezuela}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA]], [[list of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC]], and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|-align=center
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Muhammad Ali]]
|SD
|12
|[[Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali II|Sep 10, 1973]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[The Forum (Inglewood)|Forum]], [[Inglewood, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost NABF heavyweight title}}
|-align=center
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Muhammad Ali]]
|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}
|12
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton|Mar 31, 1973]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[San Diego Sports Arena]], San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[list of NABF champions#heavyweight|NABF heavyweight title]]}}
|-align=center
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Charlie Reno
|UD
|10
|Dec 13, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Henry Clark
|TKO
|9 (10)
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Bob Foster|Nov 21, 1972]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Sahara Tahoe]], [[Stateline, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1
|style="text-align:left;"| James J. Woody
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|8 (10)
|Jun 30, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Herschel Jacobs
|UD
|10
|Jun 5, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jack O'Halloran]]
|UD
|10
|Mar 17, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Charlie Harris
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Feb 17, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–1
|style="text-align:left;"| James J. Woody
|UD
|10
|Sep 29, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Chuck Haynes
|KO
|7 (10), {{small|1:08}}
|Aug 7, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Vic Brown
|KO
|5 (10)
|Jun 12, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Santa Monica Civic Auditorium|Civic Auditorium]], [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Steve Carter
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Jun 12, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Valley Music Theater, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Roby Harris
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:35}}
|Oct 16, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Chuck Leslie
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|10
|Sep 26, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Valley Music Theater, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Roy Wallace
|KO
|4 (10)
|Aug 29, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|17
|{{no2}}Loss
|16–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Jose Luis Garcia
|KO
|8 (10)
|Jul 2, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Ray Junior Ellis
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|0:53}}
|May 8, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob Mashburn
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|1:40}}
|Apr 7, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Cleveland Arena]], [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Stamford Harris
|TKO
|3 (10), {{small|1:59}}
|Mar 13, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Aaron Eastling
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|3:06}}
|Feb 4, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Silver Slipper (Las Vegas)|Silver Slipper]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Julius Garcia
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Oct 21, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Gary Bates
|TKO
|8 (10)
|Jul 25, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Bill McMurray
|TKO
|7 (10)
|Jul 25, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Pedro Sanchez
|TKO
|2 (10)
|Mar 31, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[San Diego International Sports Center|International Sports Center]], San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Wayne Kindred
|TKO
|9 (10)
|Feb 20, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Hemphill
|TKO
|3 (10), {{small|1:52}}
|Feb 11, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Valley Music Theater]], [[Woodland Hills, California]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Cornell Nolan
|KO
|6 (10)
|Dec 8, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Grand Olympic Auditorium]], [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Wayne Kindred
|TKO
|6 (10)
|Jul 23, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Circle Arts Theatre, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Jimmy Gilmore
|KO
|7 (8), {{small|1:20}}
|Mar 26, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Community Concourse, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Harold Dutra
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|3 (6)
|Feb 6, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Sacramento Memorial Auditorium|Memorial Auditorium]], [[Sacramento, California]], U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Sam Wyatt
|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}
|6
|Jan 16, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Community Concourse, San Diego, California, U.S.}}
|
|-align=center
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Grady Brazell
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|5 (6)
|Nov 14, 1967
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Community Concourse, [[San Diego, California]], U.S.}}
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Tomas Molinares]] - another world boxing champion who never won a world title fight

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book|ref=Norton |last=Norton |first=Ken |year=2000 |title=Going the Distance |location=Champaign, Illinois |publisher=Sports Publishing |isbn=1-58261-225-0 |display-authors=etal}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ken Norton}}
*{{Boxrec|id=00168}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0636243}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Regional boxing titles}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Muhammad Ali]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of NABF champions#Heavyweight|NABF heavyweight champion]]
|years=March 13, 1973 – September 10, 1973}}
{{s-aft|after=Muhammad Ali}}
{{s-vac|last=Muhammad Ali}}
{{s-ttl|title=NABF heavyweight champion
|years=March 24, 1975 – January 1976<br>Vacated}}
{{s-aft|after=[[George Foreman]]}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}}
|-
{{s-vac|last=[[Leon Spinks]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC heavyweight champion]]
|years=March 18, 1978 – June 9, 1978}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Larry Holmes]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Sugar Ray Robinson Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Ken}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from San Diego]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Jacksonville, Illinois]]
[[Category:Truman Bulldogs football players]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council champions]]
[[Category:Baptists from California]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:World heavyweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:Boxers from Illinois]]
[[Category:Baptists from Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Baptists]]
[[Category:People from Jacksonville, Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]