Muhammad Ali's third and final encounter with Ken Norton on September 28, 1976, for the undisputed heavyweight championship, ended in a unanimous decision victory for Ali. However, this outcome was steeped in controversy, with many observers and even Norton himself believing the decision was unjust. The fight, held at Yankee Stadium, marked the culmination of a storied trilogy between two formidable heavyweights, but its resolution left a lasting
debate in boxing history.
A Close Contest and Disputed Scoring
The fight itself was a closely contested affair, with both boxers displaying their strengths without either clearly dominating. The official judges' scorecards reflected a narrow victory for Ali: Arthur Mercante Sr. scored it 8 to 6, while Harold Lederman and Barney Smith both had it 8 to 7, all in favor of the champion. This resulted in a unanimous decision for Ali, allowing him to retain his title. However, the statistics from Bob Canobbio's CompuBox painted a different picture. Norton landed 286 of 635 punches, achieving a 45% accuracy rate, while Ali landed 199 of 709 punches with a 28% accuracy. Norton also landed significantly more power punches, 192 to Ali's 128, suggesting a more effective offensive performance from Norton.
The Aftermath: A Robbery Claimed by Norton
The immediate aftermath of the fight was dominated by the widespread belief among sportswriters that Norton had been the rightful winner. Out of 21 sportswriters polled after the bout, 17 believed that Norton had won. Ken Norton was particularly vocal about his disappointment, stating, "I won at least nine or ten rounds. I was robbed." Years later, Norton reiterated his conviction, saying, "If you saw the look on Ali's face at the end, he knew I beat him. He didn't hit me hard the whole fight. Then they announced the judges' decision and I was bitter, very bitter. Not towards Ali... he'd done his job, he was just there to fight. But I was hurt, I was mad, I was angry. I was upset... and it still upsets me."
Ali's Own Doubts and the Historical Context
Interestingly, Muhammad Ali himself expressed doubts about the decision. In an interview with Mark Cronin in October 1976, Ali admitted, "Kenny's style is too difficult for me. I can't beat him, and I sure don't want to fight him again. I honestly thought he beat me in Yankee Stadium, but the judges gave it to me, and I'm grateful to them." This candid admission from Ali further fueled the controversy surrounding the fight. The close scoring and the decision favoring Ali were widely considered controversial, with the January 1998 issue of Boxing Monthly listing Ali-Norton as the fifth most disputed title fight decision in boxing history. Unofficial scorecards from the United Press International had it 8-7 for Norton, and while one Associated Press scorecard had it 9-6 for Ali, another had it 8-7 for Norton, highlighting the divided opinions even among professional observers. This fight remains a significant point of discussion when examining the careers of both Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton.
