Famed former boxer Ken Norton died Wednesday after battling a stroke at a Nevada medical facility, according to sources.
Norton was 70 years old when he died at a Veterans Affairs’ medical facility in Henderson, Nevada.
The news comes forty years after the former fighter rose to the top of the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali. He was only the second man to beat Ali, breaking Ali’s jaw and sending him to the hospital.
“Kenny was a good, good fighter. He beat a lot of guys,” said Ed Schuyler Jr., who covered Norton’s fights for Associated Press. “He gave Ali fits because Ali let him fight coming forward instead of making him back up.”
Norton is survived by his son Ken Norton Jr., who is a former all-star linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
