THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 12: MUHAMMAD ALI LOSSES THEN WINS AGAINST KEN NORTON
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Aug 2025
After stopping Jimmy Ellis, Ali fought Jerry Quarry, and had a second fight with Floyd Patterson, and faced Bob Foster in 1972, winning a total of six fights that year. During his two fights in 1973 with Joe Bugner and Ken Norton, he wore a "People's Choice" robe given to him by Elvis Presley.
Norton was enlisted into the United States Marines Corps after leaving school, serving from 1963 to 1967.
Before his fight with Norton, some scribes said Ali was "gloriously overconfident" and did not consider Norton as a threat. On March 31, 1973, Ali entered the ring at the San Diego Sports Arena as a 5-1 favorite against Norton, who was then rated number 6 world contender in a bout televised by ABC's Wide World of Sports.
But during the fight, in the second round according to most press reports, or in the final round according to Norton himself, Ali's jaw was broken by Norton and lost by split decision suffering the second loss of his career. Norton won the NABF heavyweight title.
At The Forum in Inglewood, California, on September 10, 1973, Ali won a close split decision in a rematch with Norton. Norton weighed in at 206 lbs which is 5 pounds lighter than his first match with Ali. There were raging exchanges of blows in this hard-fought battle. For Ali, a loss in fight would mean a serious blow to his claim of being "The Greatest".
Ali danced and jabbed with Norton also on a continuous offensive. Ali had a hard time penetrating Norton's awkward crab-like cross-armed defensive style. The scoring was so close scoring and the split decision in favor of Ali was controversial.
The win led to a rematch with Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 1974. Frazier had previously lost his title to George Foreman. Ali won by unanimous decision and took his revenge against his archrival.
Ali's next opponents were Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle, and Joe Bugner. Wepner, a journeyman known as "The Bayonne Bleeder", surprised Ali with a knockdown in the ninth round. Ali would later say he stumbled on Wepner's foot. The fight inspired Sylvester Stallone to produce the popular film series Rocky. Ali won over Bugner by unanimous decision and stopped Lyle by 11th round TKO.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 24 Jan 2026NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Donaire back in Cebu
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 23 Jan 2026Four Pinoys in line for title shots
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 23 Jan 2026Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
Fri, 23 Jan 2026SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 22 Jan 2026