20 September 2013
A sad, sad day in the world of sports.
Until he butterfly lost its wings and the bee its sting, only two people were good enough to beat Muhammad Ali: Joe Frazier and Ken Norton.
It is with great sadness today I hear of Norton's death, now meaning that both of the boxers to beat Ali in his prime have died. Frazier succumbed two years ago, and now Norton joins him on the posthumous roll of boxing legends.
To me, as a lifelong Ali fan, the position boxers like Norton & Frazier hold in the consciousness of boxing fans emphasises the greatness of the Black Superman. Norton, Frazier, Ali & Foreman created the best period of boxing the planet has ever seen. Four giants of men - although Frazier wasn't a huge man, physically - who created a dynasty of a time when the heavyweight champion of the world was an instantly-recognisable figure long before the birth of the internet. Newspapers, television and magazines abounded with images and clips of fights between the four.
International television coverage was so huge that pay-per-view was never a necessity; vast sums would be paid for the right to hold fights, and telecast them. Even entire countries - Zaire & The Philippines - sponsored fights to enable their people to partake in the glory.
Australia likes to advertise the Melbourne Cup as the race that stops a nation; well, 40 years ago, a heavyweight championship fight used to stop the entire world.
Adios, Ken, the world was better for your having been in it. You and the other members of the famous four took boxing to heights it never had seen before, nor ever will again.
Copyright © Alan Charman