San Diego and its people love professional sports. They have a Major League Baseball team to be proud of, the San Diego Padres, which plays in the National League West Division. Although they have never won the World Series, the Padres do boast two NL Pennants, finding glory in 1984 and 1998. They also scooped their most recent of five West Division titles in 2006 and enjoyed a Wild Card berth in 2020 and 2022.
Soon, the good people of America’s Finest City can turn their attention to soccer and enjoy the MLS with the introduction of San Diego FC, an expansion team ahead of the 2025 regular season. Will San Diego make waves in the United States’ biggest soccer competition as homegrown players look to impress ahead of the next FIFA World Cup in 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico?
You can wager on the winner of the next World Cup by finding the best sportsbook online, creating an account to secure the welcome bonus, and predicting the best team. The leading apps offer early odds on the 23rd World Cup, allowing members and soccer lovers to beat the rush and secure the best price for their favorites. Will Team USA make home advantage count to win its first-ever soccer World Cup? Only time will tell.
When Ken was king
Soon, San Diego will be known worldwide as a city that loves baseball and soccer, but the area is already famous for another sport: boxing. Even if the Padres win the World Series and San Diego FC the MLS Cup, it won’t come close to the achievements of the city’s most famous son, boxer, and former world heavyweight Ken Norton. Norton is known as a power puncher and dangerous fighter, and he is considered one of the top five heavyweights ever to lace up a pair of gloves.
In 2001, Ken was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions, which honors the city’s finest athletes. He also took his rightful place in the California Sports Hall of Fame, and that will come as no surprise to those old enough to have followed his career or younger fight fans who watched footage of Norton’s 50 professional bouts online. If you aren’t aware of Norton’s illustrious career or wonder what all the fuss is about, this article will bring you up to speed. You’re in for a treat as we lead readers down memory lane, reflecting on Norton’s fights with Ali.
Norton made his professional boxing debut in 1967. The powerful 6ft 3inch orthodox boxer made a sizzling start to life as a prize fighter by scoring the first of what would become 33 knockout wins, dismantling opponent Grady Brazell at the Community Concourse in San Diego. When retiring in 1981 following a first-round TKO defeat to Gerry Cooney, Norton had amassed a professional record of 42 wins, seven defeats, and one draw.
Norton was something special and is as well known today as he was when fighting Larry Holmes, George Foreman, and Muhammad Ali. San Diego’s fighting pride fought The Greatest of All Time three times, winning one and losing the other two. Those fights were classics, and we remember the trilogy in this article, reflecting on when a boy from San Diego rubbed shoulders with the most famous pugilist ever.
Norton beats Ali
The first chapter of this storied trilogy unfolded on March 31, 1973, at the San Diego Sports Arena. Ken Norton, a relatively unheralded contender, faced off against the legendary Muhammad Ali, who was making his return to the ring after a three-year hiatus enforced by his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War. Despite being considered a significant underdog, Norton possessed a potent combination of size, strength, and unyielding determination.
From the opening bell, Norton imposed his will on Ali, utilizing his unorthodox cross-armed guard to deflect Ali’s trademark jab and counter with thunderous left hooks. The fight quickly turned into a grueling battle of attrition, with both men trading punishing blows in the center of the ring. In the early rounds, Norton’s aggressive tactics seemed to confound Ali, who struggled to find his rhythm against the relentless onslaught.
As the fight progressed, Ali began to assert his dominance, utilizing his superior footwork and boxing skills to outmaneuver Norton and land crisp combinations. However, Norton refused to wilt under the pressure, absorbing Ali’s best shots and retaliating with ferocious determination. In a shocking turn of events, Norton fractured Ali’s jaw in the early rounds, a testament to the sheer power of his punches.
Despite Ali’s valiant efforts, Norton’s relentless assault proved too much to overcome, as he secured a narrow split decision victory, handing Ali only his second professional defeat. The boxing world was stunned by Norton’s triumph, heralding the arrival of a new heavyweight force and setting the stage for two more unforgettable battles between the two titans.
Ali gains revenge
Norton and Ali met for a second time in a rematch at Forum, Inglewood, just six months after their first fight. Ali was in a rush to right the wrong of that night, and he got the desired result by winning a split decision. Two judges scored the fight to Ali, and the other opted for Norton.
The second bout was every bit as rough and rugged as the opener, with both men abandoning their boxing skills and standing toe-to-toe, trading huge blows. Ken had a knack for dragging Muhammad into a slugfest, and he did it again in Inglewood, but this time, The Greatest edged it. It was another thriller, another tight result, and a third fight was required.
Trilogy complete
The third and final Norton vs Ali fight was in 1976 at the Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. With the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles on the line, Ali made it 2-1 with a convincing points decision, this time proving too good for Norton.
Again, there was little between the two warriors, with Ali winning by margins of one round, one round, and two rounds. It’s a boxing rivalry that will never be forgotten.
