Former champion Ken Norton dies

Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who defeated Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 70.

Norton passed away in a care facility on Wednesday in Arizona after suffering congestive heart failure, his close friend and former manager Patrick Tenore has confirmed.

Norton had been in poor health for several years and will be remembered for breaking Ali’s jaw in their first of three fights in 1973, in which he went on to beat him in a split decision.

Ali narrowly won the second non-title fight encounter by a split decision six months later before he claimed a second victory over Norton on September 28, 1976, at the Yankee Stadium in New York to retain his heavyweight title.

Tenore told Press Association Sport: “It was early this afternoon. Ken got congestive heart failure and passed away.

“He was recovering from a stroke a year ago. To my shock his wife called me said he he had passed away.

“He was a fighter. He fought a tough battle and we thought he was out of the woods.

“He was a warm and generous man. He was a champion and a fighter and bright-eyed and anxious to see the next day and a dear friend of 20 years.

“Everyone will miss him. He never said a bad word about anyone.”