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By
Michael Lamkin
FightBeat Staff Writer
In the summer of 1978, the
heavyweight division was in turmoil. The champion was a 7-0-1 novice. The
vanquished champ was a shell of his former self. The universally recognized
number one contender was avoided like plague.
This was not the shining
hour of the “Golden Age” of heavyweight boxing.
In February of
’78, in one of the biggest upsets since Ali (then Cassius Clay) defeated
Sonny Liston 14 years prior, Leon Spinks beat the aging Muhammad
Ali. Spinks opted for a rematch with Ali rather than fight Ken Norton, the
mandatory. The WBC stripped Spinks’ title and awarded it to Norton. He became
the first heavyweight in history to claim a piece of the crown without winning
it in the ring.
For the first
time since 1970, the heavyweight title was split.
While the world waited until September to see if
Ali could turn back the clock against Spinks, it was business as usual for
Norton. Off a win over top contender Jimmy Young, Norton agreed to fight
undefeated Larry Holmes.
Holmes earned recognition with a
lopsided UD over Earnie Shavers in March of ‘78. Many believed Shavers
deserved the nod over Ali the year before, adding a bit more luster to Holmes’
victory.
The date was set. Norton
would defend his WBC Heavyweight title against Holmes on June 9th,
‘78.
In the years since, Norton
and Holmes have had nothing but praise for each other and their performances in
that epic fight. During the buildup, it was a different story. Holmes was
bitter. He yearned for respect, toiling in obscurity on Ali undercards.
“I’m not
fighting for a title, I’m fighting for respect,” insisted Holmes, (from Norton’s
autobiography). “Once you have respect, everything else just falls into place.
Norton thinks he’s God’s gift to the world. He thinks he’s so pretty; I won’t
win any beauty contests, but I’ll win this fight.”
During a Norton workout days before the fight,
Holmes taunted Norton -- much like his mentor Ali did with opponents.
Norton, fed up, fired back.
“Larry, the
reason why you’re so jealous of me is that you’re so damn ugly and skinny.
Anything next to you looks pretty,” Norton said. (quoted from his
autobiography)
A shoving
match ensued. Both men had to be separated.
What was a great match-up
became a grudge match.
Yet, it almost
didn’t happen. Six days before, Holmes injured his left arm sparring. An
examination revealed a tear in the left bicep. A doctor recommended the fight be
postponed four months.
Holmes
wouldn’t hear of it. He underwent massage and ice treatments to get his arm as
functional as possible by fight night.
Finally, it
was main-event time. The crowd (which included Richard Pryor,
Sylvester Stallone and Joe DiMaggio) buzzed with excitement. After a
brief delay, Holmes got in the ring. Referee Miles Lane gave
instructions and the bell rang.
Holmes, with his
jabs and counter rights, won most of the first six rounds. Norton landed
occasional overhand rights. He was content to wade in, taking four or five to
land one.
In the
seventh, the tide began to turn for Norton. Numerous overhand rights by Norton
produced a cut around Holmes’ mouth (later requiring 11 stitches) Norton turned
up the heat in the middle rounds, landing more rights and pounding to Holmes’
body against the ropes.
In the 12th
round, Holmes was effective with his jab, and staggered Norton with hard rights
near the end of the 13th. In the 14th, Norton regained composure and
badly hurt Holmes with left hooks to the head and body.
It was a
brutal fight, with one more round to be fought.
Norton came
out firing, landing a hard right that sent blood pouring out of Holmes’ mouth.
After landing a few right hands of his own, Holmes was soon up against the ropes
catching clean left hooks and right hands. As the two slugged it out at center
ring, a powerful Norton uppercut sent Holmes’ mouthpiece flying.
Just as it
seemed Norton took control, Holmes volleyed back. Norton was the tired fighter;
Holmes was in charge.
Back and forth
they went, until the bell ended three-minutes of the fiercest fighting in
history. The boxers had no way of knowing it was dead even on all three cards
going into the last round…but they sure as hell fought like it.
As if there
hadn’t been drama enough for the 15 rounds, a split was announced. One judge had
it 143-142, Holmes. The second, 143-142, Norton. The tiebreaker was 143-142…HOLMES.
Norton, as
always, was gracious in defeat. Holmes was hurried away to his dressing room. He
collapsed of exhaustion.
Each man’s
career took drastically different turns. Norton fought only five more times,
going 2-2-1. His sad finale was a first round knockout at the hands of Gerry
Cooney in ‘81.
Holmes would
reign as heavyweight champion for seven years, until losing to light heavyweight
champ Michael Spinks in ‘85. Holmes fought on and off till 2002…against
forgettable opponents.
But his
magnificent battle with Norton will never be forgotten.
****
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