The three-fight series between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton ranks as one of the most competitive in division history. Their first two encounters ended in split decisions for each man while the rubber match saw Ali capture a hotly disputed unanimous nod.
 
Theirs was a rivalry built on contrasts; Ali was the glib, smoothly muscled speed merchant who taunted most opponents into a tizzy while Norton was a heavily-muscled onetime Marine who had an asbestos-like resistance to Ali's barbs and a herky-jerky leg-dragging style that short-circuited Ali's precision timing.
 
The pugilistic dispute between the pair actually began two years before they officially met in March 1973. The scene was a Los Angeles gym and Ali was looking to get in some work. Norton's trainer Eddie Futch volunteered his charge, who fared so well that Ali stormed into the gym the next day demanding that he and Norton spar again. Futch refused and when Ali asked why he replied, "yesterday you came in looking for a workout. Today you cam in looking for a fight. When this kid fights you he's gonna get paid real well."
 
As usual, Futch was right.
 
At the time of Ali-Norton I, Ali was on the long road back toward a second shot at regaining his crown. Following his loss to Joe Frazier in March 1971 Ali had run off 10 straight over the likes of Jimmy Ellis, Buster Mathis, George Chuvalo, Jerry Quarry, Floyd Patterson, Bob Foster and, most recently, Joe Bugner. As for Norton, this was his first shot at the "really big time" as none of the fighters in his 29-1 (23 KO) record were within light years of Ali in terms of talent and experience.
 
This was supposed to be another step on Ali's odyssey back to championship glory and at a somewhat bloated 221 pounds Ali treated the fight as such. Ali would end up regretting his attitudinal insolence.
 
Sometime between the second round (Ali's story) and the 11th (according to Futch) Ali suffered a broken jaw and Norton captured a shocking split decision that should have been unanimous. The victory vaulted Norton into the number one contender slot for George Foreman's title but before he would fight for the crown he had unfinished business with Ali and on September 10, 1973 they met again.
 
The chastened ex-champ, weighing a svelte 212, floated and stung like the Ali of old in the first five rounds and built up a substantial lead on the scorecards. Once Ali began to slow down Norton's strength and doggedness took over and by the 12th the result still hung in the balance. Summoning reserves only the great ones can access, Ali put together one last burst of speed and skill and pulled out a split decision.
 
Despite the loss Norton still got his shot at Foreman, who vaporized him in two rounds. Over the next three years Norton rebuilt his reputation with seven consecutive knockout wins, the best of which were back-to-back efforts against Quarry and previous conqueror Jose Luis Garcia. As for Ali he would achieve his long-sought objective of regaining the crown as he upset Foreman in "The Rumble in the Jungle" by way of the "rope-a-dope" and his iron will.
 
The third Norton fight was the eighth defense of Ai's second reign and at 34 he was showing signs of wear after his brutal 14-round slugfest with Joe Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila." Though he stopped Jean-Pierre Coopman and Richard Dunn in five rounds each he didn't look particularly spectacular and many observers believed he deserved to lose against the slick-boxing Jimmy Young. Still, Ali enjoyed the benefits of being heavyweight champion of the world and as insurance he had that special brand of magic that swallowed up opponents, fans, scribes and judges alike.
 
The night of September 28, 1976 had more than its usual portion of chaos as the NYPD staged a strike in front of Yankee Stadium. Their willful lack of security allowed thousands to storm inside the sporting shrine and kept walk-up ticket sales to a bare minimum. More than 30,000 people -- both legitimate and otherwise -- would bear witness to the storm that would unfold in Yankee Stadium.