Foreman had destroyed Joe Frazier in two rounds to become heavyweight champion and stopped José Roman in the first round of his initial defense. His record had reached 39-0 with 36 knockouts, making Norton approximately a 3-1 underdog.
Ali, working at ringside, gave the challenger a better chance than most. Having survived 24 rounds against him, Ali questioned the assumption that Foreman would simply run through a fighter who had caused him so much difficulty.
Trouble Before the Bell
The fight nearly encountered problems before either heavyweight reached the ring. Foreman’s camp wanted an American referee, while Venezuelan officials favored a…
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