Today, 40 Years Ago. Float Like A Butterfly Once More.

On this day, September 10th, 40 years ago, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton squared off for the second of three fights, the first of which took place in San Diego. In the first fight, Norton gave Ali one of the Louisville Lip’s 5 losses of his storied career, at none other than the San Diego Sports Arena. The first fight took place in SD on March 31st 1973. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in this fight and was thought to have been the tougher inside fighter to the more elusive Ali. No more than six months later, Ali and Norton squared off once again in Los Angeles at the Inglewood Forum in what was dubbed as the “Battle of the Broken Jaw.” Ali came back to beat Norton by decision and floated like a butterfly once more. To many, this was described as Ali’s last fight in the prime of his illustrious career. Ali would later go on to re-claim his heavyweight title in 1974. Can’t knock The Greatest. Ali defends his name and his game once again, enjoy.

Ali before the first fight in San Diego.