Tag: ken norton

On this date: George Foreman KOs Ken Norton to win heavyweight title

On this date: George Foreman stopped Ken Norton to win the heavyweight title in 1974.

A LOOK back AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date

George Foreman stops Ken Norton to win heavyweight title

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGhXIDRYzO8

George Foreman was an absolute terror early in his career. The 1968 Olympic gold medalist, an imposing power puncher from Houston, was 39-0 (with 36 knockouts) and seemed to be unstoppable by the end of 1973. He had taken out former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier in two rounds early that year, an indication that he was superhuman. His next objective: Win the heavyweight championship of the world. That opportunity came against Ken Norton on this date in 1974 in Caracas, Venezuela. And it wasn’t pretty, at least not from Norton’s perspective. The conqueror of Muhammad Ali went down three times and failed to make it out of the second round, making Foreman the heavyweight champion. Of course, that distinction didn’t last long. Muhammad Ali stunned the boxing world by stopping Foreman in eight rounds in The Rumble in the Jungle seven months later.

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On this date: George Foreman KOs Ken Norton to win heavyweight title

On this date: George Foreman stopped Ken Norton to win the heavyweight title in 1974.

A LOOK back AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date

George Foreman stops Ken Norton to win heavyweight title

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGhXIDRYzO8

George Foreman was an absolute terror early in his career. The 1968 Olympic gold medalist, an imposing power puncher from Houston, was 39-0 (with 36 knockouts) and seemed to be unstoppable by the end of 1973. He had taken out former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier in two rounds early that year, an indication that he was superhuman. His next objective: Win the heavyweight championship of the world. That opportunity came against Ken Norton on this date in 1974 in Caracas, Venezuela. And it wasn’t pretty, at least not from Norton’s perspective. The conqueror of Muhammad Ali went down three times and failed to make it out of the second round, making Foreman the heavyweight champion. Of course, that distinction didn’t last long. Muhammad Ali stunned the boxing world by stopping Foreman in eight rounds in The Rumble in the Jungle seven months later.

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On this date: Larry Holmes knocks out Ossie Ocasio

On this date: Larry Holmes knocked out Ossie Ocasio in the second defense of his heavyweight itle.

A LOOK AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date IN THE PAST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKoBv6LRR9E

Larry Holmes KOs Ossie Ocasio

Holmes, 29, was making the second defense of the heavyweight title he took from Ken Norton by a split decision in their sensational fight in June 1978. Ocasio was an unbeaten (13-0) heavyweight from Puerto Rico who had made somewhat of a splash by outpointing Jimmy Young in consecutive fights leading into his meeting with Holmes, which gave him the opportunity to become the first Hispanic heavyweight champion. However, he was no match for the future Hall of Famer, who dominated and then stopped him in seven rounds in Las Vegas. Holmes (29-0 at the time) would go on to reign until 1985. Ocasio fought a few more times at heavyweight and then moved down to the new 190-pound cruiserweight division, at which he would win a world title.

On this date: Larry Holmes knocks out Ossie Ocasio

On this date: Larry Holmes knocked out Ossie Ocasio in the second defense of his heavyweight itle.

A LOOK AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date IN THE PAST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKoBv6LRR9E

Larry Holmes KOs Ossie Ocasio

Holmes, 29, was making the second defense of the heavyweight title he took from Ken Norton by a split decision in their sensational fight in June 1978. Ocasio was an unbeaten (13-0) heavyweight from Puerto Rico who had made somewhat of a splash by outpointing Jimmy Young in consecutive fights leading into his meeting with Holmes, which gave him the opportunity to become the first Hispanic heavyweight champion. However, he was no match for the future Hall of Famer, who dominated and then stopped him in seven rounds in Las Vegas. Holmes (29-0 at the time) would go on to reign until 1985. Ocasio fought a few more times at heavyweight and then moved down to the new 190-pound cruiserweight division, at which he would win a world title.

All Duds and No Studs in Seahawks blowout loss to Bills

The Seattle Seahawks were humiliated by the Buffalo Bills Week 9 and no one stood out as a winner – here’s a look at the all-duds list.

If the 12’s wanted to go out and blow their weekly budget at the local liquor store, it would be understandable. The Seattle Seahawks lost one of the most frustrating games in recent memory to the Buffalo Bills as they were blown out of the water to the tune of 44-34.

The Seahawks drop to 6-2 on the year and have a daunting schedule ahead as they next play the Rams – who always give the Seahawks difficulties – and the Cardinals in Seattle – who have only lost two games at CenturyLink Field since 2012.

It was a pitiful effort from start to finish for the Seahawks, resulting in a week exclusively of Duds and no Studs.

8 Seahawks among nominees for College Football Hall of Fame

Ken Norton, Jr. and a bevy of Seahawks, including Steve Hutchinson and Bobby Engram, are eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 have been announced, with 99 Division 1 football players – including seven former Seattle Seahawks and one current coach – all on the ballot.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr., who played his college ball at UCLA, is on the ballot, along with seven former Seattle players: receiver Bobby Engram, defensive end Dwight Freeney, guard Robert Gallery, receiver Mike Hass, guard Steve Hutchinson, kicker Sebastian Janikowski and running back C.J. Spiller.

Engram starred for the Seahawks from 2001-2008, hauling in 399 receptions for 4,859 yards and 18 touchdowns, making him among the most prolific receivers in franchise history. He played his college ball at Penn State and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 1994.

Freeney was a seven time Pro Bowl defensive end who finished his prolific NFL career with 125.5 career sacks, good for 18th all time. He finished his career with the Seahawks in 2017, appearing in four games and totaling three sacks and a pass defended. He starred at Syracuse and remains the NCAA leader in sacks per game, at 1.61.

Gallery concluded his eight-year NFL career by starting 12 games at left guard for the Seahawks in 2011. While at Iowa, Gallery was a first team All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy in 2003, awarded to the nation’s best interior offensive lineman.

Despite winning the Biletnikoff Award in 2005 as a member of the Oregon State Beavers, Hass only appeared in two games in his NFL career. One of them was with the Seahawks in 2009.

Hutchinson is already a Pro Football Hall of Famer, having gained induction in 2020. He starred at left guard for the Seahawks from 2001-2005, making three Pro Bowls in that time. He was an excellent guard in college at Michigan as well, earning All-American honors in 2000.

Perhaps the only time a first round kicker has paid off, the Raiders selected Janikowski in 2000 and he went on to kick for them for nearly two decades, finishing his career with the Seahawks in 2018. He was a two-time All-American and the only ever two-time winner of the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s best kicker, while at Florida State.

Finally, Spiller appeared in two games for the Seahawks in 2016, carrying the ball three times and hauling in five receptions for a touchdown. Spiller was a star running back and kick returner at Clemson, and his 7,588 all-purpose yards is fourth in NCAA history.

In order to be eligible, a player must have been a first team All-American and have been done playing college football for 10 full seasons.

The ballot has been sent to the National Football Foundation (NFF) board, who will deliberate and eventually announce the new inductees in early 2021.

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Bruce Irvin told Bobby Wagner he missed being with Seattle last year

Bruce Irvin texted Bobby Wagner after the Seahawks win over the Eagles last year, telling him how badly he wanted to be back on the team.

The Seahawks brought the band back together this offseason, re-signing a pair of pass rushers who used to call Seattle home in Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin.

Irvin made it clear just how happy he is to be back with the Seahawks after spending the last four years elsewhere – calling his return “refreshing”.

“At this stage of my career, I felt like going back home with Seattle, I consider it my home, that was the best thing that could happen to me, especially in year nine,” Irvin told local Seattle media on Tuesday. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Irvin originally joined the Seahawks as the team’s first round pick in the famous 2012 draft, which also netted the Seahawks Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson – but was widely panned as a failure by draft pundits at the time.

He was with Seattle until 2016, and has been in Oakland, Atlanta and Carolina over the past four seasons.

Irvin was excellent last year with the Panthers, posting a career-high 8.5 sacks in just 13 games. His return to the Seahawks gives them a formidable pass rusher and outside linebacker, and it allows Irvin to reunite with former teammates and coaches – including defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr, who Irvin has a lot of respect for.

“Norton is a guy that I consider not only as my coach but as a father figure,” Irvin continued. “The guy took me to Oakland with him, and also he played a major role in bringing me back to Seattle.”

While Irvin said he had some other options this offseason, he made it clear just how badly he wanted to be back with the Seahawks, a feeling he had long before free agency officially opened in March.

“After the Philly game (Seattle’s Week 12 win over the Eagles) I sent Bobby a text message while they was on the plane, I was like ‘damn I wish I was on that plane with y’all'” Irvin continued. “I just wanted to come back man.”

Irvin is back home now, and he gives this Seattle squad a veteran pass rusher who is familiar with the defense and who can come in and immediately contribute, something they sorely need after a disappointing season getting to the quarterback in 2019.

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Special feature: Greatest heavyweights of the modern era

Boxing Junkie presents in this special feature its list of the 10 greatest heavyweights of the modern era.

The process of selecting the 10 greatest heavyweights of the modern era – post World War II – made one thing clear: There have been many outstanding big men over the past 75 years.

Boxing Junkie was able to whittle the list down to the desired number but it wasn’t easy. The criteria we used wasn’t complicated: Our decisions were based on the accomplishments of the fighters, with some consideration of their impact on the sport.

We decided not to include active fighters such as Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Andy Ruiz Jr. We thought it made sense to let the current crop of heavyweights sort things out before considering them.

Wilder faces Luis Ortiz in a rematch on Saturday. Ruiz does the same with Anthony Joshua on Dec. 7.

So here is our list, with the “next five” listed after No. 10.

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