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, wh
