Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton honored with statue in his Illinois hometown
By APWednesday, July 15, 2009
Boxer Ken Norton honored with statue
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Former heavyweight boxing champion Ken Norton has been honored in his Illinois hometown with a statue in the offices of an organization that provides services to the developmentally disabled.
Norton, who lives in California, leaned on a walker as the 42-inch, nearly 300-pound statue was unveiled Tuesday. Dozens of people, including three of his sons, were in attendance.
Norton, who was in a serious car accident in 1986, compiled a 42-7-1 boxing record from 1967-81. He was a multi-sport standout at Jacksonville High School.
Stephanie Baptist of Pathway Services Unlimited Inc. says the man who defeated Muhammad Ali in 1973 has been active in helping the organization meet its mission.
“For a small boy of color to come back to a statue and be thought of enough to have a statue of me is unheard of,” Norton said after the ceremony.
