This Day in American History: September 10th - Ali Beats Norton in Their Rematch (1973)
On September 10, 1973, Muhammad Ali stepped into the ring at the Forum in Inglewood, California, for a rematch against Ken Norton — the same opponent who had broken Ali's jaw and handed him a stunning upset just six months earlier.
The rematch was every bit as grueling as the first fight. Norton pushed Ali through twelve close rounds, and the outcome came down to the judges' scorecards. Ali won by split decision, avenging his earlier loss and reasserting himself as one of the top heavyweights in the world at a time when his career had already survived a three-year exile for refusing induction into the military.
The Ali-Norton series would go to a third and final fight two years later, which Ali also won, cementing one of boxing's most competitive rivalries. Norton, for his part, earned lasting respect for pushing Ali to the limit not once but three times.
It's a fight that's easy to forget sits between Ali's most famous bouts — but it says plenty about the discipline it takes to come back from a genuine setback.
Also on This Day in History
1813 — Victory on Lake Erie
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet defeats the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, famously reporting, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
1608 — John Smith Leads Jamestown
John Smith is elected president of the governing council of the Jamestown colony in Virginia.
1963 — Alabama Schools Desegregate
Black students enter public schools in Birmingham, Tuskegee, and Mobile after President Kennedy federalizes the Alabama National Guard.
1937 — The Rams Play Their First NFL Game
The Cleveland Rams — now the Los Angeles Rams — play their first-ever NFL game.
1955 — "Gunsmoke" Premieres
The Western series "Gunsmoke," starring James Arness, debuts on CBS and goes on to become one of television's longest-running shows.
Ali needed a rematch to prove himself. Who's your pick for the greatest comeback in sports history? Let us know.
Source: history.com/this-day-in-history/september-10
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