46 years ago
Ken Norton vs Larry Holmes
Date: 9th June 1978
Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Title: WBC World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Mills Lane
Tv: ABC Sports
Ken Norton
(
40
-
4
-
0
)
Weight: 220 lbs
Larry Holmes
(
27
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 209 lbs
On June 9, 1978, Ken Norton and Larry Holmes met at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in a contest that would etch itself into heavyweight boxing history. Promoted by Don King Productions and broadcast live on ABC Sports, the fight was contested for the WBC World Heavyweight Title. Norton entered the ring with a professional record of 40 wins and 4 losses, weighing in at 220 pounds, while Holmes, the undefeated challenger at 27-0, tipped the scales at 209 pounds. Mills Lane, known for his no-nonsense officiating style, was the referee in charge.
Ken Norton had been awarded the WBC title outside the ring after Leon Spinks opted for a lucrative rematch with Muhammad Ali rather than fulfilling his obligation to face Norton, the mandatory challenger. This administrative route to the championship meant Norton carried the title without winning it in a title fight—a unique and unenviable position for a heavyweight champion.
The opening rounds showcased Holmes' sharp jab and lateral movement, while Norton, always methodical, looked for opportunities to break through Holmes' defence. Holmes used his superior hand speed to keep Norton at a distance, flicking his jab repeatedly and landing sharp right hands behind it. Norton, however, was unrelenting, pressing forward behind his cross-armed defence and digging hooks into Holmes' body whenever he got close.
By the middle rounds, the momentum shifted back and forth with every passing frame. Holmes' jab remained the dominant weapon in the fight, but Norton's persistence and power shots to the body began to wear on Holmes. Both fighters displayed tremendous resilience, absorbing punishment and firing back with intensity. The physical toll of the bout was etched on their faces—Holmes' eyes began to swell, while Norton showed signs of fatigue from the relentless exchanges.
The championship rounds became an exhausting war of attrition. Despite his visible exhaustion, Holmes continued to rely on his jab to keep Norton at bay. Knowing the fight was hanging in the balance, Norton pressed forward with everything he had left, landing several thunderous shots in the 15th and final rounds. The crowd at Caesars Palace was on its feet as the two heavyweights stood toe-to-toe, refusing to yield an inch.
When the final bell rang, both fighters raised their arms in victory, fully aware of how closely contested the bout had been. The judges' scorecards reflected the razor-thin margins of the fight: Harold Buck scored it 143-142 for Holmes, Joe Swessel scored it 143-142 for Holmes, and Lou Tabat saw it 143-142 for Norton. Larry Holmes was declared the new WBC World Heavyweight Champion with a split-decision victory.
The aftermath was a mix of triumph and heartbreak. Exhausted and emotional, Holmes celebrated his first world title in a career-defining moment. On the other hand, Norton had to face the cruel reality of being the only heavyweight champion in history to never officially win a world title fight in the ring.
This bout remains one of the most gripping and evenly contested heavyweight fights ever recorded. Both men demonstrated extraordinary heart, skill, and determination over 15 gruelling rounds, and while Holmes walked away with the title, Norton's reputation as one of the division's finest warriors was solidified.
Ken Norton vs Larry Holmes on YouTube
