Former American world heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who beat legend Muhammad Ali in 1973, has reportedly died of heart failure at the age of 70.
According to The Guardian, although Norton broke Ali's jaw in their first fight, he subsequently lost the following two bouts between him and Ali.
The report further said that Norton, who fought a record 42-7-1 and 33 knockouts during his career, claimed the WBC world heavyweight title in 1978 when former American boxer Leon Spinks chose not to fight with him.
The report mentioned that Norton became an actor after his retirement and was scheduled to play the role of Apollo Creed in the Sylvester Stallone-starrer Rocky, although he pulled out following which the role was played by US football player-turned actor Carl Weathers.
Norton's son, Ken Jr, became an NFL star playing for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, the report added.
