Norton’s fight with Chuck Wepner in New Jersey was Sylvester Stallone’s inspiration to create the movie Rocky Wepner as the brawler representing Rocky and Norton representing Apollo. Very few know that Kenny Norton inspired the movie Rocky. Everyone should see the 1970 Norton-Wepner exhibition fight to catch why Sly loved the style of Kenny Norton.
Chuck Wepner, “the Bayonne Bleeder” made it to the 15th round with Cassius Clay but not to the end of the 15th. Norton was usually soft spoken so it would seem that Clay would have been more like Apollo.
Norton said after a lousy decision went against him in his 3rd fight with Clay, “I didn’t have a 38 so they gave it to him”.