Boxing great Ken Norton (42-7-1, 33 KOs) died Wednesday at age 70.

Three of Ken's greatest fights were against Muhammad Ali.

They first fought in March 1973. Norton won via a split decision, breaking Ali's jaw in the process. They fought six months later in September 1973. Ali won in a disputed split decision. They fought a final time in September 1976 at Yankee Stadium. Ali won again in another hotly contested split decision.

I was lucky enough to meet Ken in June 2011 at the Boxing Hall Of Fame.

He signed a card for me....

...and then kidded me about asking him to sign something as small as a casino chip.

Rest in peace.