Bobick to fight Norton

Press, 21 December 1976, Page 26

Bobick to fight Norton

‘ NZPA New York Duane Bobick will fight I’Ken Norton instead of Mu;!hammad Ali in Madison 1 Square Garden some time be- ' tween February 15 and March ! 2, the Associated Press re- : ported. This means that All’s re- ! tirement is still in effect, al- ’ though he had signed a con- .; tract to fight Bobick. Officials from the Garden 1 announced the arrangements : at a news conference with Bobick and Norton. i In a telephone link from ; Louisville, Ali confirmed he : had finished fighting and ■lsaid: "One hundred million dollars can't get me back inli to the ring. i| “I’m through with boxing jjnow,” said Ab from his home I (town, where he is filming his Hlifc story. “I've done everything I can. I’m just too great I to hang around and end up lon my back.” ; Ali said he had not form-: (illy notified the World Box-! ling Association and World! (Boxing Council of his retire-: I ment. ! The Norton-Bobick fight is! (scheduled for 12 rounds.' (However, the management of! thffi two fighters reportedly!

cl could seek New York State t (Athletic Commission sanction to make the fight a title Jbout. In that caS£, it would Jbe over 15 rounds. j Ali was reported in Nairobi (yesterday to be planning a ■ goodwill visit to Kenya next Jyear — but local sports offiJcials are worried about the (expense involved. ■ Mr Marsden Madoka, chair- }: man of the Amateur Boxing .■Association of Kenya, said Jhe had received a cable from jAli’s representative. Mr Herj bert Muller, saying the cham- , pion would like to make “a j goodwill visit to your area” and asking for “a reasonable fee.” Mr Isaac Lugonzo, chair- >: man of the Kenya National >! Sports Council, said he personally supported the antici- . Dated tour of “the greatest J heavy-weight boxer we’ve ( |k wn,” but added: “I would (have been most grateful if .ihe had relieved us of the fin- . lancial burden he wants us to I (shoulder. •I “The man is wealthy (enough to come here without ; asking for any money ... to (help promote the sport in ’ which he has excelled," he Isaid.