I’m sorry to admit that when I heard of the death of Ken Norton, the first thing I thought was “whoa, the Sammmy-stud Mandingo guy who did the deed with Susan George is gone.” I’m sorry for thinking a cheesy Quentin Tarantino thought. On top of which Norton’s character in that detestable 1975 Richard Fleischer film wasn’t called Mandingo — it was “Mede” or “Gannymede.” I should have said to myself that the honorable boxer who broke Muhammud Ali‘s jaw has died. Norton’s last big fight was against Larry Holmes in ’78. He was only 70 years old. The poor guy hasn’t been in the best of shape due to a series of strokes. He was also hurt pretty badly from a car crash in the mid ’80s. Condolences to family, friends and fans.
