Former world heavyweight champion Ken Norton once revealed the greatest fighter he faced during his storied professional career.

Norton made his debut way back in 1967 and would go on to fight on 50 occasions prior to his retirement from the sport 1981, shortly after he was beaten by Gerry Cooney.

‘The Jawbreaker’ shared the ring with a number of legendary heavyweights along the way, including the likes of Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, who he defeated back in March of 1973.

Norton was awarded the WBC heavyweight title in 1978 although he fell short in the first defence of his crown, a split decision defeat to countryman Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

In an interview on ESPN Radio, Norton reflected on his professional career before naming none other than Ali as the best fighter he ever crossed paths with.

“A lot of it was the mental part of it. Ali defeated everyone mentally first. With Frazier, Ali had him so mad Joe was trying to kill him with every shot. With Foreman, he tried to kill him with every shot. Mentally, Ali could not defeat me and physically I felt I was as much a physical power as Ali was.”

“He couldn’t upset me in any way and plus, I had Eddie Futch. Eddie knew how to fight Ali. You can’t go to the head with him. You have to go to the body first and then eventually he will bring his hands down and lower his head.”

Norton handed Ali the second defeat of his career when they locked horns in March 1973, defeating his rival by split decision after a bruising 12-rounds.

‘The Greatest’ got his revenge over Norton in their rematch before beating him once again in their third and final encounter, a unanimous decision win at the Yankee Stadium in New York.