[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation)

* The Main Event

San Diego's Ken Norton had found little to trouble him during the first four series of World Championship tournament bouts. He accumulated a 4-0(2) record, with both of those stoppages coming in the 2nd round. His efforts established him as one of the early favourites for success in the tournament and, along with his chiseled physique, led to him signing a promotional contract with the fitness company Trimline. But his progress hit a snag back in June when he was held to a draw by Buster Mathis and the situation worsened when Donovan Ruddock defeated him by unanimous decision last month. Norton had gone from being the class of the group to facing a must-win clash against the tenacious Sioux City native Gerald Griffith just to stay in the tournament. He had celebrated his 25th birthday last week and the Californian was looking to give himself a belated gift tonight.

Accompanied to the ring by fellow USC members James Toney and Sam McVey, Norton looked deadly serious. His countenance was ablaze with intensity, a thin layer of sweat shining on his forehead. McVey had been in Los Angeles back on Tuesday night, partying at a popular nightclub with his girlfriend Claudette James and fellow HBF competitor Jack Johnson. Apparently he hadn't been able to fly out to Australia with Norton because of pre-arranged media commitments but had made the flight on Wednesday, Miss James at his side. They had been unable to spend a lot of time together in recent weeks and according to McVey will be holidaying in Australia for the next month.

Norton's opponent Gerald Griffith (3-1-2(1)) had already proven himself to be a dangerous opponent, going undefeated through his first four fights before losing a narrow split decision to Ruddock in June and then holding Mathis to a draw last month. He felt confident that he could ruin Norton's tournament and extend his own stay in it into the second stage...

Round One

The 13th-seeded Californian has the better of what is a pretty uneventful opening round, Griffith doing little of note until the later stages when he finds the target with a couple of hard shots during a spirited exchange. Norton displays a willingness to work behind the jab, catching Griffith with several of them.

Round Two

Griffith comes well and truly out of his shell in round two, showing the skill and aggression that has gotten him to the verge of the tournament's second stage. Within the opening minute he lands a smashing left hook, a flush right hand and another clubbing left, bringing a look of consternation to Norton's face. Griffith continues to press as the round goes on, doubling up on the hook midway through before Norton redeems himself somewhat in the final minute. Even so, Griffith comprehensively outworks him and returns to his corner to appreciative applause, pumping himself up with a chest thump.

Round Three

Much of the reason behind Norton's loss to Ruddock had been his lack of aggression, or, to put it more accurately, Ruddock's superior aggression. His cornerman rammed the point home during the intermission that he was not to allow that to happen again and the San Diego native came out and dominated Griffith in round three. Starting with some effective jabbing, Norton stepped up the pace as the round passed its midpoint, catching Griffith with a succession of power shots before consolidating on that impressive work with some slick boxing as the round ended.

Punch totals after round three:

Norton 57/102 (55.9%)
Griffith 57/198 (28.8%)

Round Four

Norton's wearing a killer gaze as he leaves his stool for the fourth and during the next three minutes he proceeds to dismantle Griffith, cutting him to pieces with an awe-inspiring assault. His attack brings the best out of the Iowa native, though, and Griffith is able to land some smashing counter-punches. It's during the last forty seconds where Norton does his greatest damage, pounding Griffith to the head and body. When the round is over the two have combined to land a total of 81 punches (Norton 50, Griffith 31) and the crowd are on their feet in a deafening ovation.

Round Five

His determination at unbeatable heights, Norton unleashes hell once again. But this time Griffith is unable to respond, his resistance spent as Norton lands pile-driving lefts and rights at will. He cuts Griffith under the left eye and it's a mystery as to how the tough 52nd seed is still on his feet.

Round Six

Griffith is done but Norton doesn't let up, ending what is no doubt the three best consecutive rounds of his career to date with another superb showing. Norton is on a mission, a mission to send out a message to the rest of the competiton. He's showing the type of hunger, aggression and power that will serve him well during the tournament's second stage. The fight ends with the two men locked in a clinch, Griffith's face a cut and swollen mess.

Punch totals after round six:

Norton 195/291 (67.0%)
Griffith 110/370 (29.7%)

***

Soon after it's confirmed that Norton has joined Ruddock in stage two, the judges awarding him a 59-55, 59-56, 59-55 unanimous decision victory. His brilliance from rounds three through six have led to him sweeping all three judge's cards in those rounds. The San Diego slugger is still on some kind of high ten minutes after the verdict, as if his body has not settled down from the lengths he pushed it to.

"I have to give Gerald a whole lotta credit," Norton said. "The guy is one tough bastard and I'm sure he'll give whoever he goes up against in the American tournament a helluva tough time. I'd like to wish him all the best. I'm pretty relieved that I got through this one 'cause he was bringin' some heavy punches in that second round. My trainer gave it to me after that and I just told myself that these next fifteen minutes are your life. I just stepped out in those last four rounds like my life depended on it and I'm pretty shocked by what I achieved, to be honest."

Norton wore a surprised expression when told that after landing 57 punches in the first three rounds, he'd connected with a total of 138 in the last three.

"Had no idea it was that big a difference," Norton said, shaking his head. "Just goes to show what a man can do when he digs deep, I guess."

Sam McVey was there in the ring, congratulating his good friend.

"I'm so happy that he's qualified," he said, smiling. "Would o' been nice if Ken had gotten 1st place but it's worked out nice, 'cause we ain't in the same group in stage two. Means we ain't gonna have to fight each other 'til the semis."

Norton laughed at this last comment, shaking McVey's hand. The entourage left the ring in a jovial mood, Norton acknowledging the audience's applause.

After all these months of competition, it's the top two seeds who have qualified from Group Thirteen, though not in the manner most would have expected:

1. 2(20) DONOVAN RUDDOCK (CANADA), 5-0-2(1)
2. 1(13) KEN NORTON (USA), 5-1-1(2)

3. 3(36) BUSTER MATHIS (USA), 3-1-3
4. 4(52) GERALD GRIFFITH (USA), 3-2-2(1)

(Still to come: The Melbourne Undercard)