[kenyan_cheena]

The San Diego
Union-Tribune

SUNDAY 16 APRIL 2006

NORTON RETAINS WBC TITLE
IN LAS VEGAS

Story by Geoff Klein

San Diego's Ken Norton reaffirmed his status as the best heavyweight in world boxing with a 2nd round knockout of Oakland's Marcelo Franks in Las Vegas last night. The WBC Champion retained his title for the third time since claiming it from the now-retired Texan Donnie Bates in November '04, his record improving to 28-2-1(22). Franks had been on a six-fight winning streak coming into the evening but never got settled before Norton tagged him with a textbook right hand late in round two. Franks wobbled and stumbled before collapsing to the canvas and being counted out at the 2:49 mark. His record is now 26-3(20). Sections of the crowd at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino booed the abrupt ending to the contest, having hoped to see what has been a rarity lately: a competitive heavyweight title fight.

Despite their disappointment it was quite clear that Norton had hurt Franks and the 27 year-old was on his back for some time after the knockout, ringside doctors examining him to make sure he had not suffered an injury. As expected Norton was asked the question that fight fans are so eager to get an answer to, that being his plans in regards to the International Boxing League. Two of the division's four recognised champions have signed with the new organisation since the beginning of the month, WBO titlist Terone Haynes inking a contract on the 1st and Russia's giant WBA king Sergey Anyukov agreeing to terms with them this past Wednesday. Norton was evasive on the matter, prefering to celebrate his victory with his fellow southern California pugilists Solly Smith, James Toney and Sam McVey.

There's no doubt that with Haynes and Anyukov already signed by the IBL Norton's involvement in the league's world championship tournament would make it even more of an event. But he has not commented publicly on his feelings towards the IBL, even though his good friend Toney signed a contract with them almost four weeks ago. It could be that Norton is happy with the status quo of being the biggest fish in the alphabet organisation pond. With two of the "big four" titles now vacant he could very well be positioning himself to make a bid to become the division's first undisputed champion since Laurence Mays in 1997. It will certainly be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in the weeks and months to come.