On 28 September 1976, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton met for the third and final time at Yankee Stadium, New York. The bout, staged before a crowd officially announced as over 30,000, was billed as the climax of a trilogy that had already seen each man claim one victory. Ali entered as the reigning heavyweight champion, defending the WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles for the eighth time since regaining them from George Foreman two years earlier.

Ali, aged 34, was favoured by bookmakers at 8 to 5, yet many doubted whether his speed and stamina would withstand Norton’s awkward style. The fight itself justified those doubts. From the opening rounds, Norton pressed forward with a compact guard, landing stiff jabs and a stream of heavy right hands. Ali, lighter on his feet than in recent outings, countered with flurries and attempted to hold centre ring, but his punches often lacked the authority of his challenger’s.

According to official CompuBox figures, Norton outlanded Ali across the fifteen rounds. The challenger connected with 286 of 635 punches, an impressive 45 per cent accuracy, including 192 power shots. Ali, by contrast, landed 199 of 709, a far lower success rate of 28 per cent. In nearly every measurable category, Norton appeared the more effective fighter.

As the contest wore on, Ali rallied in bursts, most notably in the middle rounds where he produced combinations to sway sections of the crowd. Still, Norton’s consistency—his jab, his body work, and his ability to close the distance—seemed to give him the edge in the eyes of many observers.

When the final bell rang, both men raised their arms, each convinced of victory. The judges, however, saw matters differently. Referee Arthur Mercante scored the bout 8–6 in rounds for Ali, while judges Harold Lederman and Barney Smith each had it 8–7 to the champion. The unanimous decision preserved Ali’s titles, though it immediately drew sharp criticism.

Seventeen of twenty-one sportswriters at ringside scored the fight for Norton, and both the Associated Press and United Press International produced unofficial cards suggesting the challenger had done enough. Ali himself later admitted Norton’s style posed problems he could not solve, while Norton declared he had been unfairly denied.

The live gate generated $3.5 million, though promoter Bob Arum lamented reduced attendance due to a police strike and chaotic scenes outside the venue. Despite the controversy, Ali moved on with his belts intact, but the bout entered history as one of boxing’s most disputed decisions.