Former heavyweight boxing champ Ken Norton -- who had 3 classic fights with Muhammad Ali -- died today in Las Vegas ...according to his son.
Norton had been in failing health for several years after a series of strokes.
Norton defeated Ali -- breaking his jaw in the process -- during their first non-title fight in 1973. They faced each other in the ring two more times ... with Ali winning both.
Their last battle was the 1976 classic held in Yankee Stadium
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