This fantastic green commemorative WBC Championship belt was awarded to the late Hall of Fame fighter Ken Norton in 1983 at the World Boxing Council's 20th Anniversary Convention held at the United Nations in New York City. Muhammad Ali Joe Frazier Larry Holmes Nino Benvenuti Roberto Duran and other former champions were also honored at the event (many pictured in the photo showing off their belts). Said long-time WBC President Jose Sulaimon about his convention: "Muhammad Ali Joe Frazier Ken Norton and so many others were there. It was to me perhaps the greatest moment in my whole life in boxing. The three greatest living boxers at the time were there. They all received the green belt. They all received a great homage." Presented here is the belt produced for and presented to Ken Norton at that landmark event.

"Whatever you do in life always go the distance." This is one of Nortons most famous quotes. The one-time WBC heavyweight champion compiled a 42-7-1 record during his career including an epic trilogy of fights against Muhammad Ali that all went fittingly the distance. His 1-2 record against Ali could very well have gone 2-1 or 3-0 in his favor. After splitting two victories in 1973 (both split decisions) their last bout in 1976 went to Ali via unanimous decision in what was the most controversial outcome of the three.

On March 31 1973 Norton entered the ring at the San Diego Sports Arena as a 5-1 underdog versus Ali. Norton won a 12-round split decision over Ali to take the NABF heavyweight title. The man they called The Jaw Breaker earned this nickname when he broke Alis jaw in the 11th round. At the time it was only the second career loss for "The Greatest. Less than six months later at The Forum in Los Angeles Ali avenged the Norton loss but only by the thin thread of another split decision. On September 28 1976 at Yankee Stadium Norton would again fight Ali who was now the world heavyweight champion since regaining the title with an 8th-round knockout of George Foreman in 1974. It was a tough bruising battle for Ali. In one of the most disputed fights in history the fight was even on the judges' scorecards going into the final round which Ali won on both the referee's and judges' scorecards to retain the world heavyweight championship.

Ken Norton later became WBC heavyweight champ on March 18 1878 in the most unconventional manner. After defeating Jimmy Young in 1977 the stage was set for a fourth bout with Ali only Alis camp did not want to fight Norton again. Instead Ali fought Leon Spinks and lost. This set up a potential title fight between Spinks and now #1 contender Norton. But Spinks nervous of Norton and his frustrating cross-armed defense style offered Ali a rematch instead. The WBC stepped in and retroactively gave title fight status to Norton's victory over Young one year earlier and ultimately awarded Norton their championship which split the heavyweight belt for the first time since Jimmy Ellis and Joe Frazier were both recognized as champions in the early 1970s. Later in 1978 Norton lost his first title defense bout against Larry Holmes in what is has been ranked the 10th greatest fight ever by IBRO (final round ranked 7th best ever by Ring Magazine). Norton lost his only other title shot in 1981 and retired right after. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989 and was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. His son Ken Norton Jr. was an All-Pro linebacker for the Cowboys and 49ers who won three Super Bowls as a player and would celebrate touchdowns by throwing a boxing punch combination at the goalpost in honor of his father. Ken Norton Sr. passed away in 2013 at the age of 70.

The belt is 45 inches in length with the heavy green leather 3 1/2 inches wide at most points except the very middle where the heavy brass gold-plated medal extends the dimensions to 10 inches. The championship medal is 8 1/2 inches high and 8 inches wide with intricately hand-painted flags of the world encircling the outside border in two rows. "World Champion" and "WBC" are engraved in raised letters above a figural at the center with two globes flanking a boxer with eight more flags as an accent and a jeweled crown at the bottom. Ceramic discs roughly 1 5/8 inches in diameter are on each side of the large medal and connected by gold chain: one pictures Joe Louis and the other Ali with the legends names engraved and World Boxing Council on top of both. The gold-plated buckle is enormous and in the same standout condition as the rest of the belt. On the back of the belt is the signature of Jose Sulaiman who died earlier this year (2014) at age 82. His signature appears in a designated circle at the center of the leather on the back behind the medal; it is surrounded by a number of hand-printed notations mostly of boxing federations and sanctioning bodies - EBU ABU NABF OPBF FESUBOX and FECARBOX - but also included "Great Champion Ken Norton" at the top. About the only wear visible on the belt is seen on the back of the green leather along the edges top and bottom.

Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.