Norton started boxing when he was in the Marine Corps of the United States from 1963-1967, compiling a 24-2 record en route to three All-Marine Heavyweight titles [3]. Following the national finals of the AAU in 1967, he turned professional.

After suffering his first defeat of boxing from Jose Luis Garcia in 1970, Norton had the motivation book Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, where he says in his autobiography, Going the Distance, changed his life. After reading what he has done a struggle fourteen wins, including a shocking victory over Muhammad Ali in 1973 to win the NABF Heavyweight Crown.over winning Muhammad Ali in 1973, to win the NABF Heavyweight Kroon.