Whatever you do in your life, always go the distance.

The win over the title contending Cobb gave Norton another shot at a potential title fight and on May 11 1981. Ali's famous clinching and holding or launching sharp shots from a distance were all for various reasons not as effective as when Ali fought Frazier the only other man he fought three times. Plans however changed on February 15 1978.

Norton was awarded the WBC title (by virtue of his win over Jimmy Young in a 1977 title elimination bout) when Leon Spinks declined a mandated title defense against Norton the number one contender. Cox a member of the International Boxing Research Organization).