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Ken Norton is Dead @ 70

Ken Norton, who in the course of 12 hard-fought rounds in 1973 was transformed from an unknown heavyweight into one of the most famous boxers in the world by virtue of a victory over Muhammad Ali, died Wednesday in a Las Vegas care facility. He was 70.

Norton was a thickly muscled ex-Marine who had little notoriety when he faced Ali on March 31, 1973, at the San Diego Sports Arena. But Norton broke Ali's jaw in the second round and went on to earn a split-decision victory that would define him as one of his era's greats.

The Seventies were a golden age for heavyweights, with legends such as Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Larry Holmes among many others competing at a high level, and Norton fit right in with that group.

Ali beat him in a hotly contested rematch later in 1973, and after the fight was singing Norton's praises.

"Norton is a better fighter than any other fighter I've fought, except maybe Joe Frazier," Ali said.

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Former boxer Ken Norton is shown at a Muhammad Ali birthday party in 2012.

Gene Kilroy, Ali's former business manager, was a good friend of Norton's and visited him at the Veteran's Administration hospital in Las Vegas two weeks ago. He said Norton was unable to speak, but loved seeing the boxers that Kilroy brought to visit.

"He was a good guy and an outstanding fighter," Kilroy told Yahoo Sports. "I can tell you this: Ali had tremendous respect for him. He had that awkward style, where he'd shoot his jab up from the waist, and it was very unusual. Most guys throw the jab from the shoulder, and that always gave Ali trouble."

Norton was 42-7-1 with 33 knockouts and briefly held the WBC heavyweight title. He was awarded the WBC belt in 1978 when then champion Leon Spinks opted to face Ali in a rematch rather than defend it against Norton.
In his first defense, he lost the title to Larry Holmes in one of the greatest heavyweight title fights in history. The bout was even after 14 rounds and Holmes won a spectacular 15th on two of the three judges' cards to earn a split decision win and claim the belt.

Norton was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, even though he never won a heavyweight title fight. In 1998, Ring Magazine editors tabbed him as the 22nd greatest heavyweight ever. Norton had quality wins over Ali, Jimmy Young and Jerry Quarry, among others.

"He was a truly a nice guy and he was a dedicated, brave, hard-working fighter," said Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promoted several of Norton's fights. "He struggled against guys who could really punch: Foreman, Earnie Shavers, [Gerry] Cooney, even a guy like Duane Bobick. But he was a tough out for anyone and when he was fighting someone who wasn't a massive fighter, he was right in the fight all the time."

Norton was also an actor and starred in the movie, "Mandingo," as well as several television shows. He is the father of former NFL linebacker Ken Norton Jr.

Norton, who built his reputation on his win over Ali, got a rubber match against "The Greatest," at Yankee Stadium in 1976 during a police strike in New York. It was a wild scene, and Ali won another hotly disputed decision to retain the WBA/WBC belts.

The fight with Holmes was his last hurrah. After that, he went 2-2-1 in his final five and retired after being knocked out by Cooney in the first round of a 1981 bout.

The Fast, Fashionable Life of Rihanna

She's a young, provocative chart-topper with the massive fanbase and payout to show for it. Rihanna is known for chronicling her high-speed lifestyle on Instagram (@badgalriri) with little reservation, and the paparazzi shadow her every move and outfit. Take a look at some of the best RiRi snaps here. - Marisa Okano

Patience Jonathan’s Mother Dies In Auto Crash

Nigeria's first lady, Patience Faka Jonathan

By Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt

There was anxiety in Port Harcourt on Monday as news of the death of Mrs. Iwari-Oba, the mother of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience,  spread in the Rivers State capital.

The mother of Mrs. Jonathan was said to have been involved in a ghastly motor accident along Elele Road in Rivers State.

It was gathered that the woman, who is from Okrika Local Government Area, was on her way to Bayelsa State when the accident happened.

Unconfirmed report indicated that her corpse was taken to Kpaiyama Mortuary by a team of policemen and a member representing Ogu Bolo State Constituency, Mr. Evans Bipi, who is a relative to the deceased.

Though, the police and the Federal Road Safety Commission in the state could not confirm the incident, an aide to Bipi said the First Lady’s mother died in a road accident, which occurred at about 4pm.

Bipi’s aide, Mr. Fred Itobo, told The PUNCH that the President’s wife’s mother was involved in the accident while she was on her way to Bayelsa State.

“Yes! She was involved in an accident and she died. Her body has been taken to a mortuary. Bipi was among those who took her body to the mortuary,” Itobo said.

When contacted, the State Director of FRSC, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, declined comment on the matter, saying, “I cannot say anything on this matter now until I get full details.”

Though effort to get reactions from the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, proved futile, she had already told a journalist on the telephone that she had not been briefed on such crash.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Welcome Royal Baby ... It's a Boy!

It's a prince! On Monday, the world welcomed the newest addition to the royal family and thefuture heir to England's throne. Palace officials confirmed the arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge, born at St. Mary's Hospital at 4:24 p.m. BST, and weighing 8 lbs. 6 oz..

"We could not be happier," said Prince William in a statement released by the palace shortly after the birth of his son. He was at his wife's side during her delivery, unlike past royals. Both mother and child are doing fine, the palace confirmed.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," palace officials stated in a press release. The name of the future monarch will be released "in due course." 

The newborn is officially called the Prince of Cambridge. He is the first royal to use that title in 100 years.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news," according to the brief statement emailed to members of the press, many of whom have been camped outside of St. Mary's Hospital for days.

Prince Charles elaborated in a statement released through Clarence House. He said he is "enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time."

"Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild," he added. "It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy."

Even President Barack Obama weighed in on the birth. "Michelle and I are so pleased to congratulate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the joyous occasion of the birth of their first child," he said in a statement released through the White House. "We wish them all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings. The child enters the world at a time of promise and opportunity for our two nations. Given the special relationship between us, the American people are pleased to join with the people of the United Kingdom as they celebrate the birth of the young prince."

The birth marks a new era for not only the first-time parents but also the extended royal family. As third in line to succeed to the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles and his father, Prince William, he's the first baby born under new succession laws.

The modernized bill amends a centuries-old policy, allowing the royal couple's first-born child the right to inherit the throne regardless of gender.

"Historically, this is huge," Victoria Arbiter, CNN's royal expert, told Yahoo! Shine. "In 60 or 70 years, this baby will be a monarch. It's also the first time since Queen Victoria that four generations of monarchs will be alive together."

It's been a long and sometimes rocky journey to the historic due date. Anticipation about the heir to the throne began well before the frenzy over rumored due dates and even before St. James's Palace officially announced the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy in December. From the first day of their marriage over two years ago, Prince William and Kate Middleton have had an audience of clock-watchers.

But they have never let public expectations determine their personal timing. After their 10-year courtship, the couple put off parenthood to enjoy their first year as a married couple. In that time,Middleton flexed her philanthropic muscles and stepped into her late mother-in-law's shoes as an international fashion arbiter. She also weathered a paparazzi scandal, prompting the palace to tighten its reins on the press.

When it came to the big announcement about the couple's first child, there was only so much theroyal family could control. (To quote the duchess herself, "Babies have their own agenda.") Before the official news broke, Middleton suffered acute morning sickness early in her first trimester. During her treatment at a central London hospital, pregnancy rumors reached a boiling point and the palace was forced to confirm what the public had long hoped.

"As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter," read the official statement from St. James's Palace.

The news rippled immediately through the retail industry. Collectibles marking the anticipated firstborn's arrival began rolling out by early 2013, as maternity designers elbowed each other for the chance to dress the mom-to-be. All told, the Centre for Retail Research predicts the royal birth could boost the British economy by nearly $400 million. 

Tragedy overshadowed the worldwide excitement when two Australian radio hosts prankedMiddleton's hospital and the nurse who took the hoax call later committed suicide.

It was a sobering reminder of the impact of royal coverage on human lives. For the future monarch, it's an unfortunate part of the inheritance and of an unfathomable burden of power.

Perhaps no one better understands this than the new dad, Prince William.

"Royal firstborns may get all the glory, but secondborns enjoy more freedom," Diana, Princess of Wales, said after giving birth to her second son, Harry. "My second child will never have quite the same sort of pressure that poor William must face all his life."

That firstborn pressure includes carrying the HRH title and the legacy that goes with it. In the distant future, the newborn is poised to be the supreme governor of the Church of England, head of the U.K. armed forces, and the head of state in 16 countries.

"One day, this baby will be an influence across the globe, a leader, and someone millions of people will look up to," said Arbiter. For now, however, he has two main responsibilities: eating and sleeping, just like any other baby.