On this, Super Bowl Sunday, we offer the following athletes with ties to both boxing and football:
Ken Norton Jr. – son of the former heavyweight champion – was a linebacker who won three consecutive Super Bowls playing for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He played in the Pro Bowl in 1993, 1995 and 1997.
Ed “Too Tall” Jones was a defensive end for the Cowboys when they won Super Bowl XII. He played on the Pro Bowl in 1981, 1982 and 1983. As a heavyweight, he fought six times from 1979 to 1980. He won all six bouts, including five by knockout. But he hardly appeared to be a threat to boxing’s elite.
Alonzo Highsmith, the former running back from University of Miami and Houston Oilers, boxed professionally from 1995 to 1998 and had a 27-1-2 record. In an all-football matchup, he knocked out Mark Gastineau in 1996. He won a National Title with the Hurricanes in 1983.
Mark Gastineau was a defensive end for the New Jets and was selected to five Pro Browls. He retired from the NFL to pursue a boxing career, but was considered a flop as a fighter, with several of his contests suspected as fixed fights. His record was 15-2-1.
Charley Powell was the most accomplished athlete when you combine his achievements in both sports. As a heavyweight he fought from 1953 to 1965 and had a 25-11 record. He lost to Hall-of-Famers Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson. He beat contenders Nino Valdes and Charley Norkus. He also beat Keen Simmons, who fought Rocky Marciano. He was a defensive end and linebacker who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1952 to 1957 and appeared in the 1957 NFL playoffs. He also played for the Oakland Raiders in the AFL from 1960-61.
Powell joined the 49ers as a nineteen-year-old free agent from San Diego High School and was awarded the game ball in the first NFL game he played. Powell also played professional baseball with the Stockton Ports of the California League.
George Trafton fought as a heavyweight in the 1930s and in his most notable fight he was knocked out in the first round by future heavyweight champ Primo Carnera. On the gridiron he was an offensive lineman for Notre Dame, under coach Knute Rockne, and turned pro after just one season with the Fighting Irish. He also played for the Chicago Bears, winning two NFL titles as a member of the Bears. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. -- CASSIDY