Yea while that was admirable the long term effects were
Norton did a whole lot more damage to Ali than Foreman ever did. Norton and Ali had 3 brutal fights. Ali won 2-1, but almost everyone, including Ali, agreed that Norton had actually won 2 and Ali had only won one.
This is what Ali said about Norton after the 3rd fight:
"Kenny’s style is too difficult for me. I can’t beat him, and I sure don’t want to fight him again. I honestly thought he beat me in Yankee Stadium, but the judges gave it to me, and I’m grateful to them."
This is what Norton said after the third fight: "I won at least nine or ten rounds. I was robbed."