Terry Norris (boxer)

Last updated
Terry Norris
Born
Terry Norris

(1967-06-17) June 17, 1967 (age 57)
Lubbock, Texas, USA
Nationality American
Other namesTerrible
Statistics
Weight(s) light-middleweight
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm) [1]
Reach68 in (173 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights56
Wins47
Wins by KO31
Losses9

Terry Wayne Norris (born June 17, 1967) is an American former boxer, prizefighter and a three time world champion in the light-middleweight (super-welterweight) division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.

Contents

Early years and amateur career

A star baseball player during his high school years, Norris bypassed a career on the diamond for one in the ring, claiming an amateur record of 291–4, winning 4 Texas State Golden Gloves titles. Displaying a stunning combination of hand and foot speed as well as the ability to throw dizzying combos, Norris' athletic ability was an uncanny attribute in the ring.

Professional boxing career

Norris turned professional in August 1986. He outpointed future middleweight title holder Quincy Taylor in August 1988. Norris beat future super-middleweight champion Steve Little to win the vacant NABF light-middleweight title in December 1988, and defended it against former IBF title holder Buster Drayton. Norris also picked up two losses; a unanimous decision to Derrick Kelley, and a disqualification loss to Joe Walker in the first round after Norris hit Walker when Walker was down.

In July 1989 at Atlantic City Convention Center, New Jersey, Norris challenged Julian Jackson for the WBA light-middleweight title. Norris won the first round with his speed and movement, but a big right cross from the champion knocked Norris down in round two. Norris made it to his feet before the count but was deemed unfit to continue by referee Joe Cortez.

First championship reign

After winning three comeback fights, including a victory over former welterweight champion Jorge Vaca, Norris traveled to Tampa, Florida, in March 1990 to challenge John Mugabi for the WBC light-middleweight title. Norris wasted no time in stopping the champion, flooring him twice in the first round - the second time for the full count - and thus starting what would be the first of three reigns as champion.

After defending his belt against Rene Jacquot, Norris faced the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard in Madison Square Garden in February 1991. Norris scored two knockdowns and easily beat the faded Sugar Ray via a 12-round unanimous verdict. His next defense, a June victory over another former undisputed welterweight champion - Donald Curry - further cemented Norris' place in the history of the 154-lb division as Norris wore down his foe and knocked him out in the eighth.

Other prominent foes in that first reign included the tough future middleweight titlist Jorge Castro, and two reigning welterweight champions; WBA title-holder Meldrick Taylor, and IBF title-holder Maurice Blocker.

Losing and regaining titles

In a shocking upset in December, 1993, Simon Brown, former WBC and IBF welterweight titlist, knocked out Norris in four rounds to win the title and halt Norris' defense streak at ten. Ring magazine named this fight as their "Upset of the Year" for 1993. In their rematch, Norris then regained the title by unanimous decision over Brown in May 1994.

His second reign proved short when he lost the title by disqualification to Luis Santana in November, 1994. The decision to disqualify Norris was controversial. Norris hit Santana in the back of the head and Santana went down, claiming he was unable to continue. Some at ringside, however, felt that Santana refused to get up in order to gain the disqualification win. Because of the controversial nature of the match, a rematch was ordered. Norris also lost the April, 1995, rematch by disqualification, this time for hitting Santana after the bell had sounded to end the round. Norris was given yet another shot at regaining the title, and in their third fight in August of that year, Norris knocked out Santana in two rounds.

Unification

In December 1995 Norris won a unanimous decision over San Diego rival Paul Vaden to add Vaden's IBF title to his WBC title, plus the vacant Lineal championship. [2] Norris made defenses against former IBF champion Vincent Pettway, Nick Rupa, and Alex Rios, before being stripped of the IBF title in 1997.

Keith Mullings ended Norris's championship career by way of ninth-round stoppage in December 1997, which also ended plans for superfights with WBC welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya and with IBF Welterweight champion Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico.

Post-championship career

Norris fought twice more after losing his title. Dana Rosenblatt defeated him by unanimous decision in a middleweight bout and then WBA junior middleweight champion Laurent Boudouani ended his boxing career with a ninth-round knockout.

Norris was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.

Norris suffers from pugilistic dementia and Parkinson's disease caused by his boxing career [ citation needed ]. This affects his speech and coordination.

Professional boxing record

56 fights47 wins9 losses
By knockout314
By decision165
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
56Loss47–9 Laurent Boudouani TKO9 (12), 2:59Nov 30, 1998 Palais des Sports, Paris, FranceFor WBA light middleweight title
55Loss47–8 Dana Rosenblatt UD12Sep 25, 1998 Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, US
54Loss47–7 Keith Mullings TKO9 (12), 0:51 Dec 6, 1997 Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USLost WBC light middleweight title
53Win47–6Andres Arellano SandovalKO2 (10), 2:27Sep 10, 1997 The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
52Win46–6Joaquin VelasquezKO2 (10), 0:45Aug 8, 1997 Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, US
51Win45–6Nick RupaTKO10 (12), 2:38Jan 11, 1997 Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
50Win44–6Alex RiosTKO5 (12), 2:08 Sep 7, 1996 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
49Win43–6 Vincent Pettway TKO8 (12), 2:41Feb 24, 1996 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
48Win42–6Jorge Luis VadoTKO2 (12), 0:42Jan 27, 1996 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
47Win41–6 Paul Vaden UD12 Dec 16, 1995 Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USRetained WBC light middleweight title;
Won IBF light middleweight title
46Win40–6David GonzalezTKO9 (12), 2:59Sep 16, 1995The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
45Win39–6 Luis Santana TKO2 (12), 2:09 Aug 19, 1995 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWon WBC light middleweight title
44Loss38–6 Luis Santana DQ3 (12), 3:00 Apr 8, 1995 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USFor WBC light middleweight title;
Norris DQ'd for hitting Santana after the bell
43Loss38–5 Luis Santana DQ5 (12), 2:02Nov 12, 1994 Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, MexicoLost WBC light middleweight title;
Norris DQ'd for downing Santana with a blow to the back of the head
42Win38–4 Simon Brown UD12 May 7, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWon WBC light middleweight title
41Win37–4Armando CampasKO4 (10), 2:19Mar 18, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
40Loss36–4 Simon Brown KO4 (12), 1:06Dec 18, 1993 Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, MexicoLost WBC light middleweight title
39Win36–3 Joe Gatti TKO1 (12), 1:28Sep 10, 1993 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
38Win35–3 Troy Waters RTD3 (12)Jun 19, 1993 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
37Win34–3 Maurice Blocker TKO2 (12), 0:49 Feb 20, 1993 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC light middleweight title
36Win33–3Pat LawlorRTD3 (10), 3:00Dec 13, 1992The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
35Win32–3 Meldrick Taylor TKO4 (12), 2:55May 9, 1992 The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
34Win31–3 Carl Daniels TKO9 (12), 2:37Feb 22, 1992San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
33Win30–3 Jorge Fernando Castro UD12Dec 13, 1991 Palais omnisports, Bercy, Paris, FranceRetained WBC light middleweight title
32Win29–3Brett LallyTKO1 (12), 2:40Aug 17, 1991San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
31Win28–3 Donald Curry KO8 (12), 2:54Jun 1, 1991 Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
30Win27–3 Sugar Ray Leonard UD12 Feb 9, 1991 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
29Win26–3 Rene Jacquot UD12Jul 13, 1990 Patinoire d'Annecy, Annecy, Upper Savoy, FranceRetained WBC light middleweight title
28Win25–3 John Mugabi KO1 (12), 2:47Mar 31, 1990 Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, USWon WBC light middleweight title
27Win24–3Tony MontgomeryUD12Nov 21, 1989 Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, US
26Win23–3 Jorge Vaca SD10Oct 9, 1989Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
25Win22–3Nathan DryerTKO4 (10)Sep 21, 1989El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US
24Loss21–3 Julian Jackson TKO2 (12), 1:33Jul 30, 1989 Atlantic City Convention Center, New Jersey, USFor WBA light middleweight title
23Win21–2Ralph WardUD10Mar 23, 1989 The Showboat, New Jersey, US
22Win20–2 Buster Drayton UD12Mar 28, 1989 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained NABF light middleweight title
21Win19–2 Steve Little TKO6 (12), 1:06Dec 9, 1988Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWon vacant NABF light middleweight title
20Win18–2Gilbert BaptistUD10Oct 18, 1988El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US
19Win17–2 Quincy Taylor UD10Aug 12, 1988Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
18Win16–2Clayton HiresKO2 (10)Mar 28, 1988Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
17Win15–2Richard AguirreTKO3 (10)Feb 3, 1988Riverside, California, US
16Win14–2Roman NunezKO1 (10)Jan 21, 1988San Diego, California, US
15Loss13–2Joe WalkerDQ1 (6)Nov 25, 1987Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
14Win13–1Edward NeblettTKO6 (8), 2:10Sep 4, 1987 Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
13Loss12–1Derrick KellyUD10Aug 13, 1987Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
12Win12–0Nathan DryerTKO3 (8), 1:33May 27, 1987 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
11Win11–0Sergio Nieto RayosTKO1 (6), 0:40Apr 3, 1987 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
10Win10–0Mauro VeronicaKO2 (6), 2:36Mar 26, 1987 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
9Win9–0Tino LeonKO1 (4), 2:45Mar 16, 1987Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
8Win8–0Dick GreenKO1 (6), 0:53Feb 26, 1987 El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US
7Win7–0Gilbert BaptistUD4Mar 5, 1987 Raincross Square, Riverside, California, US
6Win6–0Lang McGowanPTS4Dec 3, 1986Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
5Win5–0Carlos GutierrezUD6Nov 21, 1986Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California, US
4Win4–0Daryl ColquittKO4 (4)Oct 7, 1986 Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California, US
3Win3–0George MurphyPTS4Sep 25, 1986Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
2Win2–0Carlos GutierrezUD4Aug 13, 1986 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
1Win1–0Jose Luis CordovaKO1 (?)Aug 2, 1986 San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, US

Additional information

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References

  1. 1 2 HBO Sports tale of the tape prior to the Keith Mullings fight.
  2. "Terry Norris - Lineal Junior Middleweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  3. A Champion Who's Fighting Obscurity - New York Times
  4. BDPboxing Archived 2008-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Lupe Aquino
NABF light middleweight champion
December 9, 1988 – March 31, 1990
Vacant
Title next held by
Brett Lally
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC light middleweight champion
March 31, 1990 – December 18, 1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Simon Brown
WBC light middleweight champion
May 7, 1994 – November 12, 1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBC light middleweight champion
August 19, 1995 – December 6, 1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by IBF light middleweight champion
December 16, 1995 – March 19, 1997
Stripped
Succeeded by
Awards
Previous:
Buster Douglas
KO10 Mike Tyson
KO Magazine Upset of the Year
W12 Sugar Ray Leonard

1991
Next:
Azumah Nelson
KO8 Jeff Fenech