Terry Norris

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

Background

A star baseball player during his high school years, Norris bypassed a career on the diamond for one in the ring, amassing a stellar 291-4 amateur record and 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.

In December 1995 Norris won a unanimous decision over hated San Diego rival Paul Vaden to add Vaden's IBF title to his WBC title, plus the vacant Lineal championship. 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 a superfight with IBF welterweight champion Felix Trinidad.

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.

Professional boxing record

47 Wins (31 KOs), 9 Losses (4 KOs)
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	47-9	Laurent Boudouani	TKO	9 (12), ?	30/11/1998	Palais des Sports, Paris, France	For WBA light-middleweight title.
Loss	47-8	Dana Rosenblatt	UD	12	25/09/1998	Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Loss	47-7	Keith Mullings	TKO	9 (12), 0:51	06/12/1997	Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Lost Lineal/WBC light-middleweight titles.
Win	47-6	Andres Arellano Sandoval	KO	2 (10), 2:27	10/09/1997	The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	46-6	Joaquin Velasquez	KO	2 (10), 0:45	08/08/1997	Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri
Win	45-6	Nick Rupa	TKO	10 (12), ?	11/01/1997	Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee	Retained Lineal/WBC/IBF light-middleweight titles.
Win	44-6	Alex Rios	TKO	5 (12), 2:08	07/09/1996	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained Lineal/WBC/IBF light-middleweight titles.
Win	43-6	Vincent Pettway	TKO	8 (12), 2:41	24/02/1996	Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia	Retained Lineal/WBC/IBF light-middleweight titles.
Win	42-6	Jorge Luis Vado	TKO	2 (12), 0:42	27/01/1996	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona	Retained Lineal/WBC/IBF light-middleweight titles.
Win	41-6	Paul Vaden	UD	12	16/12/1995	Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Retained WBC, and won IBF & vacant Lineal light-middleweight titles.
Win	40-6	David Gonzalez	TKO	9 (12), 2:59	16/09/1995	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	39-6	Luis Santana	TKO	2 (12), 2:09	19/08/1995	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won WBC light-middleweight title.
Loss	38-6	Luis Santana	DQ	3 (12), -	08/04/1995	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	For WBC light-middleweight title.
Loss	38-5	Luis Santana	DQ	5 (12), -	12/11/1994	Plaza Mexico, Mexico City	Lost WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	38-4	Simon Brown	UD	12	07/05/1994	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	37-4	Armando Campas	KO	4 (10), 2:19	18/03/1994	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss	36-4	Simon Brown	KO	4 (12), 1:06	18/12/1993	Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Puebla	Lost WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	36-3	Joe Gatti	TKO	1 (12), 1:28	10/09/1993	Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	35-3	Troy Waters	RTD	3 (12), -	19/06/1993	San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	34-3	Maurice Blocker	TKO	2 (12), 0:49	20/02/1993	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	33-3	Pat Lawlor	RTD	3 (10), 3:00	13/12/1992	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	32-3	Meldrick Taylor	TKO	4 (12), 2:55	09/05/1992	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	31-3	Carl Daniels	TKO	9	22/02/1992	San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	30-3	Jorge Fernando Castro	UD	12	13/12/1991	Palais omnisports, Bercy, Paris	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	29-3	Brett Lally	TKO	1 (12), 2:40	17/08/1991	San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	28-3	Donald Curry	KO	8 (12), 2:54	01/06/1992	Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	27-3	Sugar Ray Leonard	UD	12	09/02/1991	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	26-3	Rene Jacquot	UD	12	13/07/1990	Patinoire d'Annecy, Annecy, Upper Savoy	Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	25-3	John Mugabi	KO	1 (12), 2:47	31/03/1990	Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida	Won WBC light-middleweight title.
Win	24-3	Tony Montgomery	UD	12	21/11/1989	Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California	Retained NABF light-middleweight title.
Win	23-3	Jorge Vaca	SD	10	09/10/1989	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win	22-3	Nathan Dryer	KO	4 (?), ?	21/09/1989	El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California
Loss	21-3	Julian Jackson	TKO	2 (12), 1:33	30/07/1989	Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey	For WBA light-middleweight title.
Win	21-2	Ralph Ward	UD	10	23/05/1989	The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	20-2	Buster Drayton	UD	12	28/03/1989	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained NABF light-middleweight title.
Win	19-2	Steve Little	TKO	6 (12), 1:06	09/12/1988	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won vacant NABF light-middleweight title.
Win	18-2	Gilbert Baptist	UD	10	18/10/1988	El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California
Win	17-2	Quincy Taylor	UD	10	12/08/1988	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	16-2	Clayton Hires	KO	2 (10), 1:14	28/03/1988	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	15-2	Richard Aguirre	TKO	3 (10), ?	03/02/1988	Riverside, California
Win	14-2	Roman Nunez	KO	1 (10), 2:58	21/01/1988	San Diego, California
Loss	13-2	Joe Walker	DQ	1 (6), ?	25/11/1987	Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	13-1	Edward Neblett	TKO	6 (?), 2:10	04/09/1987	Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss	12-1	Derrick Kelly	UD	10	13/08/1987	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	12-0	Nathan Dryer	TKO	3 (8), 1:33	27/05/1987	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	11-0	Sergio Nieto Rayos	TKO	1 (6), 0:40	03/04/1987	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	10-0	Mauro Veronica	KO	2 (6), 2:36	26/03/1987	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win	9-0	Tino Leon	KO	1 (4), 2:45	16/03/1987	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	8-0	Dick Green	KO	1 (6), 0:53	26/02/1987	El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California
Win	7-0	Gilbert Baptist	UD	4	05/02/1987	Raincross Square, Riverside, California
Win	6-0	Lang McGowan	PTS	4	03/12/1986	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	5-0	Carlos Gutierrez	UD	4	21/11/1986	Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California
Win	4-0	Daryl Colquitt	KO	4 (4), ?	07/10/1986	Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California
Win	3-0	George Murphy	PTS	4	25/09/1986	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	2-0	Carlos Gutierrez	UD	4	13/08/1986	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	1-0	Jose Luis Cordova	KO	1 (?), ?	02/08/1986	San Jose, California	Professional debut.

Additional information

• Once entertaining scholarships to several schools, Norris quit baseball after a brawl on the field. "We were playing another team one day", Norris recalled, "and there were some racial comments made toward me. I was a little thrown off by it. I rushed the guy who said them, and their whole team jumped on me. I put three guys in the hospital, which was the bad thing of it. People said things like, 'Maybe this guy's a troublemaker,' so a lot of my scholarships fell through.^[1]
• He settled a lawsuit out of court with Don King for a sum of $7.5 million in 2005.
• Brother of former WBA cruiserweight champion Orlin Norris.
• The speech of Terry Norris was noticeably slurred even in his early thirties and quite startling to anyone who remembered him from just a few years earlier. After his last defeat, the Nevada athletic commission turned him down for a new license, basing its decision on his impaired speech, which was indicative of brain damage.
• Norris was known to spar 12 rounds every other day in preparation for fights. Some speculate that this intense training routine is a factor which may have ultimately led to his early expiration as a fighter.
• In preparation for his fight against John "The Beast" Mugabi, his strength trainer put Terry on a regimented weight training program. He went on to KO Mugabi and win the WBC super welterweight title. He continued his strength training for the duration of his career.
• A source close to the Norris camp is quoted as saying "The best boxing I ever watched live was sparring between the Norris brothers."^[2]
• Norris is married to Tanya E. Norris
• Norris and his wife founded his Foundation The Final Fight to assist former pro boxers who are ill, broke and homeless.
• Norris and his wife own World Champion Cardio Boxing, a popular workout program in North

Hollywood.

References

1. ↑ A Champion Who's Fighting Obscurity - New York Times
2. ↑ BDPboxing

External links

• Professional boxing record for Terry Norris from BoxRec
• Terry Norris' Official Website.
• Terry Norris' Facebook
• Terry Norris' Twitter