Thread: Why didn't RJJ and Terry Norris ever meet?

Looking back, Norris began his impressive reign as jr mid champ in 1990, by KOing The Beast Mugabi. His peak lasted until late 1993, when Simon Brown caught him. He won the rematch and remained champion until 1997. Like Tommy Hearns, he could hit with great power, could box with the best of them, but always had an Achilles' chin.

In 1991, RJJ was beginning to face top competiton, often at jr mid. By 1993, and before Norris was stopped by Brown, he beat Hopkins at middleweight before proceeded to alternate between that division supermiddleweight until 1994, when he went SMW-LHW. By now, he was considered a more spectacualr version of Norris: he could hit hard, he could box, and he did it in a more unorthodox fashion. He did not brawl but he also never hit the canvas. it's possible he too had a weak chin all along but we just diodn't know it...becasue he never got hit.

So there seems to be an opening for these guy to have met sometime between 1991-94. I have vague recollections of Norris wanting him and distinctly remember him saying he had no problem going up to middleweght, though he never did it. But Norris did appear to take all comers.

RJJ was more careful about who he fought, but even though Norris was powerful, he was smaller and his weak chin was long known. He was well-regarded, a bigger draw than Hopkins or Toney, and I would think a good risk-reward propsition for RJJ especially at MW. RJJ needed a few more big names on his resume and this would've been a highly anticiapted fight.

I would think a fight at middleweght would've been in the works at some point, ideally in 1993. I wonder why it never occurred. Does anyone recall discusions being held?

RJJ should have fought any number of top level boxers: Norris, Nunn, McClellan, Collins, Eubank, Benn, Watson, Michalczewski, Jirov, etc.

I wouldn't expect he would have lost to any of them but they'd at least test him a bit more.

Originally Posted by El Kabong

RJJ should have fought any number of top level boxers: Norris, Nunn, McClellan, Collins, Eubank, Benn, Watson, Michalczewski, Jirov, etc.

I wouldn't expect he would have lost to any of them but they'd at least test him a bit more.

Eubank has admitted numerous times he wanted no part of Roy Jones Jr.

Benn wouldn't have stood a chance, nor Collins.

The rest aside from Jirov could have been somewhat competitive.

Norris was too small for Roy IMO.

Man I love Terry but think Roy would have just short circuited him badly for ko.I was never sold on Terry as an overly devistating puncher,and when he got caught with fast power something just happened for a vulnerable moment.I remember him clamoring a bit for showdown wih Sweet pea but not to much at all for Roy.He feasted on more then a couple names who were jumping up in weight.Don't think it would have happened regardless...Norris was locked to King (Showtime)and Jones jr was fighting HBO approved "mandatory" guys in what was at the time the most lucrative contract signed.

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Man I love Terry but think Roy would have just short circuited him badly for ko.I was never sold on Terry as an overly devistating puncher,and when he got caught with fast power something just happened for a vulnerable moment.I remember him clamoring a bit for showdown wih Sweet pea but not to much at all for Roy.He feasted on more then a couple names who were jumping up in weight.Don't think it would have happened regardless...Norris was locked to King (Showtime)and Jones jr was fighting HBO approved "mandatory" guys in what was at the time the most lucrative contract signed.

I agree. I think Jones would of dusted him. To big. But at the same time I think Norris was a terrible styles match up for Whitaker. I think he would of ran right through Pernell

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Man I love Terry but think Roy would have just short circuited him badly for ko.I was never sold on Terry as an overly devistating puncher,and when he got caught with fast power something just happened for a vulnerable moment.I remember him clamoring a bit for showdown wih Sweet pea but not to much at all for Roy.He feasted on more then a couple names who were jumping up in weight.Don't think it would have happened regardless...Norris was locked to King (Showtime)and Jones jr was fighting HBO approved "mandatory" guys in what was at the time the most lucrative contract signed.

I agree. I think Jones would of dusted him. To big. But at the same time I think Norris was a terrible styles match up for Whitaker. I think he would of ran right through Pernell

But then again Pernell Whitaker could of frustrated Terry Norris, making him get himself DQ'ed. And that certainly isn't out of the question, but other than that at 154. I agree Terry Norris is too big but im big fan of both fighters so im glad they didn't fight.

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Man I love Terry but think Roy would have just short circuited him badly for ko.I was never sold on Terry as an overly devistating puncher,and when he got caught with fast power something just happened for a vulnerable moment.I remember him clamoring a bit for showdown wih Sweet pea but not to much at all for Roy.He feasted on more then a couple names who were jumping up in weight.Don't think it would have happened regardless...Norris was locked to King (Showtime)and Jones jr was fighting HBO approved "mandatory" guys in what was at the time the most lucrative contract signed.

I agree. I think Jones would of dusted him. To big. But at the same time I think Norris was a terrible styles match up for Whitaker. I think he would of ran right through Pernell

Yeh pretty much the same scenario.Size as well as Norris having the boxing power to track him down.As elusive and quick as Pernell was is was equally his upper and lower body movement ,he had that 'blocky' foundation a bit thick in the legs and can see Norris at some point getting Whitaker on heels,legs crossed up when he would go into that low posture and then get out.Terry had killer selection inside,combos.He may tag Norris but he's not staying in there to capitalize,would have to get outta that red zone immediatly.

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Man I love Terry but think Roy would have just short circuited him badly for ko.I was never sold on Terry as an overly devistating puncher,and when he got caught with fast power something just happened for a vulnerable moment.I remember him clamoring a bit for showdown wih Sweet pea but not to much at all for Roy.He feasted on more then a couple names who were jumping up in weight.Don't think it would have happened regardless...Norris was locked to King (Showtime)and Jones jr was fighting HBO approved "mandatory" guys in what was at the time the most lucrative contract signed.

I agree. I think Jones would of dusted him. To big. But at the same time I think Norris was a terrible styles match up for Whitaker. I think he would of ran right through Pernell

Yeh pretty much the same scenario.Size as well as Norris having the boxing power to track him down.As elusive and quick as Pernell was is was equally his upper and lower body movement ,he had that 'blocky' foundation a bit thick in the legs and can see Norris at some point getting Whitaker on heels,legs crossed up when he would go into that low posture and then get out.Terry had killer selection inside,combos.He may tag Norris but he's not staying in there to capitalize,would have to get outta that red zone immediatly.

Actually thats where your wrong Spicoli, because when Pernell Whitaker was in danger of losing vs Diosbelys Hurtado. He become the aggressor and destroyed Disobelys Hurtado in one of the most brutal fashions ever.

He also got a broken jaw vs Felix Trinidad, and managed to stay inside for 12 rounds even having some moments. All this while battling drug problems and being past his prime. And ask yourself this how many fighters when 12 rounds with a prime Felix Trinidad.

Im not saying Pernell Whitaker would win, infact i make Terry Norris the slight favorite. But if he was behind i think he would take chances. And you never know anything could happen with Terry Norris's weak chin, i mean Simon Brown had him on queer street with just a solid jab. And his suspect mental game aswell see his trilogy vs Luis Santana, and Pernell Whitaker was pretty damn frustrating to fight against.

Originally Posted by ICB

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Man I love Terry but think Roy would have just short circuited him badly for ko.I was never sold on Terry as an overly devistating puncher,and when he got caught with fast power something just happened for a vulnerable moment.I remember him clamoring a bit for showdown wih Sweet pea but not to much at all for Roy.He feasted on more then a couple names who were jumping up in weight.Don't think it would have happened regardless...Norris was locked to King (Showtime)and Jones jr was fighting HBO approved "mandatory" guys in what was at the time the most lucrative contract signed.

I agree. I think Jones would of dusted him. To big. But at the same time I think Norris was a terrible styles match up for Whitaker. I think he would of ran right through Pernell

Yeh pretty much the same scenario.Size as well as Norris having the boxing power to track him down.As elusive and quick as Pernell was is was equally his upper and lower body movement ,he had that 'blocky' foundation a bit thick in the legs and can see Norris at some point getting Whitaker on heels,legs crossed up when he would go into that low posture and then get out.Terry had killer selection inside,combos.He may tag Norris but he's not staying in there to capitalize,would have to get outta that red zone immediatly.

Actually thats where your wrong Spicoli, because when Pernell Whitaker was in danger of losing vs Diosbelys Hurtado. He become the aggressor and destroyed Disobelys Hurtado in one of the most brutal fashions ever.

He also got a broken jaw vs Felix Trinidad, and managed to stay inside for 12 rounds even having some moments. All this while battling drug problems and being past his prime. And ask yourself this how many fighters when 12 rounds with a prime Felix Trinidad.

Im not saying Pernell Whitaker would win, infact i make Terry Norris the slight favorite. But if he was behind i think he would take chances. And you never know anything could happen with Terry Norris's weak chin, i mean Simon Brown had him on queer street with just a solid jab. And his suspect mental game aswell see his trilogy vs Luis Santana, and Pernell Whitaker was pretty damn frustrating to fight against.

Knocking out Hurtado is a little different than knocking out Norris. Hurtado was a really a Junior Welterweight fighting at Welterweight. Norris pretty much fought as a Junior Middleweight his whole career. When Whitaker became the WBA Junior Middleweight champion after beating Julio Cesar Vazquez he could of stayed at the weight and unified against either WBC champion Terry Norris or IBF champion Paul Vaden. But Whitaker stated he never felt right at the weight. And elected to go back down. If he would of ever fought Norris, there's no doubt it would of been at 154

I loved Norris style of boxing he was exciting but I think he was waiting for a big fight with ODH or maybe Tito. Roy was way too big, Terry preferred to beat up the smaller great fighters like Meldrick Taylor, that was a good fight. Terry would have beaten Whitaker.

Respectfully ICB the differences between Hurtado and a peaked Norris were night and day.That was Pernell is rare desperation form,literally swinging to save a mega fight and his reputation.I know the man had grit and it's that guile and heart which kept him in there with Tito,one in which overall he took a pounding for his effort.Agree with the frustration factor...it frustrated me just watching Pernell coming up but Norris usually shot himself with that in fights he was already doing well in,Walker,Curry,Santana etc.A young fresh feather fisted David Reid managed 12 with Tito and got hammered like a shiney nail on an empty 2x4 also.