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Watched a few of his highlights recently and liked the look of his aggresive textbook stlye. Just how good was he? What was his resume like, any notable avoided opponents and what was the quality of the division at the time? How does he go down in 154 history and how would he compete with top 154 pounders like Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas and Mike Mccalum?
Terry Norris was brilliant at his best, but lived up to his nickname when he was bad, he was terrible.
The Junior Middles were a mixed bunch in the late 80s/early 90s.
Norris was caught by Jackson (but that happens, eh Herol?) but the defeat to a past his best Simon Brown cost him, as he was on the verge of being a Superstar.
Norris was at his brilliant best from 90 to 92, the problem was the names he beat all had a * against their name, pre fight. Be it, too old, too small or both, there was always a reason not to give Norris full credit, and it hurt Terry's standing.
Norris then blew it big time, not since Kirkland Laing (verses Colin Jones), has boxing seen such stupidity, as he twice got himself disqualified against Santana!
Although he eventually won the third Santana fight, that was pretty much it for truly World Class Norris, he was upset by the underrated Mullings, and would not win another pro fight.
As for how he would of done against the best the 154lbers have had to offer....
I do not like his chances against McCallum and Hearns as his chin was far too soft.
He easily beats Wright if they fought early in Winky's career, if they met with both in their prime, I still think Norris' speed may of been the difference by way of razor close decision.
Norris was in another league to Vargas, Norris by way of one sided painful late TKO.
Terry Norris was one of the best boxer/punchers ever IMO. When he would box on his toes he looked unbeatable.Quote:
Originally Posted by Motor City Cobra
But his big downfalls was his chin and concentration. As BK said he was DQ'ed twice against Luis Santana. But i have to say the 1st fight was extremely BS IMO.
Luis Santana was only tapped on the back of the head, and he done a Robert De Niro type performance to get a DQ win.
And as i said earlier his chin was for certain weak, he was on queer street from only a jab off Simon Brown. And he was KO'ed in quite embarrassing IMO. But he did totally give Simon Brown a boxing lesson in the rematch, in one of his most impressive performances of his career.
But those flaws made him all the more exciting to watch, lets forget his flaws for a minute and talk about his best performances.
His fights against Meldrick Taylor, Donald Curry, Jorge Castro, Sugar Ray Leonard, John Mugabi, Simon Brown 2, Luis Santana 3, Brett Lally, Maurice Blocker, Vince Pettway.
Were his best performances IMO, he also had a very good war against Troy Waters which is worth checking out.
Terry Norris had lovely fast hands and good footwork, he was a treat to watch at his best. And yes he would of easily competed against those fighters you mentioned. And he might of beaten atleast 2 of them. I know he for certain would of beaten Fernando Vargas.
The only fighter i heard he avoided was Felix Trinidad but i don't know all the details, there was also talk of Terry Norris vs Pernell Whitaker but that never happened either. Overall he beat a solid list of opponents, and he ranks very high in the all time Jr Middleweight ranks IMO.
Thanks you 2 great info.
He was inconstant. He was a brilliant boxer/puncher at his best and a glorified fringe contender at his worst. He very good fighter who fought very good fighters and won more often than not.
boom boom I could not have said it best. He was a very good fighter, a devastating puncher, quick and he had good skills. His weakness was his chin IF the other fighter could land that good punch which did not always happen, but when it did...he looked bad. He beat a lot of good fighters.Quote:
Originally Posted by BoomBoom
see norris vs simon brown
I think he had an ever so slight touch oif the Zab Judah syndrome, in that he was excellent on form, but his focus was easily ruined.
Against a past prime SRL he looked simply vicious, combinations of 3-4 landing flush on Leonard with authority, punctuated his class. Aged as he was not many could have handed Leonard such a beating.
Terry was a must see and guaranteed to have you standing while you watched.Just as he was a crisp and potent hitter he always ran the risk of running into a shot himself & being staggered and dropped.Simply put his chin had all the firmness of dry twigs.Was a great boxer but often sabotaged himself by walking in and slugging a bit too willingly when not needed.Took some flack for fighting many smaller fighters.He had a flaw in that he could be very over-eager.It cost him greatly when he clipped guys late.He did it to Walker...just ugly.Stood over him when he was on his knees and hit him right in the back of the head,Walker flipped over like he had been shot.Curry,caught Troy Waters in the first the same manner in a savage war.It all caught up to him in the Santana craziness.One of the most undeserved trilogy's ever.Santana milked it but ultimately Norris put himself in that position.Lost in it was that Luis had Norris hurt badly on a couple of occasions.
He never ever lacked for fire and heart.Hard pressed to think of a recent fighter that had achieved as much for as long while being so susceptible fight to fight.When you think Norris you think fringe and tassles...great hair art ;D,suspect chin and a solid boxer-puncher.He really was a tough,explosive and huge hearted fighter.Favorite fights were his KO of Steve Little,awesome destruction of young undefeated Carl Daniels after being hurt early,Taylor,Brown 2,Waters,Castro.
good
Alot better than Chuck Norris.
Good enough to scare SRL, he was hungry then and wanted a good 'ol fashioned piece of him.
Loved watching Norris fight and enjoy his victory over Leonard. The Troy Waters was the start of his decline, he would have finished him easier. Very exciting and was going to have a big pay day against ODH but lost to Mullings.
That fight for me, was the epitome of a past prime fighter taking a whipping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Nagel
Norris was merciless in combination.
It really signified a changing of the guard.
Just as SRL had put Benitez down with a jab, Norris' poker put Leonard down mmid fight....
I hate to watch that fight from a Leonard perspective, but have to admire the number Terry did on him.
Norris was kinda a bit like Judah when it comes to mentality, he was leaps and bounds above Judah in terms of skill and talent, but he wasn't very consistent at times, a bit chinny, and also a short temper kinda like Tyson, but when he had his shit together he was just as good as anyone around, awesome power, and great technical ability, a shame the Trinidad/Norris fight never happened
Norris at his best beats any version of LeonardQuote:
Originally Posted by hitmandonnyThat fight for me, was the epitome of a past prime fighter taking a whipping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Nagel
Norris was merciless in combination.
It really signified a changing of the guard.
Just as SRL had put Benitez down with a jab, Norris' poker put Leonard down mmid fight....
I hate to watch that fight from a Leonard perspective, but have to admire the number Terry did on him.
Interesting one!Quote:
Originally Posted by Violent DemiseNorris at his best beats any version of LeonardQuote:
Originally Posted by hitmandonnyThat fight for me, was the epitome of a past prime fighter taking a whipping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Nagel
Norris was merciless in combination.
It really signified a changing of the guard.
Just as SRL had put Benitez down with a jab, Norris' poker put Leonard down mmid fight....
I hate to watch that fight from a Leonard perspective, but have to admire the number Terry did on him.
Have to agree there actually, its not like SRL was old or was totally shot. He was coming off beating Roberto Duran one sidedly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Violent DemiseNorris at his best beats any version of LeonardQuote:
Originally Posted by hitmandonnyThat fight for me, was the epitome of a past prime fighter taking a whipping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Nagel
Norris was merciless in combination.
It really signified a changing of the guard.
Just as SRL had put Benitez down with a jab, Norris' poker put Leonard down mmid fight....
I hate to watch that fight from a Leonard perspective, but have to admire the number Terry did on him.
Yes it was a boring fight, but Roberto Duran was coming off one of his best performances against Iran Barkley. Terry Norris IMO would of still been too big for SRL at Jr Middleweight, and he would always clearly have the power advantage.
Just because Terry Norris suffered some losses, when he didn't concentrate on a fight properly. Or wasn't 100 percent physcially. Or because SRL is more of a legend.
Doesn't mean Terry Norris couldn't defeat the best version of SRL. People need to check out Terry Norris vs Simon Brown 2, and tell me that version of Terry Norris wouldn't of had a great chance at beating SRL.
Or even check out Meldrick Taylor vs Terry Norris, yes Meldrick Taylor may of been a bit past his prime, after the JCC loss. But he was faster than SRL handspeed wise IMO, but you see in that fight the size difference played a huge factor.
And i think the size difference would always play a factor, in a fight between SRL/Terry Norris. Yes they maybe almost the same height, but i think Terry Norris is still clearly the naturally bigger man.
But true. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by BIG HInteresting one!Quote:
Originally Posted by Violent DemiseNorris at his best beats any version of LeonardQuote:
Originally Posted by hitmandonny
Thats kinda liek saying Taver beats any version of Jones i think if Leonard was prime he and the fight was 15 rounds give him a great shot. I think he stop Norris because tell you true most of fight he fought were past it. I mean Leonard was 35 and really to me slowed down quite some. I think in his prime he was faster and think he could a fustrated Norris and got him to fight wrong way i can see the Leonard that beat Hearns winning the fight tell you the truth.