Why didn't RJJ and Terry Norris ever meet?

[Manju]

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?

[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.

[Hulk]

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.

[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.

[Violent Demise]

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

[ICB]

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.

[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.