Terry Norris (boxer)


Terry Wayne Norris is an American former boxer, prizefighter and a three time world champion in the light-middleweight division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.
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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. 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. This affects his speech and coordination.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
56Loss47–9Laurent BoudouaniTKO9, 2:59Nov 30, 1998Palais des Sports, Paris, FranceFor WBA light middleweight title
55Loss47–8Dana RosenblattUD12Sep 25, 1998Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, US
54Loss47–7Keith MullingsTKO9, 0:51Dec 6, 1997Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USLost WBC light middleweight title
53Win47–6Andres Arellano SandovalKO2, 2:27Sep 10, 1997The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
52Win46–6Joaquin VelasquezKO2, 0:45Aug 8, 1997Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, US
51Win45–6Nick RupaTKO10, 2:38Jan 11, 1997Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
50Win44–6Alex RiosTKO5, 2:08Sep 7, 1996MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
49Win43–6Vincent PettwayTKO8, 2:41Feb 24, 1996Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
48Win42–6Jorge Luis VadoTKO2, 0:42Jan 27, 1996Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, USRetained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
47Win41–6Paul VadenUD12Dec 16, 1995Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USRetained WBC light middleweight title;
Won IBF light middleweight title
46Win40–6David GonzalezTKO9, 2:59Sep 16, 1995The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
45Win39–6Luis SantanaTKO2, 2:09Aug 19, 1995MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWon WBC light middleweight title
44Loss38–6Luis SantanaDQ3, 3:00Apr 8, 1995Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USFor WBC light middleweight title;
Norris DQ'd for hitting Santana after the bell
43Loss38–5Luis SantanaDQ5, 2:02Nov 12, 1994Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, MexicoLost WBC light middleweight title;
Norris DQ'd for downing Santana with a blow to the back of the head
42Win38–4Simon BrownUD12May 7, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWon WBC light middleweight title
41Win37–4Armando CampasKO4, 2:19Mar 18, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
40Loss36–4Simon BrownKO4, 1:06Dec 18, 1993Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, MexicoLost WBC light middleweight title
39Win36–3Joe GattiTKO1, 1:28Sep 10, 1993Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
38Win35–3Troy WatersRTD3 Jun 19, 1993San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
37Win34–3Maurice BlockerTKO2, 0:49Feb 20, 1993Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC light middleweight title
36Win33–3Pat LawlorRTD3, 3:00Dec 13, 1992The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
35Win32–3Meldrick TaylorTKO4, 2:55May 9, 1992The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
34Win31–3Carl DanielsTKO9, 2:37Feb 22, 1992San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
33Win30–3Jorge Fernando CastroUD12Dec 13, 1991Palais omnisports, Bercy, Paris, FranceRetained WBC light middleweight title
32Win29–3Brett LallyTKO1, 2:40Aug 17, 1991San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
31Win28–3Donald CurryKO8, 2:54Jun 1, 1991Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
30Win27–3Sugar Ray LeonardUD12Feb 9, 1991Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USRetained WBC light middleweight title
29Win26–3Rene JacquotUD12Jul 13, 1990Patinoire d'Annecy, Annecy, Upper Savoy, FranceRetained WBC light middleweight title
28Win25–3John MugabiKO1, 2:47Mar 31, 1990Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, USWon WBC light middleweight title
27Win24–3Tony MontgomeryUD12Nov 21, 1989Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, US
26Win23–3Jorge VacaSD10Oct 9, 1989Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
25Win22–3Nathan DryerTKO4 Sep 21, 1989El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US
24Loss21–3Julian JacksonTKO2, 1:33Jul 30, 1989Atlantic City Convention Center, New Jersey, USFor WBA light middleweight title
23Win21–2Ralph WardUD10Mar 23, 1989The Showboat, New Jersey, US
22Win20–2Buster DraytonUD12Mar 28, 1989Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained NABF light middleweight title
21Win19–2Steve LittleTKO6, 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
19Win17–2Quincy TaylorUD10Aug 12, 1988Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
18Win16–2Clayton HiresKO2 Mar 28, 1988Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
17Win15–2Richard AguirreTKO3 Feb 3, 1988Riverside, California, US
16Win14–2Roman NunezKO1 Jan 21, 1988San Diego, California, US
15Loss13–2Joe WalkerDQ1 Nov 25, 1987Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
14Win13–1Edward NeblettTKO6, 2:10Sep 4, 1987Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
13Loss12–1Derrick KellyUD10Aug 13, 1987Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
12Win12–0Nathan DryerTKO3, 1:33May 27, 1987Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
11Win11–0Sergio Nieto RayosTKO1, 0:40Apr 3, 1987Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
10Win10–0Mauro VeronicaKO2, 2:36Mar 26, 1987Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
9Win9–0Tino LeonKO1, 2:45Mar 16, 1987Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
8Win8–0Dick GreenKO1, 0:53Feb 26, 1987El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US
7Win7–0Gilbert BaptistUD4Mar 5, 1987Raincross 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 Oct 7, 1986Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California, US
3Win3–0George MurphyPTS4Sep 25, 1986Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
2Win2–0Carlos GutierrezUD4Aug 13, 1986Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
1Win1–0Jose Luis CordovaKO1 Aug 2, 1986San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, US

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.
  • 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 his issues after boxing.
  • 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."
  • 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 Los Angeles, California.