Terry Norris


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

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.
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.
Norris suffers from brain damage caused by his boxing career. The brain damage affects his speech and coordination and his wife has referred to him as being like "an old man".

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
56Loss47–9 Laurent BoudouaniTKO9 30/11/1998Palais des Sports, Paris, France.png" />For WBA light-middleweight title.
55Loss47–8 Dana RosenblattUD1225/09/1998Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut.png" />-
54Loss47–7 Keith MullingsTKO9,
0:51		06/12/1997Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey.png" />Lost WBC and lineal light middleweight titles
53Win47–6 Andres Arellano SandovalKO2,
2:27		10/09/1997Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />-
52Win46–6 Joaquin VelasquezKO2 08/08/1997Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri.png" />-
51Win45–6 Nick RupaTKO10 11/01/1997Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.png" />Retained WBC, IBF, and lineal light middleweight titles
50Win44–6 Alex RiosTKO5,
2:08		07/09/1996MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />Retained WBC, IBF, and lineal light middleweight titles
49Win43–6 Vincent PettwayTKO8 24/02/1996Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia.png" />Retained WBC, IBF, and lineal light middleweight titles
48Win42–6 Jorge Luis VadoTKO2,
0:42		27/01/1996Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona.png" />Retained WBC, IBF, and lineal light middleweight titles
47Win41–6 Paul VadenUD1216/12/1995Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.png" />Retained WBC light middleweight title
Won IBF and vacant lineal light-middleweight titles
46Win40–6 David GonzalezTKO9 16/09/1995The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title.
45Win39–6 Luis SantanaTKO2 19/08/1995MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />Won WBC light-middleweight title.
44Loss38–6 Luis SantanaDQ3 08/04/1995Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />For WBC light-middleweight title.
43Loss38–5 Luis SantanaDQ5 12/11/1994Plaza Mexico, Mexico City.png" />Lost WBC light-middleweight title.
42Win38–4 Simon BrownUD1207/05/1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />Won WBC light-middleweight title.
41Win37–4 Armando CampasKO4 18/03/1994-
40Loss36–4 Simon BrownKO4 18/12/1993Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Puebla.png" />Lost WBC light-middleweight title
39Win36–3 Joe GattiTKO1 10/09/1993Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title
38Win35–3 Troy WatersRTD3 19/06/1993San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title
37Win34–3 Maurice BlockerTKO2 20/02/1993Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title
36Win33–3 Pat LawlorRTD3 13/12/1992-
35Win32–3 Meldrick TaylorTKO4 09/05/1992Retained WBC light-middleweight title
34Win31–3 Carl DanielsTKO922/02/1992Retained WBC light-middleweight title
33Win30–3 Jorge Fernando CastroUD1213/12/1991Palais omnisports, Bercy, Paris.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title
32Win29–3 Brett LallyTKO1 17/08/1991Retained WBC light-middleweight title
31Win28–3 Donald CurryKO8,
2:54		01/06/1991Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title
30Win27–3 Sugar Ray LeonardUD1209/02/1991Retained WBC light-middleweight title
29Win26–3 Rene JacquotUD1213/07/1990Patinoire d'Annecy, Annecy, Upper Savoy.png" />Retained WBC light-middleweight title
28Win25–3 John MugabiKO1,
2:47		31/03/1990Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida.png" />Won WBC light-middleweight title
27Win24–3 Tony MontgomeryUD1221/11/1989Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California.png" />
26Win23–3 Jorge VacaSD1009/10/1989Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.png" />-
25Win22–3 Nathan DryerKO4,
?		21/09/1989El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California.png" />-
24Loss21–3 Julian JacksonTKO2,
1:33		30/07/1989For WBA light-middleweight title
23Win21–2 Ralph WardUD1023/05/1989The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey.png" />-
22Win20–2 Buster DraytonUD1228/03/1989Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />Retained NABF light-middleweight title
21Win19–2 Steve LittleTKO6,
1:06		09/12/1988Won vacant NABF light-middleweight title
20Win18–2 Gilbert BaptistUD1018/10/1988El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California.png" />
19Win17–2 Quincy TaylorUD1012/08/1988
18Win16–2 Clayton HiresKO2,
1:14		28/03/1988Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California.png" />
17Win15–2 Richard AguirreTKO3,
?		03/02/1988
16Win14–2 Roman NunezKO1,
2:58		21/01/1988
15Loss13–2 Joe WalkerDQ1,
?		25/11/1987Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada.png" />
14Win13–1 Edward NeblettTKO6,
2:10		04/09/1987
13Loss12–1 Derrick KellyUD1013/08/1987Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California.png" />
12Win12–0 Nathan DryerTKO3,
1:33		27/05/1987
11Win11–0 Sergio Nieto RayosTKO1,
0:40		03/04/1987
10Win10–0 Mauro VeronicaKO2,
2:36		26/03/1987Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.png" />
9Win9–0 Tino LeonKO1,
2:45		16/03/1987
8Win8–0 Dick GreenKO1,
0:53		26/02/1987
7Win7–0 Gilbert BaptistUD405/02/1987Raincross Square, Riverside, California.png" />
6Win6–0 Lang McGowanPTS403/12/1986
5Win5–0 Carlos GutierrezUD621/11/1986Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California.png" />
4Win4–0 Daryl ColquittKO4,
?		07/10/1986
3Win3–0 George MurphyPTS425/09/1986
2Win2–0 Carlos GutierrezUD4Aug 13, 1986
1Win1–0 Jose Luis CordovaKO1 Aug 02, 1986San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California.png" />Professional debut.

Additional information

Hollywood.