Terry Norris

For the Australian actor and politician, see Terry Norris (actor).

Terry Norris
Personal information
Real name: Terry Norris
Nickname(s): Terrible
Nationality: American
Date of birth: (1967-06-17) June 17, 1967
Place of birth: Lubbock, Texas, USA
Personal Statistics
Weight: {{convert/numdisp/frac	Light Middleweight|||Light Middleweight}} ( kg)
Boxing career information

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

Early boxing career

A star baseball player during his high school years, Norris bypassed a career on the diamond for one in the ring, amassing a stellar 291-4 amateur record. 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. After turning pro Norris compiled a record of twenty one wins and two losses before challenging Julian Jackson in Norris's first title fight. He beat future champion Steve Little for the NABF junior middleweight title in December, 1988, and defended once against Buster Drayton. His two losses were by unanimous decision to Derrick Kelley and a disqualification to Joe Walker when Norris hit Walker when Walker was down.

Norris challenged Julian Jackson for the WBA junior middleweight belt in July 1989. Norris seemed to win the first round, but a big second-round right cross from the champion knocked Norris out. 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 junior 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 easily beat the faded Sugar Ray via a 12-round unanimous verdict. His next defense, a June victory over another former welterweight kingpin - 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 titlist Jorge Castro and two welterweight champions, Meldrick Taylor (then the WBA champion), and Maurice Blocker (who held the IBF version at the time of his challenge).

Losing and regaining title

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 verdict 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. In their third fight in August of that year, Norris knocked out Santana to regain his title.

Norris then won a 12-round unanimous decision over hated San Diego rival Paul Vaden in December 1995 to add Vaden's IBF title to his WBC version, and made defenses against Vincent Pettway (former IBF champion), Nick Rupa, and Alex Rios, before being stripped of the IBF title by that sanctioning body in 1997. Keith Mullings then ended Norris's championship career by way of ninth-round knockout in December 1997.

Post-championship career

Norris fought twice more after losing his title. Dana Rosenblatt defeated him by twelve-round 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.

Sporting positions
Preceded by John Mugabi	WBC Light Middleweight Champion 31 March 1990– 18 December 1993	Succeeded by Simon Brown
Preceded by Simon Brown	WBC Light Middleweight Champion 7 May 1994– 12 November 1994	Succeeded by Luis Santana
Preceded by Luis Santana	WBC Light Middleweight Champion 19 August 1995– 6 December 1997	Succeeded by Keith Mullings
Preceded by Paul Vaden	IBF Light Middleweight Champion 16 December 1995– March 1997 Vacates title	Succeeded by Raúl Márquez

Professional boxing record

47 Wins (31 knockouts, 16 decisions), 9 Losses (4 knockouts, 5 decisions) [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	37-2-1	Laurent Boudouani	TKO	9	30/11/1998	Paris	WBA World Light Middleweight Title.
Loss	32-1	Dana Rosenblatt	UD	12	25/09/1998	Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut	IBA World Middleweight Title. 113-115, 112-116, 113-115.
Loss	14-4-1	Keith Mullings	TKO	9	06/12/1997	Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:51 of the ninth round.
Win	17-7-1	Andres Arellano Sandoval	KO	2	10/09/1997	The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada	Sandoval knocked out at 2:27 of the second round.
Win	22-13-1	Joaquin Velasquez	KO	2	08/08/1997	Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri	Velasquez knocked out at 0:45 of the second round.
Win	26-4-1	Nick Rupa	TKO	10	11/01/1997	Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee	IBF/WBC World Light Middleweight Titles.
Win	18-2	Alex Rios	TKO	5	07/09/1996	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	IBF/WBC World Light Middleweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 2:08 of the fifth round.
Win	38-5-1	Vincent Pettway	TKO	8	24/02/1996	Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia	IBF/WBC World Light Middleweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 2:41 of the eighth round.
Win	13-0-1	Jorge Luis Vado	TKO	2	27/01/1996	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona	IBF/WBC World Light Middleweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 0:42 of the second round.
Win	24-0	Paul Vaden	UD	12	16/12/1995	Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	IBF/WBC World Light Middleweight Titles. 119-109, 120-108, 118-110.
Win	40-4-1	David Gonzalez	TKO	9	16/09/1995	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the ninth round.
Win	40-15-2	Luis Santana	TKO	2	19/08/1995	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the second round.
Loss	39-15-2	Luis Santana	DQ	3	08/04/1995	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Norris disqualified after the third round for hitting after the bell.
Loss	38-15-2	Luis Santana	DQ	5	12/11/1994	Plaza Mexico, Mexico City	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Norris disqualified for hitting Santana on the back of the head, causing Santana to colapse to the canvas.
Win	41-2	Simon "Mantequilla" Brown	UD	12	07/05/1994	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 118-109, 117-111, 116-112.
Win	1-9-1	Armando Campas	KO	4	18/03/1994	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	Campas knocked out at 2:19 of the fourth round.
Loss	39-2	Simon "Mantequilla" Brown	KO	4	18/12/1993	Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Puebla	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Norris knocked out at 1:06 of the fourth round.
Win	20-2	Joe Gatti	TKO	1	10/09/1993	Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:28 of the first round.
Win	20-2	Troy Waters	TKO	3	19/06/1993	San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California	WBC World Light Middleweight Title.
Win	34-2	Maurice Blocker	TKO	2	20/02/1993	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:49 of the second round.
Win	18-3	Pat Lawlor	RTD	3	13/12/1992	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada	Lawlor retired after the third round.
Win	29-1-1	Meldrick Taylor	TKO	4	09/05/1992	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:55 of the fourth round.
Win	26-0	Carl Daniels	TKO	9	22/02/1992	San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:37 of the ninth round.
Win	67-2-2	Jorge Fernando Castro	UD	12	13/12/1991	Palais omnisports, Bercy, Paris	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 120-112, 117-111, 118-110.
Win	30-5	Brett Lally	TKO	1	17/08/1991	San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:40 of the first round.
Win	33-4	Donald Curry	KO	8	01/06/1992	Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Curry knocked out at 2:54 of the eighth round.
Win	36-1-1	Sugar Ray Leonard	UD	12	09/02/1991	Madison Square Garden, New York City	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 119-103, 120-104, 116-110.
Win	26-10-1	Rene Jacquot	UD	12	13/07/1990	Patinoire d'Annecy, Annecy, Upper Savoy	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 120-107, 117-109, 119-108.
Win	36-2	John Mugabi	KO	1	31/03/1990	Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Mugabi knocked out at 2:47 of the first round.
Win	22-2	Tony Montgomery	UD	12	21/11/1989	Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California	WBC NABF Light Middleweight Title. 117-107, 118-106, 117-106.
Win	42-8-1	Jorge Vaca	SD	10	09/10/1989	Tijuana, Baja California
Win	12-6	Nathan Dryer	KO	4	21/09/1989	El Cortez Apartment Hotel, San Diego, California
Loss	37-1	Julian Jackson	TKO	2	30/07/1989	Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey	WBA World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:33 of the second round.
Win	12-2	Ralph Ward	UD	10	23/05/1989	The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	33-11-1	Buster Drayton	UD	12	28/03/1989	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC NABF Light Middleweight Title. 117-111, 119-108, 120-107.
Win	16-8-1	Steve "Lightning" Little	TKO	6	09/12/1988	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC NABF Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:06 of the sixth round.
Win	9-8	Gilbert Baptist	UD	10	18/10/1988	El Cortez Apartment Hotel, San Diego, California	99-91, 97-93, 96-94.
Win	10-0	Quincy Taylor	UD	10	12/08/1988	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	97-94, 97-94, 96-94.
Win	13-9-1	Clayton Hires	KO	2	28/03/1988	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California	Hires knocked out at 1:14 of the second round.
Win	14-2-1	Richard Aguirre	TKO	3	03/02/1988	Riverside, California
Win	13-14	Roman Nunez	KO	1	21/01/1988	San Diego, California	Nunez knocked out at 2:58 of the first round.
Loss	7-0-1	"Smokin" Joe Walker	DQ	1	25/11/1987	Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada	Norris disqualified for hitting Walker while he was down.
Win	5-0	Edward Neblett	TKO	6	04/09/1987	Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada	Referee stopped the bout at 2:10 of the sixth round.
Loss	16-1-2	Derrick Kelly	UD	10	13/08/1987	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California	94-96, 95-96, 94-97.
Win	8-3	Nathan Dryer	TKO	3	27/05/1987	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	Referee stopped the bout at 1:33 of the third round.
Win	3-2	Sergio Nieto Rayos	TKO	1	03/04/1987	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	Referee stopped the bout at 0:40 of the first round.
Win	3-1	Mauro Veronica	KO	2	26/03/1987	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Veronica knocked out at 2:36 of the second round.
Win	0-1-1	Tino Leon	KO	1	16/03/1987	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California	Leon knocked out at 2:45 of the first round.
Win	0-2	Dick Green	KO	1	26/02/1987	El Cortez Apartment Hotel, San Diego, California	Green knocked out at 0:53 of the first round.
Win	4-2	Gilbert Baptist	UD	4	05/02/1987	Raincross Square, Riverside, California
Win	2-0	Lang McGowan	PTS	4	03/12/1986	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	0-1-1	Carlos Gutierrez	UD	4	21/11/1986	Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California
Win	2-0	Daryl Colquitt	KO	4	07/10/1986	Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California
Win	1-0-2	George Murphy	PTS	4	25/09/1986	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win	0-0-1	Carlos Gutierrez	UD	4	13/08/1986	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California	39-38, 39-37, 39-37.
Win	--	Jose Luis Cordova	KO	1	02/08/1986	San Jose, California

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 IBF 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 brain damage.
• 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 W.B.C. Super Welterweight championship. 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."

External links

• Terry Norris' Official Website.
• Myspace Page
• Professional boxing record for Terry Norris from BoxRec