I remember one fighter back in the day..I think it was Keith Mullings. I was at the last presser and he look right at Joe Sayatovich (Norris manager) and then Terry and told them what was gonna happen.. Terry saw a ghost. Then Mullings went out and did it. It was Babe Ruth calling his shot or Joe Namath guarenteeing victory.
In truth though, that was because only the ghost of Terry Norris was still fighting. I met Terry shortly after that fight and he was clearly showing the after effects of years in the ring. A prime Norris would have wasted Mullings.
That is not a fact. That is an opinion. Still, Whitaker-Norris would be a mystery of chessboxin' proportions. Yeah Mark, return to the 36 chambers gawd!!
Curry was solid too. Those old pros could prove troublesome quite often, but a 22-23 year old Norris handled them with ease. Only real 154 guy he missed out on was Vasquez. A rematch with Julian Jackson was close to happening, just not sure how close.
Duran is vastly overrated lost to so so benitez in a forgettable title bout Look at the difference in each man's performance with Leonard (the only baromter of performance in back to back performances) Leonard easily shut out Duran in 12 Then in his next bout, Leonard was bewitched, bothered, bewildered, and beat up by Norris see? SPEED. no one could cope with Terry's speed and please, no excuses. Terry won straight up, easy, with no controversy!
he was just a bit past it but unbeaten in 10 years but had the championship edge and experience, demonstrating full capability in unleashing 8 punch combos and non stop moving couldnt do it with Norris tho. early 90s Norris, NO FIGHTER would have a chance! your problem is you just underrate him like everyone else and comparisons between berbick and Norris is WAY OFF! Norris acclaimed by KO as greatest 154 pounder, breaking records in his division while Duran, Leonard have no defenses to their credit McCallum is second best
this is nonsense and where it comes from, who knows? since when is a fighter at 25 years old, holding a title, "way past it"? Mugabi also was a title holder Who do you think Terry won it from! Leonard, unbeaten in 10 years, and heavily favored like I said, that's sour grapes speaking. Terry just punched holes in their big heads and would leave any other 147, 154, or 160 pounder, choking in his dust
You are really overrating Terry. His chin was fragile and he would have to win all the rounds without being in range of punches, and that is unlikely if you see the guys who hit him clean. I would have liked to have seen McCallum vs. Norris. I think Mike finds the range and stops Norris late.
actually Wilfred was stronger than people give him credit for, since he had such great defense we focus on that. Hearns didn't just walk in because he seemed to sense power in Wilfred, and was concerned about the Hope fight. Wilfred can fight inside. A lot of his fight with Duran was inside fighting and he looked strong. Benitez had speed. He avoided Hearns punches. Even body punches. The Hearns fight shows how great he was in a loss. Tommy could not hit him. And Hearns hit everyone. It would be easy you say, but he was knocked cold by Jackson and Brown knocked him out in 3. Had he never fought those guys it would be said something like. He would beat Jackson without showing up mentally. But in reality.
SRL was like 36 when they fought. Taylor was a 135-140 pounder. I'll give you Mugabi but didn't he lose like 7 fights around the time he lost to Norris. Maybe it was after. Norris was an exciting fighter to watch. Loved him along GMAN in the King PPVs with Julio Legend. When you say 147 to 160, do you mean ever?
Bad fight for Terry.. He could win, but he would have to avoid that punch for 12 rounds. A very nerve racking fight. I guess any fight with Julian was that way.
Terry was like Vargas to me. They'd look amazing but you knew that chin could always be cracked. Do you think he'd be able to to keep Jackson from landing a bomb on him for 12 rounds? Norris liked to scrap. For someone with his whiskers I always thought it was dumb.