Thoughts On Terry Norris?

Exceptionally gifted offensive fighter, and a complete loose cannon. To the point it really affected him in the ring adversely. He had the temper from hell, and couldn't even come close to controlling it.

 

I like Norris. He made some exciting moments and fights, wins and losses. He's an interesting case of a guy who is in the discussion for top 5 all time in a weight class but also isnt considered an all time great by a lot of people. Guess just goes to show 154 is one of the shallower of even the newer divisions.

 

I don’t see talent? How do you define boxing talent? Anyways, Norris was fast that’s all. He was a speedster who always looked like the bigger guy in the fights I’ve seen. In all other departments he was average including his IQ. How I remember him is being an outright dirty fighter.

 

I remember lurking the forums not even just this one when Norris was super man. Interesting reads.

 

Julio Cesar Vasquez would not only have hammered him but deserves a higher ranking all time in the division.

Outside of that, he was a very talented, but crucially flawed fighter. It wasn't only a shaky chin, it was his propensity to go on the attack and engage with that chin. He was a fantastic athlete, a star baseball player and a guy who put up serious numbers in the gym. Perhaps that knowledge and the confidence it bred fueled his style.

It's a shame to see him in the state he is today.

 

Imho a high ring IQ n solid defense could make up for his chin deficiency. At this point we're building a Frankenstein lol bcuz none of that was him.

 

He’s one of my favorite fighters ….he’s one of Errol Spence’s favorites too

 

True, Terry could’ve probably fought more in deference to the quality (or lack thereof) of his chin but it might’ve taken from the offensive successes he did have. The old for better or worse angle…

For all the skills in the world, a solid beard is so important and a weak chin, a static, unchangeable, physiological attribute in isolation, can bring it all undone.

Talent notwithstanding, most, if not all ATGs have their beards tested (if they’re duly fighting their best comp.) and pass the test with ratings from respectable to flying colours.

Imagine trying to be a completely effective, fully expressed fighter whilst carrying and having to protect a Faberge Egg also.

Now that’s what I call Risky Business.

Get it? See what I did? Gee, sometimes I really kill me. Can’t please everyone so you gotta please yourself…….

Back to serious: Tezza’s speech is somewhat compromised today which is sad but it seems (from last vid I saw) that his thinking is clear. Comes across as a nice guy actually, always smiling.

 

How can you argue him No. 1 above Julian Jackson, who smoked him and had a fine reign himself, so he wasn’t a one-off guy in that division?

I’m curious about the thought process there.

 

Jackson had a far shorter reign at the weight class and just lacked the deep resume that Norris has. I guess a good comparison would be B hop and Jermain Taylor. I doubt you would argue that Taylor is the greater MW.

 

Offensively Norris was extremely fast and had explosive power .. very athletically gifted .. his problem was like Dempsey when he got hit and traded he tended to see red and go balls to the wall and then was exposed to counters with a shaky chin and not terrific recooperative skills .. unlike Dempsey he could not take it the same although he did have a huge fighting heart ..

 

I think that was exclusively RedRooster, who insisted Norris would have always hammered Ray.

I'm watching a lot of Norris at the moment. This has been a good read guys. Thanks.

 

Norris was extremly talented. Possibly one of the most talented fighters at the
Jr.middleweight limit. What drops him down was his below average chin.
ALSO! A- lack- of -discipline! If he fought more under control, he
probably doesn't lose some fights...... Overly aggresive and reckless
at times that caused him big time.

 

Didn’t have a built for fighting. Much like Anthony Joshua, despite what some people believe, not every athleticism translate well for fighting. Norris was amazing, very athletic, but he was not tough. It’s not simply chin IMO.
The comparison with someone like McCallum is very contrasting, two athletic guys with different types of physical structure.
I agree also with the lack of mental discipline.

 

I'm not feeling the AJ comparison to be honest, Vic.