Would the Golden Boy strike gold, or meet with a Terrible accident? Why did this matchup never materialize?
This match-up never came off because Norris was handed his @ss by Mullings on the De La Hoya-Rivera undercard. The fight was a done deal by Arum prior to Norris being defeated. The fight not coming off cost De La Hoya an $8-9 million payday. It was sheduled to happen during the spring of 98. Boxing has changed over the last 10 years. Mind of Morales losing to Raheem then getting his fight with Pacquaio? and Judah losing to Baldomir then the next fight he's in with Mayweather? They would never have got those fights 10 years before. Norris blew it.
:deal ^^^^what Robbi said. Yeah Norris had the world in his hand's before being "Mullin'zned" A scheduled De La Hoya fight.. A proposed Showdown with Pernell Whitaker A proposed showdown with Tito Trinidad A Proposed jump to Middleweight...ect Yeah, he got Knocked out everytime a big fight was in his hand's. let's not forget he was also slated for big thing's when he got K.O.'d out by Simon Brown in '93. His entire 93-95 was a waste of time & Possible fight's for Terry. His Trilogy with Luis Santana was a waste of golden years.
I don't think Norris would stop Oscar at this weight so I'll say Oscar, on the strength of better boxing technique would win a close decision.
A prime Norris is too big, too fast & hits too hard for De La Hoya to handle. At the higher weight De La Hoya doesn't want to mix it up like when he fought in the lower classes. Norris would keep the jab in De La Hoya's face and punish him when he comes inside. Norris 12 UD.
Those were some of the name's being thrown around.. Basicaly anyone within Jr.Welterweight Thru Middleweight. Terry Norris was willing to meet any of them at their own class. And I agree, De La Hoya would have ate him up. Oscar pre Mayweather (Trainer) was a beast....
This would hae been a great matchup between two of my heroes. Oscar's handspeed vs that of the terrible one. I believe Oscar's a bit too heavy for this one but would have given someone like Leonard fits.
I think Oscar is too gunshy at this weight. Norris' Speed & power would wear down De La Hoya. And Norris is a Natural 154 pounder. De La Hoya's best chance would be to try and catch Norris with a big punch. But Norris is faster and has very good boxing ability.