Just how much is Terry Norris loved and respected by the forum?

Great point and timeline wise very correct. Curry, was mentioned to move up but got blasted by Honeyghan, McCallum was content at jr Middle. Hagler Hearns Duran and Leonard all fought the big fights. The othere guys people mention, with the exception of McCallum. Had their opportunites and usually lost the big ones. Even McCallum lost when he stepped up to middle...

 

Absolutely correct !

 

Norris was a good , but flawed fighter who provided lots of excitement win or loe, during his career. But, to try to label him great or put him on the level of the fab four or Monzon, insane ...He was at risk to lose to anyone at anytime with some semblance of power. Seriously, he was getting at 154 by blown up welters ( JJ being the exception). so to think he would have been suucesful at middle against the iron of the division ? Not happening... McCallum had the chin and ring savvy, but going against Halger, who could box, bang and had a true granire chin. He would have been in bad trouble...

 

Hearns got the better of McCallum in that sparring footage recently posted. Just saying.

 

He's a fighter I always thought was great to watch, really quick, explosive puncher with very good technical skills and combinations punching. His biggest flaws, chin and lack of discipline could get him into trouble occasionally, but that only made him even better to watch. His best performance was probably the second fight with Simon Brown, after being knocked out in embarrassing circumstances, Norris regrouped, and put together a masterclass, dominating Brown for 12 rounds.

As to how id rate him, he's in my top 3 154 ponders of all time, and I wouldn't put his talent that far off atg status either, because he could be dazzlingly good. I wouldn't give him a great chance against the likes of Hearn's and Mccallum, both would spark him imo.

 

True. I think Hearns would get to him first, with speed and reach. And that blistering Hearns right cross landing on Norris` chin... Scary to think that if Brown and Mullings could do it !

 

Amazing fighter. Got caught up in his gifts though, and IMO didn't have the beard to back up some of his approaches. All in all an awesome fighter to watch.

 

If Simon Brown could put him down with a jab, imagine what a flush Hearn's right hand could do:scaredas:

 

Exactly !

 

Norris, who would beat Sugar every time they met, is one of those guys that came out of nowhere, the boxing community didnt see coming.

It happens, like a Jimmy Young, who meets an early setback but transforms into the premier force in his division

I was about the only guy in the country to give Norris a chance against Sugar even tho Norris was the champ. Sugar, who hadnt lost a fight in 11 yrs, was hopelesly outclassed. The country was shocked over Terry's immense speed & defense.

"untouchable" was the word for him following the fight.

never did the country suspect Norris' true talent, coming off the win over Jaquot.

so naturally when he signed to fight an ambitious Leonard, he was given no chance. "lacked the experience" was the word on the street. too much focus on his chin when it shouldve been on his overall speed which would allow him to come out on top 12 rds-0 over the five time champion/legend

and the few times Sugar did score clean, Terry's chin held up beautifully, never blinked

IN FACT, it was Terry's power & Sugar's chin that was the real issue, not vice versa (Terry's handspeed N power = Sugar on the canvas)

What most people don't understand tho is that Terry is the kind of guy that EXCELS against competiton. The better the comp, the better Terry is.

Many here at ESB think just the opposite, that they think he will conveniently crumble before the opponent, which is where they have erred.

His peak probably came in the Taylor fight in a battle of the speedsters.

The flashes of speed we saw that night is something that we seldom get to see. As the two combatants traded combos, the nation was awash in eroticism. I couldnt get over how much more effective & efficient Terry was than Chavez in his fight with Taylor

You dont see Terry mindlessly taking reams of shots in an effort to get one or two in. Terry, who was much more gifted than Julio, put all his talents on display and proved to be more than Meldrick could take

Now the question is: is Terry norris great?

I think the answer to that has already been answered by George Foreman who, after witnessing Terry's destruction of Curry, said "Norris has entered into greatness"

what more can u say about a fighter so young, and so early into his career who whipped two greats back to back? and so thorougly!

Terry would whip Kalule, Benitez, Leonard and all those guys. he was way too good

Hearns would have trouble becuz Terry's left hook gets there so fast before u could blink, and we all know the trouble Tommy had with Leonard's left hook

whatever Sugar did, Terry did better