An article from 1992. McGirt turned down a million dollars to fight Norris, and went to Italy to fight a nobody for $200,000. McGirt Skips Norris to Fight Oliva - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
Wise choice. Norris way too big, too strong, too fast. Sorry he didn't get to add another undersized opponent to his resume, but Buddy was smart here.
It was a defense of his world title, maybe even a mandatory? Fighting Norris would have made no sense, especially with the possibility of the Whitaker fight on the table.
Well, the money. For that kind of money, and he would keep his welter title regardless of the outcome, but yes, the beat down he would have gotten might have shortened his career. I remember at the time they said Buddy would price himself out of every big fight they wanted to give him.
