why didnt Whitaker fight Norris

[flyest1]

I was watching the Santana vs Whitaker Trilogy, lol. If you want to call it that. Anyway after the third fight he called out Whitaker. This happened to be the same year Whitaker beat Vazquez. Sometime in 95 I believe. That fight probably would've done well with a crowd and ratings

Anyone know why

[Obama]

you mean Norris - Santana trilogy. And Whitaker had no business at 154, that's why the fight didn't happen. You don't move up past a reasonable weight class unless you have significant stylistic advantages against your opponent. Whitaker was never going to beat Terry Norris, he and everyone else knew it.

[flyest1]

Thanks man

So nobody was talking about this fight at the time? I know Norris said he would've dropped down to 147

[Obama]

Thanks man

So nobody was talking about this fight at the time? I know Norris said he would've dropped down to 147

I'm sure he would of. Whitaker wasn't a big WW either, and he wasn't looking for guys he couldn't beat by being cute with at that stage. He was on the decline in 95.

[prinzemanspopa]

Norris called out Whitaker in almost every other post fight interview following the loss of Chavez's mystique.Norris previously called out Chavez and said he would be willing to move down to 147 to fight him



Norris would never have been able to make 147 comfortably.He always claimed that he could and usually weighed in a couple pounds lighter than the JMW limit, but if he could have made 147,then he would have stepped down a weight class permanently

[Obama]

He did drop down to 149 to fight Meldrick Taylor, and defended his JMW title at the same time. I equate that with Hopkins fighting at 156 against DLH. The fights were held 2 lbs over so the Champions would be willing to defend their titles, but both fighters were probably willing to go the extra 2 lbs if no belt was at stake. Hopkins I actually remember saying he was.

[TBear]

Whitaker did move up to 154 and beat Julio Cesar Vazquez for the WBA belt. It was at the same time Santana had Norris's belt. Vazquez a southpaw with a record of 53-1 had made nine defences and was a much bigger challenge than Santana who had 15 losses and won the title on a foul. After Whitaker beat Vazquez he moved back down to welterweight and Norris didn't regain his WBC belt til five months later. Additionally Norris was promoted by Don King and Whitaker by Main Events, the previous two times he fought King promoted fighters was against Julio C. Chavez and the first bout with Jose Luis Ramirez and was screwed by bad judges. So fighting King fighters wasn't a worthy option.

[flyest1]

Whitaker did move up to 154 and beat Julio Cesar Vazquez for the WBA belt. It was at the same time Santana had Norris's belt. Vazquez a southpaw with a record of 53-1 had made nine defences and was a much bigger challenge than Santana who had 15 losses and won the title on a foul. After Whitaker beat Vazquez he moved back down to welterweight and Norris didn't regain his WBC belt til five months later. Additionally Norris was promoted by Don King and Whitaker by Main Events, the previous two times he fought King promoted fighters was against Julio C. Chavez and the first bout with Jose Luis Ramirez and was screwed by bad judges. So fighting King fighters wasn't a worthy option.

He did fight Tito. That was later in his career though

[Emon723]

Whitaker vs Norris would be possible by '95, I remember Sweet pea calling out Terry after his win (draw) over Chavez at alamo in '93. Norris got DQ against Santana, and Whitaker probably thinks Vasquez was better than Norris that time and he beat Vasquez to win his 4th world title, I agree Whitaker had no business fighting at 154, he had one stop and thats it, Norris blew his chance, what's funny is Norris are calling out small guys, willing to come down at 147 to meet with Chavez, who's best weight was 140lbs, wherein there was Julian Jackson at middleweight wanting a piece of Norris, whom he already KO in two rounds, Terrible Terry does'nt even want to rematch the Hawk.

[Obama]

Norris was always pretty chinny. Part of the reason he wanted the smaller guys.