Terry Norris: underrated?

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Perhaps Norris is/was underrated. He had remarkable skills and has some great wins. Yes he got ko'd, but I always felt he brought that on himself. He was usually over aggresive and went for the ko himself which led to him walking into alot of punches he shouldn't have. If he was a careful boxer and defensive he would have been boring but thought of higher historically.

this ^^^^^^

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Even as a near great, Norris seems mostly forgotten and dismissed. You hear more acclaim for John Mugabi, whose record doesn't even approach Norris'. Not to mention that Terry wiped the floor with Mugabi when they fought.

I rate Norris higher than Mugabi, as I strongly believe should be the case, but to be fair, Mugabi took a lifechaging beating in the Hagler fight. Not sure the outcome of the fight would have been the same against a non damaged version of Mugabi.

[Scott9945]

Why would you put mayweather in this? Cotto would have been better he's more established there. And Mosley was also a bad choice never great at that weight

Mayweather is the current 154 lb champion, and it's not like Norris was huge at that weight. Norris fought Meldrick Taylor at a catchweight so the matchup seems very viable to me.

[Scott9945]

I rate Norris higher than Mugabi, as I strongly believe should be the case, but to be fair, Mugabi took a lifechaging beating in the Hagler fight. Not sure the outcome of the fight would have been the same against a non damaged version of Mugabi.

My problem with Mugabi is that he is only famous for the Hagler loss. He has no significant wins before or after that fight. Many years ago Larry Merchant warned about fighters known more for a loss than a win. That was minutes before the Lewis-Ruddock massacre. I've found it to be a useful guideline.

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My problem with Mugabi is that he is only famous for the Hagler loss. He has no significant wins before or after that fight. Many years ago Larry Merchant warned about fighters known more for a loss than a win. That was minutes before the Lewis-Ruddock massacre. I've found it to be a useful guideline.

I fully agree with you! Like I said I do not rate Mugabi much. But the Hagler fight changed his punch resistance IMO. And with more of a chin he would have given Norris a much more dangerous fight. Mind I am talking specifically about the style matchup with Norris, I am not saying Mugabi would have been HOF material if he did not take all that punishment.

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Mayweather is the current 154 lb champion, and it's not like Norris was huge at that weight. Norris fought Meldrick Taylor at a catchweight so the matchup seems very viable to me.

well the Taylor fight... I would not cite it as an example of a good matchup though

[BennyST]

I've always felt he was underrated. However, that does come about because of his dodgy chin. Unlike some other guys, Hearns and Lewis being great examples, Norris actually had a bad chin. You could wobble him with a well timed jab or even put him down.

Anyway, he's a definite HOFer and arguably the greatest 154 pound fighter ever. Very arguably. A lot of guys wouldn't put him up there but you could easily argue that he's quite a ways ahead of the next best.

Just think of all the champions that he did beat there:
Buster Drayton
Ray Leonard
Simon Brown
Jorge Vaca
John Mugabi
Donald Curry
Jorge Castro
Rene Jacquot
Meldrick Taylor
Maurice Blocker
Carl Daniels
Luis Santana
Paul Vaden
Vincent Pettway
Quincy Taylor
Steve Little

That's just the champions he beat. Doesn't include his accomplishments, such as being the Unified 154 champ, a four time champion, P4P feature through the 90's, and I believe the most titles defenses at 154, though it's possible that's changed now. I can't remember.

Either way, with his skill, speed, power, resume and accomplishments it's hard to not rate him. He was a great fighter. Dirty bastard, but great nonetheless.

[TBear]

I've always felt he was underrated. However, that does come about because of his dodgy chin. Unlike some other guys, Hearns and Lewis being great examples, Norris actually had a bad chin. You could wobble him with a well timed jab or even put him down.

Anyway, he's a definite HOFer and arguably the greatest 154 pound fighter ever. Very arguably. A lot of guys wouldn't put him up there but you could easily argue that he's quite a ways ahead of the next best.

Just think of all the champions that he did beat there:
Buster Drayton
Ray Leonard
Simon Brown
Jorge Vaca
John Mugabi
Donald Curry
Jorge Castro
Rene Jacquot
Meldrick Taylor
Maurice Blocker
Carl Daniels
Luis Santana
Paul Vaden
Vincent Pettway
Quincy Taylor

That's just the champions he beat. Doesn't include his accomplishments, such as being the Unified 154 champ, a four time champion, P4P feature through the 90's, and I believe the most titles defenses at 154, though it's possible that's changed now. I can't remember.

Either way, with his skill, speed, power, resume and accomplishments it's hard to not rate him. He was a great fighter. Dirty bastard, but great nonetheless.

Add Steve Little, who went on to win the WBA super middleweight title from Michael Nunn.

When Norris beat Quincy Taylor, Taylor was undefeated it was a bit of a suprise because Taylor was being trained by Ray Leonard and was considered a hot prospect.

[talip bin osman]

I guess it depends on who you talk to. The man had first class skills for sure and natural talent, but I think his chin keeps him from being an ATG. I have him as a near-great.

Poet

his chin and his propensity to do head-scratching blunders and unnecessary fouls...

[Tamis!]

There's people in NSB who think Norris shouldn't be in the HOF and is only known for beating Ray Leonard.

insloent pansies.

IMO Terry Norris was underrated, but not that criminally.

That skill and power alone would smoke fighters of today, sans the chin tho. It's understandable coz Julian cracked it up.