Comments Thread For: Terry Norris: A Few in My Era Would Beat Mayweather - Including Me!

[Lester Tutor]

So Stevie Johnston is a slick world beater now? This article is in 2002 when Floyd was trying to find his first 135 lbs opponent and guess what, Floyd fought the guy that beat Johnston and was the lineal champion and that was Castillo, who did Johnston beat at the top level? nobody.

Floyd was even considering fighting Freitas at 130 who was coming off the biggest win of his career and go read what Freitas' promoter said about that fight, it's in the same article by the way.

Bottom line, in Floyd's prime (till 2007), there were not to many legit slick fighters that were available for him, Stevie Johnston was supposed to be a tune up for Floyd before the Castillo fight (read the article) and Floyd went straight for the champion. They said Genaro Hernandez was very skilled, tall, quick and slick, he got stopped, they said Sharmba Mitchell was fast and slick, he got stopped, they said Zab Judah, he lost, Shane Mosley, lost. If Floyd would've fought Margarito instead of Judah, you would've said he ducked Judah.

Dayyummm, dropping knowledge on daggumm, dayyumm.

[jvsnypes]

And I agree with your entire post, but none of those fighters you named, including Mosley, had the overall skillset and ability as Norris. And, Norris was bigger than those guys as well. In order for Floyd to even have a chance he would have to hurt Norris, and he simply does not have the punching power to do it at 147 or 154. He is not going to outbox Norris either, he would have his moments, but Floyd does not take enough risks to win a decision. And if he went out of character and opened up on Terry, it would put him in an unfamiliar position to get countered and caught by a bigger fighter that could actually match his hand speed. Imagine the Maidana approach by a bigger more skilled fighter with stamina just as good as Floyd. That's what Floyd would be dealing with against Norris. But here's the kicker, Terry was just as effective and maybe even more dangerous when he decided to get on his toes and box. Floyd has never ever stepped in the ring with that type of beast. I can't think of even one opponent of Floyd's that could last 12 rounds with Terry, maybe an in prime De La Hoya. Now, could Floyd go 12 rounds with The Hawk??? How about the Sugar Man???(Although Norris caught him on his down side) What about Simon Brown, Donald Curry, and Meldrick Taylor??? Man don't get it twisted, those were some excellent fighters who would be dominating in this era. Floyd vs Meldrick would be a classic!!! But that debate is for another day and time.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Norris doesn't have the IQ or chin to beat Mayweather, he had too many defensive holes, one of them dropping his left hand.

[daggum]

So Stevie Johnston is a slick world beater now? This article is in 2002 when Floyd was trying to find his first 135 lbs opponent and guess what, Floyd fought the guy that beat Johnston and was the lineal champion and that was Castillo, who did Johnston beat at the top level? nobody.

Floyd was even considering fighting Freitas at 130 who was coming off the biggest win of his career and go read what Freitas' promoter said about that fight, it's in the same article by the way.

Bottom line, in Floyd's prime (till 2007), there were not to many legit slick fighters that were available for him, Stevie Johnston was supposed to be a tune up for Floyd before the Castillo fight (read the article) and Floyd went straight for the champion. They said Genaro Hernandez was very skilled, tall, quick and slick, he got stopped, they said Sharmba Mitchell was fast and slick, he got stopped, they said Zab Judah, he lost, Shane Mosley, lost. If Floyd would've fought Margarito instead of Judah, you would've said he ducked Judah.

you missed this part? HBO took exception to the offer of faded ex-featherweight champ Alejandro Gonzalez and rejected him.

yeah floyd was trying to find his first 135 opponent...ex featherweight alejandro gonzalez. sounds like floyd to me!

did you also miss the part where it said HBO would simply bench Mayweather and give his date away instead of arguing over opponents. "They're not going to put up with this much longer,"

so this proves that floyd was always a cherry picker but the difference is hbo used to stand up to him and forced him to take tought fights like castillo. by the time floyd got to 147 he was too powerful and popular and hbo couldn't tell him who to fight so we got crap fights like sharmba and judah instead of marg and dont be silly no one would say he should have fought judah coming off a loss to a bum instead of marg. makes no sense and you know it.

floyd would have fought marg if he was confident in beating him but he wasn't and thats all there is to it. marg was #1, his biggest payday, and brought the mexican fanbase that mayweather always sought. he just wasn't confident enough to face him so he fought guys like judah, mitchell, baldomir, and retired until marg was out of the picture. so yes floyd ducked a slick fighter named antonio margarito.

[nycsmooth]

4 most of his career Carrie was a weight of both Floyd and at the end he was true it's above floor no sense in talking about it...

[Doctor_Tenma]

I am a huge fan of Terry Norris. I don't know about the other fighters he is referring to in his era, but I have always said that Terry would beat Floyd. As great as Floyd is defensively, Terry is parallel to that offensively. The only thing that keeps him out of the category of Leonard, Duran, and Hagler is his suspect chin. That would not be a problem facing a smaller light hitter like Floyd. Terry was a monster, a total beast in the ring who not only wanted a KO, but sometimes wanted to do serious damage to his opponents. His complete skill level is second to no fighter, including Floyd. He had speed in hand and foot, and was very versatile. He could fight on the inside and also get on his toes, Ali style, and attack from the outside. He had KO power in both hands and threw every punch in the book very well. This would not be a good match up for Floyd at all. His only advantage against Terry would be his ring IQ, but against that type of gifted fighter with those type of abilities, his IQ would only keep him from getting KO'd. I already know that this new era of fans could never visualize this, but go back and look at Norris in his prime. He was the total package. Ferocious and fearless, Floyd would not have anything in his arsenal to keep him off of him. Floyd has never fought a bigger fighter than himself that had such a consistent pinpoint jab. Terry had the skillset to force Floyd to come to him if he chose. Actually, I think Terry was more dangerous when he was on his toes dancing, boxing and throwing those viscious combinations. By no means is this discrediting Floyd or his accomplishments. But please go back and watch the man!!! Terrible Terry Norris was the TRUTH, and at his best, there are not a lot of fighters that could beat him. There is not one fighter from 147 to 160 in this era that I can see beating Terry. Not only not beating him, there aren't too many that would see the final bell against him. He was the definition of what a fighter should be.

I'd probably need two hands naming them

[Bravado]

So Stevie Johnston is a slick world beater now? This article is in 2002 when Floyd was trying to find his first 135 lbs opponent and guess what, Floyd fought the guy that beat Johnston and was the lineal champion and that was Castillo, who did Johnston beat at the top level? nobody.

Floyd was even considering fighting Freitas at 130 who was coming off the biggest win of his career and go read what Freitas' promoter said about that fight, it's in the same article by the way.

Bottom line, in Floyd's prime (till 2007), there were not to many legit slick fighters that were available for him, Stevie Johnston was supposed to be a tune up for Floyd before the Castillo fight (read the article) and Floyd went straight for the champion. They said Genaro Hernandez was very skilled, tall, quick and slick, he got stopped, they said Sharmba Mitchell was fast and slick, he got stopped, they said Zab Judah, he lost, Shane Mosley, lost. If Floyd would've fought Margarito instead of Judah, you would've said he ducked Judah.

If he fights Antonio and then Baldomir he avoided Zab
He fights Antonio and Zab, he avoided Baldomir.
He literally fights everybody and he'd get no credit. Too good

[Squ□redCircle34]

Terrible is right, those guys would trouble Floyd greatly! Long,stiff and consistent jabs!

KO power, dance on the outside, stamina for more than 12 rounds, and truly lives that boxing life was the OG's!!

Norris beats Floyd by decision! Too big, quick, combos, and jabs!

Floyd is tough enough, too smart and exceptionally conditioned to last 12 with muthafluckin' Terrible Terry Norris!!

[Tuavale]

Norris circa 1990-1992 would have beaten Floyd, maybe stopped him. He was that special. It's unfortunate how it shook out for him. He was one of those shooting stars & somehow with all his gifts, his detriment (ability to absorb) won out and he is badly damaged today. Still shocking that he lost to severely limited Dana Rosenblatt in 1998. But he was badly diminished. In his prime, that is literally a 2 round fight.

[DreamerUSA]

Norris doesn't have the IQ or chin to beat Mayweather, he had too many defensive holes, one of them dropping his left hand.

Pretty much this, but I would add in that I think Floyd's reach advantage would be huge in the match up as well. I just don't see how Terry keeps the pressure on him the way he is describing in the article, at least not consistently.