Terry Wayne Norris (born June 17, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 1998. He is a three time light middleweight champion, having held the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles.
A star baseball player during his high school years, Norris bypassed a career on the diamond for one in the ring, claiming an amateur record of 291–4, winning 4 Texas State Golden Gloves titles. Displaying a stunning combination of hand and foot speed as well as the ability to throw dizzying combos, Norris’ athletic ability was an uncanny attribute in the ring.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Terry Wayne Norris
- Born: June 17, 1967 — Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
- Reach: 68 in (173 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Aug 2, 1986 (Win by KO vs Jose Luis Cordova)
- Last bout: Nov 30, 1998 (Loss by TKO vs Laurent Boudouani)
- Total rounds boxed: 312 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Light middleweight
- KO percentage: 66.0% (31 KO wins in 47 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBC light middleweight title March 31, 1990 – December 18, 1993 (won from John Mugabi; defenses included Sugar Ray Leonard, Donald Curry and Meldrick Taylor; lost to Simon Brown); WBC light middleweight title (second reign) May 7, 1994 – November 12, 1994 (regained from Simon Brown; lost to Luis Santana by disqualification); WBC light middleweight title (third reign) August 19, 1995 – December 6, 1997 (regained from Luis Santana; added the IBF title on December 16, 1995 against Paul Vaden; lost the WBC title to Keith Mullings) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 56
- Wins: 47
- Wins by KO: 31
- Losses: 9
- Losses by KO: 4
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 0
- Born: June 17, 1967 — Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
- Reach: 68 in (173 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Light middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2, 1986 | Jose Luis Cordova | Win | KO | 1 (?) | San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, US |
| 2 | Aug 13, 1986 | Carlos Gutierrez | Win | UD | 4 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 3 | Sep 25, 1986 | George Murphy | Win | PTS | 4 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 4 | Oct 7, 1986 | Daryl Colquitt | Win | KO | 4 (4) | Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 5 | Nov 21, 1986 | Carlos Gutierrez | Win | UD | 6 | Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 6 | Dec 3, 1986 | Lang McGowan | Win | PTS | 4 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 7 | Mar 5, 1987 | Gilbert Baptist | Win | UD | 4 | Raincross Square, Riverside, California, US |
| 8 | Feb 26, 1987 | Dick Green | Win | KO | 1 (6), 0:53 | El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US |
| 9 | Mar 16, 1987 | Tino Leon | Win | KO | 1 (4), 2:45 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 10 | Mar 26, 1987 | Mauro Veronica | Win | KO | 2 (6), 2:36 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 11 | Apr 3, 1987 | Sergio Nieto Rayos | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 0:40 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 12 | May 27, 1987 | Nathan Dryer | Win | TKO | 3 (8), 1:33 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 13 | Aug 13, 1987 | Derrick Kelly | Loss | UD | 10 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 14 | Sep 4, 1987 | Edward Neblett | Win | TKO | 6 (8), 2:10 | Bally’s, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 15 | Nov 25, 1987 | Joe Walker | Loss | DQ | 1 (6) | Bally’s, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 16 | Jan 21, 1988 | Roman Nunez | Win | KO | 1 (10) | San Diego, California, US |
| 17 | Feb 3, 1988 | Richard Aguirre | Win | TKO | 3 (10) | Riverside, California, US |
| 18 | Mar 28, 1988 | Clayton Hires | Win | KO | 2 (10) | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 19 | Aug 12, 1988 | Quincy Taylor | Win | UD | 10 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 20 | Oct 18, 1988 | Gilbert Baptist | Win | UD | 10 | El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US |
| 21 | Dec 9, 1988 | Steve Little | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 1:06 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Won vacant NABF light middleweight title |
| 22 | Mar 28, 1989 | Buster Drayton | Win | UD | 12 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF light middleweight title |
| 23 | Mar 23, 1989 | Ralph Ward | Win | UD | 10 | The Showboat, New Jersey, US |
| 24 | Jul 30, 1989 | Julian Jackson | Loss | TKO | 2 (12), 1:33 | Atlantic City Convention Center, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — For WBA light middleweight title |
| 25 | Sep 21, 1989 | Nathan Dryer | Win | TKO | 4 (10) | El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, US |
| 26 | Oct 9, 1989 | Jorge Vaca | Win | SD | 10 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| 27 | Nov 21, 1989 | Tony Montgomery | Win | UD | 12 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, US |
| 28 | Mar 31, 1990 | John Mugabi | Win | KO | 1 (12), 2:47 | Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, US — ★ Title fight — Won WBC light middleweight title |
| 29 | Jul 13, 1990 | Rene Jacquot | Win | UD | 12 | Patinoire d’Annecy, Annecy, Upper Savoy, France — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 30 | Feb 9, 1991 | Sugar Ray Leonard | Win | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 31 | Jun 1, 1991 | Donald Curry | Win | KO | 8 (12), 2:54 | Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 32 | Aug 17, 1991 | Brett Lally | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:40 | San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 33 | Dec 13, 1991 | Jorge Fernando Castro | Win | UD | 12 | Palais omnisports, Bercy, Paris, France — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 34 | Feb 22, 1992 | Carl Daniels | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 2:37 | San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 35 | May 9, 1992 | Meldrick Taylor | Win | TKO | 4 (12), 2:55 | The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 36 | Dec 13, 1992 | Pat Lawlor | Win | RTD | 3 (10), 3:00 | The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 37 | Feb 20, 1993 | Maurice Blocker | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 0:49 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 38 | Jun 19, 1993 | Troy Waters | Win | RTD | 3 (12) | San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 39 | Sep 10, 1993 | Joe Gatti | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 1:28 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 40 | Dec 18, 1993 | Simon Brown | Loss | KO | 4 (12), 1:06 | Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC light middleweight title |
| 41 | Mar 18, 1994 | Armando Campas | Win | KO | 4 (10), 2:19 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 42 | May 7, 1994 | Simon Brown | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Won WBC light middleweight title |
| 43 | Nov 12, 1994 | Luis Santana | Loss | DQ | 5 (12), 2:02 | Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC light middleweight title; Norris DQ’d for downing Santana with a blow to the back of the head |
| 44 | Apr 8, 1995 | Luis Santana | Loss | DQ | 3 (12), 3:00 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — For WBC light middleweight title; Norris DQ’d for hitting Santana after the bell |
| 45 | Aug 19, 1995 | Luis Santana | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 2:09 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Won WBC light middleweight title |
| 46 | Sep 16, 1995 | David Gonzalez | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 2:59 | The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| 47 | Dec 16, 1995 | Paul Vaden | Win | UD | 12 | Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC light middleweight title; Won IBF light middleweight title |
| 48 | Jan 27, 1996 | Jorge Luis Vado | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 0:42 | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles |
| 49 | Feb 24, 1996 | Vincent Pettway | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 2:41 | Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles |
| 50 | Sep 7, 1996 | Alex Rios | Win | TKO | 5 (12), 2:08 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles |
| 51 | Jan 11, 1997 | Nick Rupa | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 2:38 | Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles |
| 52 | Aug 8, 1997 | Joaquin Velasquez | Win | KO | 2 (10), 0:45 | Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, US |
| 53 | Sep 10, 1997 | Andres Arellano Sandoval | Win | KO | 2 (10), 2:27 | The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, US |
| 54 | Dec 6, 1997 | Keith Mullings | Loss | TKO | 9 (12), 0:51 | Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC light middleweight title |
| 55 | Sep 25, 1998 | Dana Rosenblatt | Loss | UD | 12 | Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, US |
| 56 | Nov 30, 1998 | Laurent Boudouani | Loss | TKO | 9 (12), 2:59 | Palais des Sports, Paris, France — ★ Title fight — For WBA light middleweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBC light middleweight title March 31, 1990 – December 18, 1993 (won from John Mugabi; defenses included Sugar Ray Leonard, Donald Curry and Meldrick Taylor; lost to Simon Brown); WBC light middleweight title (second reign) May 7, 1994 – November 12, 1994 (regained from Simon Brown; lost to Luis Santana by disqualification); WBC light middleweight title (third reign) August 19, 1995 – December 6, 1997 (regained from Luis Santana; added the IBF title on December 16, 1995 against Paul Vaden; lost the WBC title to Keith Mullings) — all dates per the bout table
- Dec 9, 1988 vs Steve Little: Won vacant NABF light middleweight title
- Mar 28, 1989 vs Buster Drayton: Retained NABF light middleweight title
- Jul 30, 1989 vs Julian Jackson: For WBA light middleweight title
- Mar 31, 1990 vs John Mugabi: Won WBC light middleweight title
- Jul 13, 1990 vs Rene Jacquot: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Feb 9, 1991 vs Sugar Ray Leonard: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Jun 1, 1991 vs Donald Curry: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Aug 17, 1991 vs Brett Lally: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Dec 13, 1991 vs Jorge Fernando Castro: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Feb 22, 1992 vs Carl Daniels: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- May 9, 1992 vs Meldrick Taylor: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Feb 20, 1993 vs Maurice Blocker: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Jun 19, 1993 vs Troy Waters: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Sep 10, 1993 vs Joe Gatti: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Dec 18, 1993 vs Simon Brown: Lost WBC light middleweight title
- May 7, 1994 vs Simon Brown: Won WBC light middleweight title
- Nov 12, 1994 vs Luis Santana: Lost WBC light middleweight title; Norris DQ’d for downing Santana with a blow to the back of the head
- Apr 8, 1995 vs Luis Santana: For WBC light middleweight title; Norris DQ’d for hitting Santana after the bell
- Aug 19, 1995 vs Luis Santana: Won WBC light middleweight title
- Sep 16, 1995 vs David Gonzalez: Retained WBC light middleweight title
- Dec 16, 1995 vs Paul Vaden: Retained WBC light middleweight title; Won IBF light middleweight title
- Jan 27, 1996 vs Jorge Luis Vado: Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
- Feb 24, 1996 vs Vincent Pettway: Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
- Sep 7, 1996 vs Alex Rios: Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
- Jan 11, 1997 vs Nick Rupa: Retained WBC and IBF light middleweight titles
- Dec 6, 1997 vs Keith Mullings: Lost WBC light middleweight title
- Nov 30, 1998 vs Laurent Boudouani: For WBA light middleweight title
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-03.
