This is the next in my blog series ‘Mythical Matchups’. The bout is between Thomas Hearns and Terry Norris at 154 lbs. My imaginary bouts all take place at Caesar’s Palace Outdoor Arena in Las Vegas, with the great Mills Lane as the referee.
Thomas Hearns was born on October 18, 1958 in Grand Junction, Tennessee. His family moved to Detroit when he was five years old, where he began boxing. He had an amateur record of 155-8 before beginning his professional career under the guidance of Emanuel Steward.
He knocked out his first 17 opponents, and won his first title on August 2, 1980 with a two round destruction of champion Pipino Cuevas. After losing to Sugar Ray Leonard the following September, Hearns took home the WBC super-welterweight crown from Wilfred Benitez on December 3, 1982. He later added the light-heavyweight and middleweight belts to his trophy case, becoming the first boxer to win four titles in four separate weight classes.
Thomas was a boxer as an amateur, but turned into a puncher as a pro. He had tremendous power in both hands, and became the ‘Hit-Man’ as he stopped one opponent after another. Hearns also still could box when necessary, and was involved in many exciting bouts during his career.
Terry Norris was born on June 17, 1967 in Lubbock, Texas. He had a spectacular amateur record of 291-4 before turning professional in August of 1986. After getting knocked out by Julian Jackson in July of 1989 in his first title shot, he returned the following March to knock out John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi to win his first championship belt. He destroyed Sugar Ray Leonard at Madison Square Garden in February of 1991, then retained his crown for two more years. After getting knocked out by Simon Brown in February of 1993, he won a rematch to recapture the same title a year later. Norris continued to box as a super-welterweight until his retirement after his loss to Keith Mullings in December of 1997.
In his prime, Terry was extremely fast, and had dynamite in both fists. His quickness and speed were the main reasons he was a belt holder for most of the 1990’s.
In a bout between Thomas Hearns and Terry Norris, the difference to me would be Tommy’s right hand. Norris didn’t have the best chin, and by round five, he’s laid out on his back. Hearns by 5th round knockout.
It’s my blog and my opinion, and it’s all for fun and entertainment. Terry Norris was inducted in the IBHOF in 2005, while Tommy was inducted in 2012. Both fighters brought excitement into the ring whenever they entered it, and that’s all any boxing fan could as for.
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