Terry Norris vs. Sugar Ray Leonard

Terry Norris vs. Sugar Ray Leonard was a professional boxing match contested on February 9, 1991 for the WBC super welterweight title.

Terry Norris vs. Sugar Ray Leonard
DateFebruary 9, 1991
VenueMadison Square Garden in New York, New York
Title(s) on the lineWBC Super Welterweight Title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Terry Norris Ray Leonard
Nickname "Terrible" "Sugar"
Hometown Campo, California, U.S. Palmer Park, Maryland, U.S.
Pre-fight record 26–3 36–1–1
Height 5 ft 9 1⁄2 in (177 cm) 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 153 lb (69 kg) 154 lb (70 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC
Super Welterweight Champion

Background

After winning the WBC super middleweight in December 1988, "Sugar" Ray Leonard successfully defended the title twice in 1989 against two of his biggest rivals, first fighting Thomas Hearns to a draw in June and then defeating Roberto Durán by unanimous decision in December. A month after the Durán fight, Leonard vacated the WBC super middleweight title as the WBC was pressuring Leonard to make another defense and Leonard was unsure when he would fight again.[1] Leonard pursued a rematch with Marvin Hagler, but Hagler refused and opted to remain retired stating "A while ago, yeah, I wanted him so bad, but I'm over that."[2] Leonard was also in talks for a third fight with Hearns, but Hearns, who was then fighting as a light heavyweight, would not agree to the 162 pound catch-weight Leonard wanted, insisting he could no longer make that weight.[3] Leonard would ultimately not fight at all in 1990, but by year's end Leonard would reach an agreement to fight WBC super welterweight (AKA light middleweight) champion Terry Norris.[4] Though Norris was both the champion and 11 years younger than Leonard, and despite Leonard's inactivity, Leonard was a 12-to-5 favorite going into the fight.[5]

Leonard's lawyer and adviser Mike Trainer agreed to broadcast the fight on Showtime. Executives from Showtime's rival network HBO, which had employed Leonard as a broadcaster since 1978, decided to release Leonard from his broadcasting contract after not being given the opportunity to bid on the rights to air the fight. HBO sports head Seth Abraham stated "If HBO is not offered the opportunity to bid on the fight, then it's inappropriate for Ray to continue as an HBO broadcaster."[6]

The fight

The fight was a one-sided affair as Norris dominated Leonard en route to a unanimous decision victory. Norris would score two knockdowns over Leonard, the first occurred during the last 10 seconds of the second round after Norris countered a Leonard combination with a left hand. As Leonard was down, Norris would run forward and land another right hand for which referee Arthur Mercante Jr. warned Norris after the round that he would be disqualified should he commit a foul like that again. Norris sent Leonard down again late in the seventh round with a short right hand. Norris would go on the attack in an effort to finish the fight, but a dazed Leonard was able to survive the round. Norris would control the remainder of the fight though Leonard would make it through the 12th and final round. All three judges had Norris the victor with scores of 120–104, 119–103 and 116–110. Once the scorecards were read, Leonard announced to the crowd that the fight would be his last,[7][8] but he returned for one more fight in 1997.

Fight card
Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Super Welterweight 154 lb Terry Norris (c) def. Ray Leonard UD 12/12 Note 1
Super Middlweight 168 lb Segundo Mercado def. Alex Ramos TKO 4/10
Heavyweight 200+ lb Orlin Norris def. Jamie Howe TKO 7/10
Middleweight 160 lb Willie Monroe def Genaro Castro UD 10/10

^Note 1 For WBC Super Welterweight title

References
  1. The World Boxing Council has rejected Sugar..., LA Times article, 1990-01-20 Retrieved on 2020-02-26
  2. With Friends Like These Who Needs Sugar Ray, Sports Illustrated article, 1990-07-02 Retrieved on 2020-02-26
  3. Leonard Has Norris at Hand, but Hearns on the Mind, NY Times article, 1991-02-08 Retrieved on 2020-02-26
  4. Leonard to Fight at Garden, NY Times article, 1990-11-30 Retrieved on 2020-02-26
  5. , Roundbyroundboxing.com article, Retrieved on 2020-02-26
  6. HBO to Leonard: Don't work if you won't fight for us, Baltimore Sun article, 1990-10-16 Retrieved on 2020-02-26
  7. So Long, Sugar, Sports Illustrated article, 1991-02-18 Retrieved on 2020-02-28
  8. Leonard Walks Away a Beaten Man, Chicago Tribune article, 1991-02-11 Retrieved on 2020-02-28
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