LOL In all seriousness, what advantage does Martinez posess over Norris? He has a better chin, but it isn't as if you can't hurt him... Norris is faster, hits harder, has a vastly superior offensive game, is a far better combo puncher... He is also a better defensive fighter (when he needs to be) ... Martinez, with his unorthodox style does have a "puncher's" chance (anyone with reasonable pop could be said to have a puncher's chance with Norris) but overall, I think this is a horrible style matchup for him. He can't control the pace, can't rely on his speed and affleticizm, because he is at a disadvantage in both areas. I think Norris elects to box, make Martinez come to him and punishes him with combinations, eventually he stops him... Martinez's best hope is for Norris to get overconfident (a very real possiblity) and walk into something that changes the fight. I really think Martinez would be overwhelmed by Norris's speed and offensive firepower. If Martinez had other skills to fall back on, I'd be more inclined to like his chances, but he doesn't have them. His game is speed. His style, a flawed one, works only if he is quicker than his opponent and his opponent lacks timing and/or a marauding style where the fighter is able to walk through a whole lot and just wear a guy down (notice how few fighters like this exist anymore) ... Martinez has no strategic or technical advantage over Terry Norris, he has no inherent talent advantage over him either. He does take a punch better and he carries weight better (Norris would have been cannon fodder at 160, probably even in the present Middleweight division) but I don't see that being anywhere near an equalizer at 154
martinez has a good chance to KO norris. its a tough fight to call. did norris defeat anyone at 154lbs as good as martinez?
I'd favor Norris, but the possibility of a Maravilla stoppage is real. He packs more than enough in his left hand to have put Norris in a world of shit. But Terry does figure to win. Either by UD, or late stoppage.
I think Norris would have had tough fights with Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik(Though KP was at 160), but I think if he fought smart and if he could be as effective at 160 as he was at 154(Debatable), then he would have beaten them. I think Norris is simply a better fighter than Martinez. But there is definitely a very real chance of Norris getting overconfident and KO'd in this one as well.
Norris was no middleweight, he'd have been KOd 100 times at that weight But Martinez's success at Middleweight has nothing to do with him at 154 ... succeeding at a higher weight than your opponent did is meaningless when discussing how you will do against that opponent... I personally think Marvin Hagler was too short and compact to ever successfully fight at 175... Thomas Hearns, on the other hand, looked excellent at 175 and won two titles... Naturally, that must mean he is bigger, better than Hagler... only, he wasn't and got owned
Terry was the best combination puncher I have ever seen. A beautiful boxer with a weak chin, I was in Vegas in Norris' heyday and he was the most exciting fighter when he was on top, and I was lucky enough to be working as corner security at the Mirage on the ring apron when he stopped Meldrick Taylor and he was the most perfect offensive machine I have ever witnessed in person. He lost some I figured he would win like versus Simon Brown and Keith Mullings, and depending on a few factors, he could lose here as Sergio is tough, determined and very skilled. I'm going with the pure ability of Norris to be a bit too much here for the tough Sergio and I think he wins a decision on his best night over the rugged Argentine.
not sure who wins, but i'd take martinez over everyone norris has fought. can't say the same for norris.
like Stinger said.. Norris was awesome. he would just assult Martinez and shut him down.. Martinez would not know what hit him and he'd wake up 5 years later at the carwash he opened in tijuana.. he'd remember that he was once a boxer
