I've thought about this one before. (and probably posted about it too) While @ 154 Norris was quicker than Oscar and a more skilled boxer than Tito both those guys had to go well beyond "rough patches" to get Nando out of there. I don't see Terry being able to do that or avoid those spots. I also don't think he can blitz him early like Trinidad nearly did so almost everything points to a Vargas win.
I do think Norris would have a rough spot or two. But I favor his superior skills and hand speed to carry the day. Vargas had trouble dealing with Trinidad's speed, and we saw De La Hoya's speed give him problems too. Plus, Norris power is a factor I think. His left hook can get Vargas outta there. But Vargas has things going for him here too. He can box a bit too, and he's physically strong. He could bully Norris around, and he packs enough power to shake up Norris. Don't see him KOing Terry, though. Overall, I think Norris would win either via late stoppage or competitive but clear UD. I think it's an excellent match up.
Vargas wouldn't beat Norris. Too much handspeed for him to overcome, and we all know he never met a left hook he could avoid, and Norris had a very good one. He gives Norris a lot of trouble for awhile, and hurts him several times, but over the course of fight more and more Norris pulls away with his speed and combinations.
Terry would have to hope that an opening blitz finishes Vargas off but I don't see it... Vargas didn't have too good a chin but the guy had an elephant's heart and was a difficult guy to keep down at his best... I think he survives some serious rough moments and eventually gets to Terry's terrible chin in a great fight
I know its fashionable to believe that Norris loses to every fighter in history with power, but I don't see it. Not Vargas, anyway. Trinidad? Yeah, he'd have blasted Norris. Vargas never stopped any top fighter. His only stoppages against "okay" fighters came against Campas, and Marquez. I also think its unfair that Terry's chin is the ONLY chin questioned here, cause Vargas hardly had a sturdy chin his damn self. And Cdogg, I actually think it's the other way around. Vargas would have to blitz Norris early to have a chance, not the other way around. The longer the fight goes, the more Norris' handspeed plays a factor, and he starts hitting Vargas with shots he doesn't see - which eventually leads to Vargas getting stopped.
Yup. Tito, DLH, and Mosley were all just too fast for him. No coincidence that his best performance came against Quartey, a guy without great speed.
A rusty, inactive Ike Quartey at that. And though Vargas clearly won that fight, Quartey did show what he could do in a few of those rounds.
Vargas beats washed up Leonard and Curry, but not as easily as Norris did. Especially not Leonard. If you watch Norris-Leonard, Ray still had above average handspeed at that point. He just wasn't fast enough to keep up with Norris at that point. But even a 35 year old Leonard would have had a speed edge over Vargas, so I don't think Vargas dominates him the way Norris did. I think that version of Leonard would have outboxed Vargas for the first few rounds, until his shotness set in and Vargas took over. I will say - outta the 3 guys to hand Vargas his major losses, the only one I'd take over Norris is Tito. I'd take Norris over DLH and Mosley at 154.
DLH and Mosley at 154 were better than anybody Norris ever beat Vargas kicks the shit out of the corpsed-up Leonard that Norris tortured
