The Boxing History Blog

Pernell Whitaker Now campaigning as a light-welterweight, Pernell Whitaker easily outpointed Harold Brazier in January 1992 and knocked out Jerry Smith in a round four months later. On 18th July 1992 he stepped back into world-class territory and challenged Rafael Pineda for his IBF light-welterweight title. The defending champion had been a professional since April 1986 and the sole loss on his record came in a challenge to Mark Breland's WBA welterweight crown three years later. The Colombian went on a winning run of six before facing Roger Mayweather for the vacant IBF light-welterweight championship in December 1991. Pineda stopped Mayweather in the ninth round and successfully defended the title for the first time against Clarence Coleman, the same night as Whitaker's first-round blowout of Jerry Smith. On 18th July 1992 at the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Pineda and Whitaker clashed for the championship. The champion was docked points in rounds six and eight for low ...

'Terrible' Terry Norris Terry Norris was born on 17th June 1967 in Lubbock, Texas. He had to leave his hometown as he was involved in a brawl during a baseball game, where he was stabbed by a masked assailant in a night club and shot at. "If I'd stayed, I'd probably be in a pine box." He left for the KO Corral boxing ranch in California, run by Joe Sayatovich, so he could be with his elder brother Orlin. Terry was the more gifted boxer of the two as he oozed natural talent. Where Orlin was cursed as being too small for a heavyweight and too big for the cruiserweight division.  Terry Norris turned professional on 02nd August 1986 against Jose Luis Cordova, who was also making his debut. He went 12-0 before losing a ten round unanimous decision to Derrick Kelly. He bounced back against Edward Neblett, but lost his discipline in November 1987 and got disqualified for hitting opponent Joe Walker, whilst he was down. Eight wins later he l...

  Early Life & Career Born on 12th July 1962, Chavez was one of ten children. He claimed that "I started fighting before I was one minute old." On 05th February 1980, aged 17 he made his professional debut against Andres Felix winning by a sixth-round knockout. There are sources that suggest Chavez actually lost an early fight due to a disqualification, but this hasn't been confirmed. As records stand he was 43-0 when he challenged fellow Mexican Mario Martinez for the vacant WBC super-featherweight crown on 13th September 1984. Explosive short hooks and body punches helped him on the way to an eighth-round victory. Over a period of three years, Chavez made nine successful defences including such names as Roger Mayweather, Francisco Tomas Da Cruz and Juan Laporte. He also had a few non-title fights against some obscure opponents like Roberto Collins Lindo who had a record of 1-15-0. On 21st November 1987 Chavez moved up to the lightweight division and cha...