In 1989, a young “Terrible” Terry Norris was a fighter on the come up when he faced feared power puncher and WBA junior-middleweight champion Julian Jackson.
Six years younger than Jackson and much faster, many felt that Norris would have the decisive edge if he avoided brawling exchanges with Jackson.
In the first round Norris did just that, stinging the champion with sharp right hands and constant circling to avoid retaliation. Jackson couldn’t get set to punch, and was stunned early in the round by Norris’ fast combinations.
The success made Norris too confident, and he began to allow Jackson to close distance and eventually trap him against the ropes. Jackson landed a crushing right that rendered Norris unconscious on his feet, and added a left hook and another right that sent the challenger face first to the canvas.
Norris beat the count, but was gone and in no shape to continue, giving Julian Jackson a definitive 2nd round knockout.
Julian Jackson would move up to middleweight, and make several defenses of the WBC title before losing to Gerald McClellan. He would retire in 1998 with a record of 55-6, 49 KOs. Jackson is considered today one of the hardest punchers pound for pound in the history of the sport.
Norris would bounce back after scoring a career highlight win over a faded Sugar Ray Leonard and Donald Curry in 1991. He also won several titles at light-middleweight before retiring in 1998 with a record of 47-9, 31 KOs. Norris would also successfully sue Don King for a million dollar settlement over brain damage suffered during his boxing career.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 