This Lubbock, Texas native later moved to San Diego and made a name for himself in the early going. He lost a couple of early fights by disqualification, but for the most part compiled a solid record, including a stunning knockout win against Steve Little in December 1988.

Terry Norris first challenged Julian Jackson for a title - the WBA junior middleweight crown, to be exact - in July 1989. Norris frustrated Jackson in the first round, but a big second-round left hook from the champion froze Norris in his tracks and stopped him in that same round.

Early the next year, 1990, Norris traveled to Tampa, Florida the hometown of his opponent, Ugandan-born John Mugabi, who once fought Marvin Hagler and entered the bout with Norris as the WBC junior middleweight titlist. Norris wasted no time in getting busy (and stopping) the champion, flooring him twice in the first round - the second time for the full count - and thus starting what would be the first of three mostly impressive reigns as champion.

Many thought that Norris' reign would be a short one because his second defense was against the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard in Madison Square Garden in February 1991. Norris, though, proved he was for real by battering and bruising Sugar Ray while taking a 12-round unanimous verdict. His next defense, a June victory over another former welterweight kingpin - Donald Curry - further cemented Norris' place in the history of the 154-lb. division as Norris wore down his foe and knocked him out in the eighth.

Other foes in that first reign included the tough Argentinian Jorge Castro, who lasted twelve rounds in losing, and two welterweight champions, Meldrick Taylor (then the WBA champion), and Maurice Blocker (who held the IBF version at the time of his challenge).

By late 1993, almost everyone thought that Norris was going to be champ forever, but then along came Simon Brown, former WBC and IBF welterweight titlist, who just barreled over him in four rounds to win the title and halt Norris' defense streak at ten. Norris then regained the title in convincing fashion, by unanimous verdict over Brown in May 1994, before losing to Luis Santana by DQ in November of that year, losing to Santana (AGAIN by DQ) in an April 1995 rematch, then finally beating Santana in bona fide style - 2nd-round TKO - to reclaim the WBC title in August 1995.

Norris then won a 12-round unanimous decision over hated San Diego rival Paul Vaden in December 1995 to add Vaden's IBF title to his WBC version, and made a few more defenses against the likes of Vincent Pettway (former IBF champion), Nick Rupa, and Alex Rios, before being stripped of the IBF title by that sanctioning body sometime in 1997 and relieved of the WBC version - via KO - by Keith Mullings in December of that year.

Norris would continue to fight, though no longer as champion. He would fight Dana Rosenblatt for a minor title, losing a unanimous decision, then would challenge Laurent Boudouani of France for the WBA junior middleweight title in late 1998, with Boudouani wearing down Norris in nine rounds to stay champion.

After the Boudouani match, Norris' career would then gradually 'peter out' into semi-oblivion.

Norris was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in January 2005.