Orlin Norris facts for kids

Orlin Levance Norris (born October 4, 1965) is an American former professional boxer. He competed in boxing from 1986 to 2005. Orlin Norris was a champion in the cruiserweight division. He held the WBA cruiserweight title from 1993 to 1995.

Before becoming a professional, he was a successful amateur boxer. He won the National Golden Gloves title. Orlin is also the brother of another famous boxer, Terry Norris.

Orlin's Boxing Journey

Starting as a Heavyweight Boxer

Orlin Norris began his professional boxing career in 1986. He started in the heavyweight division. He quickly became a top-ranked boxer that many opponents tried to avoid.

In 1988, he won the NABF heavyweight title. He beat Larry Alexander to win this title. After that, he won more fights against well-known boxers. These included Renaldo Snipes, Jesse Ferguson, and former world champion Greg Page (boxer).

In 1990, Orlin faced some tough challenges. He lost to former world champion Tony Tubbs. This loss was later changed to a "no-decision" because Tubbs had used an illegal substance. Orlin then lost another fight to Bert Cooper. He had to stop fighting in the 8th round due to a knee injury.

But Orlin bounced back! In 1990, he beat future world champion Oliver McCall. In 1991, he won his NABF title back. He knocked out Lionel Washington in the first round. He then defended his title against Tony Tucker. However, he lost this fight in a close and debated decision. Many thought Orlin had actually won.

Becoming a Cruiserweight World Champion

After his fight with Tony Tucker, it was hard for Orlin to find opponents. Boxers didn't want to risk fighting him. So, he decided to move to a lighter weight class. He moved down to the cruiserweight division.

He first won the USBA belt in this new division. Then, in 1993, Orlin Norris won the WBA cruiserweight title. He beat Marcelo Victor Figueroa for this championship. He successfully defended his title five times. This included two wins against Arthur Williams and a victory over Adolpho Washington. Both of these boxers later became world champions. He also defended his title in Mexico against James Heath.

In 1995, Orlin lost his WBA cruiserweight title. He was defeated by Nate Miller in London, England. Orlin had a difficult performance in this fight. He was knocked out in the 8th round.

Returning to the Heavyweight Division

In 1996, Orlin Norris moved back to the heavyweight division. He won a rematch against Tony Tucker. However, he faced a long legal problem with boxing promoter Don King. This caused him to lose his chance to fight for the WBA heavyweight title. Instead of fighting champion Evander Holyfield, Orlin had to fight Henry Akinwande. Akinwande won the fight by decision. Orlin missed out on a heavyweight title fight again.

In 1999, Orlin traveled to the UK. He quickly knocked out Pele Reid in the first round. He was supposed to fight Herbie Hide for the WBO title, but Hide pulled out at the last minute.

Orlin Norris fought Mike Tyson in 1999. After the first round, Tyson knocked Norris down. Orlin injured his knee when he fell. He said he could not continue the fight. The fight was then ruled a "no contest." This means the fight did not count as a win or loss for either boxer. Doctors later confirmed Orlin had a dislocated kneecap.

After this, Orlin continued to fight. In 2000, he lost to Andrew Golota. In 2001, he lost quickly to Vitali Klitschko in Germany. He also lost a 12-round fight to Brian Nielsen for the IBO title in Denmark.

In 2005, he had a draw (a tie) with former champion Vassiliy Jirov. This fight brought some excitement back to his career.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Orlin Norris had a long career with many fights. Here's a quick look at his professional boxing record:

See also

In Spanish: Orlin Norris para niños

• List of world cruiserweight boxing champions