Terry Norris retained his World Boxing Council super welterweight title Saturday night with an eighth-round knockout of former champion Donald Curry.
In the second fight of the title doubleheader, Meldrick Taylor made the first defense of his World Boxing Association welterweight crown a successful one, taking a split decision over previously unbeaten Luis Garcia of Venezuela.Norris, in his first fight since he beat Sugar Ray Leonard, sent Curry down for an 8-count as the seventh round ended, then knocked him out 2:53 into the eighth round of the scheduled 12-round fight.
Norris, 28-3 with 15 knockouts, scored with combinations throughout the early rounds. With superior hand and foot speed, Norris landed many more punches than Curry, the former undisputed welterweight champion.
Taylor's win ran the champion's record to 27-1-1, with 14 knockouts. Garcia is 22-1, with 17 knockouts. Both weighed 1463/4 for their fight in the temporary arena outdoors at a desert resort hotel.
Taylor, a 10-1 favorite despite the challenger's perfect record, earned $1 million-plus for the first defense of the crown he captured with a 12-round decision over Aaron Davis last Jan. 12.
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