John Mugabi vs. Terry Norris

{{Infobox boxing match

| Fight Name = The Beast Returns

| image = 230px

| caption =

| fight date = March 31, 1990

| location = USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S.

| titles = WBC super welterweight title

| fighter1 = John Mugabi

| nickname1 = The Beast

| hometown1 = Kampala, Uganda

| purse1 = $150,000

| record1 = 36–2 (36 KO)

| age1 = {{age in years and months|March 4, 1960|March 31, 1990}}

| height1 = 5 ft 8+1/2 in

| weight1 = 154 lb

| style1 = Orthodox

| recognition1 = WBC
Super Welterweight Champion

| fighter2 = Terry Norris

| nickname2 = Terrible

| hometown2 = Lubbock, Texas, U.S.

| purse2 = $30,000

| record2 = 24–3 (14 KO)

| age2 = {{age in years and months|June 17, 1967|March 31, 1990}}

| height2 = 5 ft 9 in

| weight2 = 154 lb

| style2 = Orthodox

| recognition2 = WBC
No. 5 Ranked Super Welterweight
NABF super welterweight champion

| result = Norris wins via 1st-round knockout

}}

John Mugabi vs. Terry Norris, billed as The Beast Returns, was a professional boxing match contested on March 31, 1990, for the WBC super welterweight title.{{cite web |title=John Mugabi vs. Terry Norris |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/John_Mugabi_vs._Terry_Norris |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=21 March 2025}}

Background

In his third title opportunity after losing his previous two title fights to Marvin Hagler and Duane Thomas in 1986, John Mugabi had defeated reigning WBC super welterweight champion René Jacquot on July 9, 1989 by first-round technical knockout after Jacquot had injured his ankle following a knockdown earlier in the round.[https://www.deseret.com/1989/7/9/18814779/jacquot-twists-ankle-so-mugabi-wins-wbc-title/ Jacquot Twists Ankle, So Mugabi Wins WBC Title], Deseret News article, 1989-07-09 Retrieved on 2025-03-18 Mugabi, who at the time was considered one of boxing's most fearsome fighters and sported a 100% knockout rate, had issues finding an opponent and fought two non-title bouts in October 1989 and January 1990 before finally reaching an agreement to defend his title against 22-year old contender Terry Norris, the WBC's number-five ranked super welterweight, in his adopted hometown of Tampa, Florida on March 31, 1990. Hoping for a more lucrative fight, Mugabi's promoter had issued multi-million dollar offers to Michael Nunn, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard but all three fighters declined Huff's offer, forcing Mugabi to meet Norris in a far less lucrative fight in which Mugabi was scheduled to earn $150,000 and Norris only $30,000. Huff opinioned "It really didn't matter how much money I offered, however, because these people are deathly scared to fight Mugabi under any circumstances."[https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/03/31/mugabi-makes-first-title-defense-today/ Mugabi makes first title defense today], Tampa Tribune article, 1990-03-31 Retrieved on 2025-03-18

==Fight Details==

Less than a minute into the first round, Mugabi was heavily stunned by a left hook. The blow put Mugabi on wobblily knees and Norris quickly followed up with combination that sent Mugabi down on his back. Mugabi answered the 10-count at eight but was still dazed as he staggered into referee Eddie Eckert but was allowed to continue. Upon the fight resuming, Norris closed in on Mugabi, but Mugabi was able to clinch Norris several times as he tried to get his legs back under him. After a minute and a half of weathering Norris' attack, Mugabi had seemingly recovered enough and decided to abandon his defensive approach and opted to trade punches with Norris. With 25 seconds remaining in the round, Mugabi went to throw a left but Norris connected flush with a right hand that sent Mugabi down face first on the canvas. Mugabi did not attempt to get back up until Eckert reached eight and was counted out, giving Norris the knockout victory at 2:47 of the round.[https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/04/01/norris-kos-mugabi-in-1st-round-challenger-wins-wbc-super-welterweight-title/ Norris KOs Mugabi in 1st round // Challenger wins WBC super-welterweight title], Tampa Tribune article, 1990-04-01 Retrieved on 2025-03-20

Fight card

Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/3123|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%;"
style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| Weight Class ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| Weight ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| vs. ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| Method ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| Round ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"\| Notes
Super Welterweight \|154 lbs. \|Terry Norris \|def. \|John Mugabi (c) \|align=center\|KO \|align=center\|1/12 \|{{ref\|John Mugabi vs. Terry Norris\|note 1}}
Middleweight \|160 lbs. \|Willie Monroe \|def. \|Ricky Stackhouse \|align=center\|TKO \|align=center\|6/10
Heavyweight \|200+ lbs. \|Jesse Ferguson \|def. \|Terry Armstrong \|align=center\|TKO \|align=center\|6/10
Light Heavyweight \|175 lbs. \|Ron Essett \|def. \|Phil Lewis \|align=center\|TKO \|align=center\|1/6
Super Middleweight \|168 lbs. \|Gerald Coleman \|def. \|Ron Foreman \|align=center\|TKO \|align=center\|1/4

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%;"

style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Weight Class

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Weight

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"|

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| vs.

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"|

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Method

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Round

! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Notes

Super Welterweight

|154 lbs.

|Terry Norris