Norris Speaks Out Via Tko

Terry Norris stopped Joaqin Velasquez 45 seconds into the second round Friday night to retain his World Boxing Council junior middleweight championship and keep on track for a possible big-money fight against Oscar de la Hoya.

Norris hurt Velasquez with a combination and a left uppercut in the first round at the Station Casino. Velasquez spent much of the last minutes of the round on the ropes, taking a flurry of punches from Norris.

At the start of the second round, Norris chased Velasquez into a corner, then delivered a combination that left Velasquez slumped on the ropes 45 seconds into the second round.

Referee Mills Lane then stopped the fight.

Norris, 46-6 with 29 knockouts, hadn’t fought in eight months. He is planning to fight in October and again in December on a card that includes de la Hoya.

Norris left promoter Don King in June in a dispute over money and signed with promoter Bob Arum.

“I think I showed I am a puncher,” Norris said. “I also showed a little boxing. I wish it would have gone a little longer so I could have showed the world that I am a boxer.

“I showed if you step in harm’s way, I am going to knock you out. And if you move back, I’m going to box you,” he said.

Velasquez is 22-14-1.

Three of Norris’ six losses have been by disqualification, including two straight to Luis Santana. Norris was disqualified for hitting Santana in the back of the head and again for hitting him after the bell.

In an earlier fight, Freddie Norwood won a unanimous decision over Agapito Sanchez for the vacant continental featherweight title of the fringe International Boxing Association.