Former NABF Heavyweight Champion Headlines Country Club Boxing Card
Heavyweight Orlin Norris will begin his comeback from a freak knee injury sustained in February when he takes on Rufus “Hurricane” Hadley in a scheduled 10-round bout Tuesday night at the Country Club.
Norris, 22-2 with nine knockouts, held the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight crown for two years, successfully defending it against Greg Page, Renaldo Snipes, Dee Collier and Jesse Ferguson before losing it to Tony Tubbs in November, 1989.
But a post-fight drug test found illegal drugs in Tubbs’ system and the NABF ordered the title vacated.
It was in his fight to regain the title against Bert Cooper on Feb. 17 that Norris, now living and training in Campo, Calif., suffered a dislocated knee. He was ahead on all three scorecards when the accident occurred in the eighth round.
Hadley, of Los Angeles, is 15-4-1 with 11 knockouts. He last fought in May, 1989. During the past year and a half he has been one of the main sparring partners for former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Norris and Hadley fought early in 1987, with Norris scoring a 10-round decision.
The card begins at 7:30 p.m.
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