Promoter Near Agreement on Norris-Lally Fight in San Diego

Boxer Terry Norris’ manager and promoter Dan Goosen are expected to cement a deal within 48 hours that would bring Norris to the Sports Arena Aug. 17 to fight Brett Lally.

“I think it’s time for Terry to fight in San Diego,” said Joe Sayatovich, Norris’ manager. “Hopefully, the deal will be done by (Friday) morning.”

Norris grew up in Texas, but trains in Campo.

Goosen, who promoted Norris’ last fight against Donald Curry in Palm Springs, said negotiations could be completed today.

“I don’t foresee any problems,” said Goosen, who is co-promoting the bout with Scott Woodworth of Arena Boxing. “This will be a great coup for San Diego to have the man who beat Sugar Ray Leonard fight in their town.”

HBO is scheduled to broadcast the fight, which will be Norris’ fourth defense of his junior-middleweight title. Lally is ranked third by the World Boxing Council.

Sayatovich said Lally’s style is comparable to that of Rene Jacquot, whom Norris fought in his first defense.

“He’s more of a brawler,” Sayatovich said. “We needed an opponent who would put up a fight. There aren’t that many junior middleweights around now. We’re not interested in fighting tomato cans. Lally’s a good fight that the fans will enjoy.”

Goosen said he almost staged the Norris-Curry bout in San Diego.

“The timing wasn’t quite right,” he said. “But after seeing that 85% of the ticket sales were from San Diego--that made us lean toward San Diego. I’ve got no reservations about going to San Diego.”

Even though a title fight hasn’t been held in San Diego for almost 20 years?

“They said Palm Springs wasn’t a fight town either,” Goosen said. “But we proved that theory wrong.”

Orlin Norris, Terry’s brother, is expected to be on the card along with Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas.

Sayatovich said Norris will probably have to make a mandatory title defense in November against Jorge Castro of Argentina and that HBO has already shown interest in televising the bout.

Boxing Notes

Promoter Robert DePhillipis announced that Caesar Decena (20-9) from Guadalajara will be the opponent for Jesus Salud (41-4) in the featured bout of the six-card fights at the Del Mar Fair Grounds on July 5. Salud, a two-time world champion from Hawaii, will fight Decena at 124 pounds. San Diego middleweight Paul Vaden (2-0) will fight Shawn Wheeler of Los Angeles, who will be making his pro debut.