Norris Looking to Use Daniels as Steppingstone to Richer Fight

SAN DIEGO — Terry Norris looks for his 10th consecutive victory and his sixth in a row as the World Boxing Council junior-middleweight champion this afternoon against Carl Daniels at the San Diego Sports Arena.

Norris (30-3), who won the 154-pound title two years ago and beat Sugar Ray Leonard in New York a year ago, wants to parlay a good showing against Daniels (26-0) today into a much richer match with Aaron Davis on May 30 in Paris.

Norris, a 24-year-old from Campo, Calif., is matched today with a younger (21), less experienced opponent who is trained by Donald Curry. Norris, who will earn $150,000 today, knocked out Curry in Palm Springs last June 1. Norris would earn about $450,000 for the Paris match.

Also on today’s card is Gabriel Ruelas, the 27-1 junior-lightweight puncher from the Ten Goose stable in Van Nuys. Ruelas meets Tommy Valdez (32-11) of Tucson in an eight-round bout.

Mark Gastineau, the former New York Jet defensive end who is 7-0 as a pro, meets Jaime Berg (1-2) of Oklahoma City.