Orlin Norris Disputes Story of Sanchez Firing : Boxing: Fighter says trainer of brother Terry Norris treated unfairly.

Cruiserweight boxer Orlin Norris read recent newspaper accounts of Terry Norris’ breakup with trainer Abel Sanchez and couldn’t believe what he was reading.

Norris said Tuesday that he knows the real story and it wasn’t close to what he read in the Union-Tribune .

“It was very inaccurate,” Norris said. “Fair had nothing to do with it. It’s unfortunate for both parties.”

Norris, the No. 1-ranked cruiserweight in the three major boxing organizations, is close to both parties. Sanchez is his manager and trainer and Terry Norris, the World Boxing Council’s junior middleweight champion, is his brother.

“Abel’s always been my friend and Terry’s,” Orlin said. “It hurts me to see somebody treated so unfairly.”

What Norris read is this: Sanchez was dismissed Nov. 12 by Terry Norris and Joe Sayatovich, Terry Norris’ manager, for three reasons.

--Sanchez attempted to get Norris’ father, Orlin (Shot) Norris Sr., fired as co-trainer of Terry so he could collect a higher percentage of the WBC champion’s purses.

--Terry Norris was concerned that Sanchez was training local middleweight Paul Vaden to some day beat him.

--Sanchez was arranging a managerial deal with Terry Norris and Dan Duva behind Sayatovich’s back. Sayatovich’s contract with Terry Norris expires in 1994.

“I know (the reasons given) are not true,” Orlin Norris said. “I can say with every bit of confidence that they’re not realistic accusations.”

One by one, Norris answered the accusations against Sanchez, who had been Terry Norris’ trainer for 3 1/2 years.

“I know for a fact that there have been discussions about my dad being taken out of the picture, but Abel was against it,” Orlin Norris said. “(Sayatovich) wanted him out, but we wouldn’t go along with it.

Shot Norris, who co-trains Terry along with Joe Goossen and also works for Sayatovich’s First Fighter Squadron in Campo, backed up Orlin.

“I know that Joe tried to get rid of me over the lifting weights issue. I don’t believe that lifting weights is good for a fighter, but Joe does.”

On Paul Vaden being a threat to Terry: “You look at Paul Vaden and you see at someone who’s had 13 fights,” Orlin Norris said. “He’s not even on a national level. By the time he gets to that level, Terry will be retired or fighting in a higher weight class.”

On Sanchez trying to make a deal with Dan Duva: “He has nothing to gain by Terry being represented by somebody else. Abel is in no position to negotiate with anyone else without Terry knowing. It would be stupid for Abel to risk losing the money Terry brings him.”

Attempts to reach Terry Norris and Sayatovich Tuesday night in Las Vegas, where Terry Norris will fight Pat Lawlor on Sunday, were unsuccessful.

Sanchez, who wouldn’t respond to the charges leveled against him, said he made about $200,000 from Terry Norris in the past two years.

Shot Norris did not read the Union-Tribune stories, but when told of the reasons why Sanchez was fired, he said: “I really don’t believe that. I think something’s going on with Joe and Abel. I don’t think it was so much to do with Terry.

”. . . Abel’s been around us a long time,” Shot Norris said. “I still consider him a good friend. Somebody’s lying. You know if you lie, you’ll eventually get caught in it.”

Terry Norris and Sayatovich were quoted in the stories as saying Sanchez was fired essentially for becoming too “greedy.” But Orlin said Sanchez’s leaving had nothing to do with greed.

Norris said Sayatovich wanted more power over Terry Norris’ boxing career than Sanchez was giving him.

“It’s power, not money,” Orlin said. “Abel’s been in the game longer than Joe. A couple times, Abel questioned Joe about my career and Terry’s career. Abel couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting any title shots. Joe thought I should retire from boxing, but Abel wouldn’t go along with it. Abel spoke his mind and didn’t play by the rules.”

Sanchez said he was dismissed by Sayatovich in a letter that was signed by Sayatovich and Terry Norris. But Sanchez said Terry Norris has never told him in person that he was being fired. In fact, Sanchez said Norris told him days later that the letter was not valid.

Shot Norris said he heard Terry tell Abel he could still be his trainer if he agreed to a smaller percentage of Terry’s purses.

“Terry told me he didn’t really fire Abel,” Shot said. “He just wanted his take to go down. But Joe never gave Abel the chance to respond.”

Shot Norris said he will get to the bottom of the dispute.

“I’m kind of like a private investigator, trying to find out what’s going on.”

Some day, Orlin said, his brother will come to his senses.

“I think he’ll come back to Abel but it may be too late when he does,” Orlin Norris said. “I could tell in his voice it wasn’t going how he thought it would go.”