PHILLY BOXING HISTORY                                                                       February 15, 2009

  

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ROCHELLE NORRIS DIES;
FORMER ATLANTIC CITY
BOXER WAS 59

 

 
   

Rochelle Norris, a heavyweight boxer of the 1970s died last Tuesday (February 10th), in Pleasantville, NJ, the town where he lived most of his life. Norris was born in Florida but relocated to the Jersey shore area while still in school. After a brief amateur career, Norris turned pro and accumulated a 14-6-1 (5 KO) record. His first fight came in March of 1973 at Atlantic City's Convention Hall. That night, he stopped his opponent, Henry Lawson, in three rounds.

Three fights later, he defeated Don Branch in the first of his three Philadelphia / Spectrum appearances. After winning a total of six bouts in a row, Norris returned to the Spectrum and lost to Obie English by KO in four rounds. It was his first loss. He strung together five more wins - including a points verdict over tough, 11-0, Mike Koranicki in 1974 - before being stopped by legendary puncher Earnie Shavers, in the 10th and final round of their 1975 fight, in New York. Shavers was 47-4-1, with 46 KOs, going into the fight, and Norris only 11-1, with 5 KOs.

After this second loss, Norris was thrown to two more wolves, the vastly more experienced Larry Middleton, and an undefeated, 30-0 (27 KO), Duane Bobick, back in the day when the former US Olympian was considered a legitimate title threat. Norris lost both of these bouts by knockout.

In the last stretch of his career, Norris went 2-2 through 1978, and then returned for two more bouts, a 1980 win against Johnny Warr at Resorts in Atlantic City, and an 8-round draw against Leroy Diggs in 1982, in Pennsauken, NJ. His career wrapped at 14-6-1.

Norris was remembered by Guy Gargan, an Upper Darby middleweight from the same era. "Roch and I trained together at Seven Champs Gym on Main Street in Pleasantville in 1971-73. What I remember about Roch was his great sense of humor and his great laugh. He was a guy who didn't get much credit, and he had some tough luck."

Norris is survived by daughter Katora, two step-children, Teneka and Warren, six living sisters, three living brothers, and many grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and friends. Norris also had three deceased siblings.

A memorial service will be held for Rochelle on Wednesday (02/18) at Adams Perfect Funeral Home in Northfield, NJ at 5PM.

   
 

 

 
 

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John DiSanto - February 15, 2009
 

 
     
 

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