BRIAN NORMAN JR will be left with a bittersweet taste if, as expected, unified welterweight champion Jaron Ennis moved to super-welterweight.
Norman had been linked to a lucrative clash with his countryman but now could be left as the man to beat at 147lbs. Before Norman can look towards unifications and facing the best of the rest, the WBO world champion must defend his crown overseas.
Norman, 27-0 (21 KOs), knocked out Giovani Santillan to claim the interim strap last May, before being upgraded the following month after former undisputed champion Terence Crawford vacated the title.
Amidst talks of a showdown with ‘Boots’ Ennis, Norman didn’t return to action for a first defence of his belt until March, where he stopped Derrieck Cuevas in just three rounds to cement himself as a worthy titleholder.
Now, boxing’s youngest world champion ventures to Japan, tasked with Tokyo-born power puncher Jin Sasaki, 19-1-1 (17 KOs), in a bout that seems destined to catch fire.
Sasaki has won six of his last seven contests inside the distance, patiently awaiting his shot at a world title since stopping Ryota Toyoshima in the opening round of their scrap for the WBO Asia belt back in January 2023.
Whilst not the most technical, Sasaki’s aggression makes him a force to be reckoned with at 147lbs and a dangerous proposal for Norman.
Nearly 90 percent of Sasaki’s knockout victories have come within five rounds, indicating that the hard-hitting 23-year-old will waste no time in getting to work and will be keen to enforce a fast start and high tempo from the get-go.
For Norman, Sasaki represents an intriguing test, a challenger who will come forward relentlessly and fight him on the front-foot.
Although, Norman has shown that he is no feather duster himself and may well decide to meet him in centre ring due to the confidence gained from his back-to-back stoppage wins.
Props must be given to the American for his willingness to travel to Ota City as a champion and go toe-to-toe with such a feared puncher in Thursday’s salivating main-event.
BRIAN NORMAN JR. VS JIN SASAKI FIGHT PREDICTION
Whilst the power of Sasaki must be respected, his inexperience on the world stage does cause concern.
The challenger will likely go on the hunt from the get-go in search of a destructive win, but the skill of Norman will shine through as the confident champion lands the more accurate shots.
Norman’s performance against Santillan showed that he has the guts and guile to perform under pressure and shake off a swarmer such as Sasaki. Expect a similar display here.
After an even opening to the fight it should break out into an exciting brawl before Norman begins to take control and grinds out a late stoppage win between rounds 9-12.
