Tokyo Fist: Brian Norman Jr. KOs Jin Sasaki to retain welterweight crown
The King of the South conquered the Far East
WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. defended his strap with a concussive fifth-round knockout of hometown challenger Jin Sasaki on Thursday at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
This marked the second successful defence for the 24-year-old Norman (28-0, 22 KOs), an Atlanta native and boxing’s youngest male world champion. Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) saw his nine-fight unbeaten streak end at the hands of Norman, who unleashed a vicious left hook that left him on the canvas for several minutes.
“It was a wonderful fight. I had a great opponent in front of me. You all seen he got heart. That boy is not a slouch at all. I give nothing but props to him. I love ya’ll over here in Japan. I’d gladly come back,” Norman said. “I knew whatever he was bringing to the table, I’m a champion for a reason. As you saw, I showed that.”
He showed that in the opening minute of the fight, dropping Sasaki with a left hook to the top of the head. Norman notched another knockdown at the end of the round, but Sasaki survived and threw back in the face of the storm. Norman almost secured the stoppage in round three, pinning Sasaki to the ropes and finding a home for uppercuts and straight right hands. Two rounds later, the end came courtesy of a Knockout of the Year contender.
Norman said, “I wish I had a certain fight coming up [against Jaron “Boots” Ennis]. They heard B. Norm the storm is coming, and you know what happens when a storm is coming. You grab your boots and run. We shall see what’s next for me.”
