Trainer Bernie Davis says WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. is the “strongest puncher” in the 147-lb division after watching him obliterate Derrieck Cuevas in three rounds last month on March 29th. Davis says Norman Jr. and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis are the “best fight” in the welterweight division.
The fight might not happen unless Boots’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, comes up with a big enough offer to make it worthwhile for Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) to agree. He didn’t want to increase the $1.7 million offer to $2.2 million that Norman and his dad were asking.
All it would have taken is an extra $500,000. Ennis could have fought Norman Jr. on November 9th last year instead of being embarrassed by Karen Chukhadzhian in their rematch at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Being cheap cost Ennis, and his stock plummeted after that fight.
If Hearn was too thrifty to want to sweeten the deal last time, what makes you think he’s going to want to increase the offer even more now that Norman Jr’s popularity has increased? If Brian Jr. wants $3 million now, will Hearn be willing to invest in Ennis’ future? I doubt it. As such, Ennis might as well move up to 154 now and start over. Hopefully, this time, his promoter Hearn won’t be Scrooge McDuck when it comes to negotiating.
“Strongest Puncher”
“Brian Norman is the strongest puncher at welterweight, and for that fact alone and with the title and his superb knockouts, pay the man and get him in the ring. It’s the best fight that can be made at welterweight,” said coach Bernie Davis to MillCity Boxing, praising WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. and wanting to see a fight between him and unified two-belt champ Jaron ‘Boot’ Ennis.
It’s easy to see the difference in power between Norman Jr, 24, and Boots Ennis. The loud thudding sound of Norman’s punches when they land is a lot louder than Ennis’ shots and the damage that they do to his opponents.
Boots wouldn’t be able to get through a fight against him, taking the kind of shots he was getting hit with in his last two fights against Eimantas Stanionis and Karen Chukhadzhian.
“I could see Brian Norman getting hit a lot easier because Boots has got them fast hands,” said Davis. “Brian Norman just stands there. He ain’t really got no good head movement or nothing like that. I just think it’s a good fight. He’s a young champion. He’s a strong champion that believes in himself, and he’s been in the sparring ring with him [Ennis].”
Norman Jr. stands flat-footed, which explains why his punches are so hard. However, that’s natural strength. Ennis doesn’t hit like that when he’s flat-footed, even though he’s a bigger fighter after rehydrating. Norman Jr, 5’8″, is two inches shorter than the 5’10” Boots, and more compact with his power.
“As far as cosmetics, that’s the only reason why we say Boots [would win], because Boots has got the flashy style, but Brian Norman is coming,” said Davis. “Did you see how Brian Norman put the hurts on that boy?” said Bernie about Norman Jr’s third-round knockout win over Derrieck Cuevas on March 29th.
Cuevas quit on his feet after Norman Jr. hurt him in that fight. He knew that if he continued fighting, he’d be knocked out right away because he was in trouble after taking that big shot.
Tank-Like Hits
“Did you see what he did to that dude last time? That dude came out with a lot of [firepower], and he took that shot,” said Bernie.” Brian Norman took that shot. That man caught him with a shot that he didn’t see, and he took that shot that kind of wobbled him. But he didn’t stop firing; he didn’t get scared. He kept on, and he hit that man like Tank. He did a Tank with him.
“He hit him upside the head and not even dropping him. He dropped him with a power jab. The man said, ‘I don’t want no more,’” said Bernie about Cuevas quitting on his feet after Norman Jr. hurt him in the third round.
Last Updated on 04/16/2025
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