WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr’s dad, Brian Sr., was gloating after his fifth-round one-punch knockout of Challenger Jin Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) on Thursday night at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Brian Sr. believes the win proved something and scared away Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, who announced that he’s moving up to 154.
Norman Jr. battered Sasaki with power shots, knocking him down three times in the fight, and left him badly hurt from the third knockdown in round five. He had to be stretchered out of the ring.
Brian Sr. Gloats, Rips Ennis
“You heard what Brian Jr. said when the storm was coming. You grab your boots and run,” said Brian Norman Sr. in social media, reveling in his son’s win over Jin Sasaki on Thursday night, and slamming Jaron Ennis for running up to 154 rather than staying to fight. “People didn’t know why he [Ennis] was running. Now, y’all see why he was running.”
Norman Jr.’s Resume: Good Enough?
Boxing fans would buy the idea of Boots Ennis of fleeing the 147-lb division to avoid Norman Jr. if the WBO champion fought better opposition. Beating punching bags like Jin Sasaki isn’t enough for Norman Jr. to make people believe he put the scare in Ennis. To be taken seriously, Norman Jr. needs to add these names to his resume:
– Devin Haney
– Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero
– Shakhram Giyasov
– Ryan Garcia
– Rohan Polanco
– Karen Chukhadzhian
– Eimantas Stanionis
– Conor Benn
“He knew what the f*** was going on. He knew what was happening,said Norman Sr. about Boots Ennis. “The man [Brian Norman Jr.] is 24 years old, sleeping people, getting them sent out of the ring on a stretcher. Y’all want any part of that? I wouldn’t want any part of that if I was him [Ennis]. In a whole other country, putting people to sleep.”
Why Ennis Avoided Norman Jr.
Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, says he’s moving up to 154 because he was only 50% after making weight for his last fight against Stanionis. Hearn says Boots told him he didn’t feel strong after making weight, and he felt that he’d have his strength back at 154. Obviously, the timing is suspicious, coming right when Norman Jr. is defending against Sasaki. It makes it look like Boots ran from him after watching the blowout victory.
“Brick by brick. No eye test titles. Earned. This s*** was earned. All of it earned. His [Norman Jr] last three opponents had a combined record of 78-2 with 50-something knockouts,” said Brian Sr. “Do the research. Jin Sasaki, ranked #2 in the WBO. Ranked #6 in the Ring Magazine. Giovani Santillon ranked #1 in the WBO. Ranked #4 now after he got beat by my son and Ring Magazine.”
Those guys that Brian Norman Jr. beat, weren’t that good. Santillon and Sasaki had never beaten anyone good. Moreover, the WBO’s decision to rank Sasaki at #2 was odd because his resume is totally empty of names.
Last Updated on 06/19/2025
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