Brian Norman Sr. says he likes the Jin Sasaki fight more for his son, WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr., than he does a unification clash with IBF belt-holder Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Japan’s Millions
Norman Sr. believes there’s more money for his son to make fighting #2 WBO contender Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) in Japan than there is fighting Boots Ennis. He says there are “millions” for Brian Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) to make fighting Sasaki in Japan.
Last Saturday night, Sasaki showed up at Norman Jr’s post-fight press conference to ask him to fight him next following his third-round knockout win over Derrieck Cuevas at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas.
As Brian Sr. describes it, Sasaki showed up with a “whole squad” and the “Whole Japanee government’ to call out Norman Jr. There were cameras everywhere, and you could tell that Team Sasaki had coordinated their efforts well for the callout.
Boxing fans have mixed reactions towards Norman Jr. showing interest in fighting Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs). While some like the idea of Brian Jr. taking this fight, others view it as a sign that he’s ducking a fight against Ennis, who is seen as the #1 welterweight in the division. Sasaki has mostly fought lesser opposition during his seven-year career.
He was knocked out by Andy Hiraoka in the 11th round when he took a step-up fight in 2021. Since then, Sasaki has returned to fighting the same lesser-known fighters he’d built his record on, and he’s done well.
“I like it. People are saying, ‘You can’t do it without Boots. You can’t make millions without Boots,’” said Brian Norman Sr. to MillCity Boxing about his interest in his son defending his WBO welterweight title against #2 Jin Sasaki next in Japan to make millions. “So, it’s a very smart decision. I like it.
Sasaki’s Last Six Opponents
– Shoki Sakai – 29-14-3
– Qamil Balla
– Joe Noynay
– Hiroto Hoshi – 5-2-3
– Keita Obara
– Ryota Toyoshima
International Markets
“He [Sasaki] had the whole squad with him. He had the whole Japanese government with him,” said Norman Sr. “They had the whole team with them. I stayed out of the way. There were so many cameras in my son’s face during that interview between him and Sasaki. I couldn’t even get close. That s*** was crazy. You could see they were all up in his face.”
As you can tell, Norman Sr. is thinking about the millions that his son can make in a low-risk fight against Sasaki in Japan. It’s easy money for Norman, 24, and too good to pass up.
“I think it’s a great decision from a business standpoint. We want both. We want legacy and money. To me, I like it,” said Norman Sr. thinking dollars signs in his head. “If he beats Sasaki in Japan, he gets a whole another international audience. There aren’t any other welterweights going across seas doing s*** like that. Whole another country. Of course, they’ve got to pay us to come. So, that’s where the millions come in at.
“The Jin Sasaki fight is worth more than the Jaron Ennis fight. It’s worth more money, and it’s on the same network. So, guess what? Mr. Taxman says its good for the taxes,” said Norman Sr., thinking about the moolah for his son.
Last Updated on 04/01/2025
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