Brian Norman Jr. Confident Ahead of Fight Against Jin Sasaki in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan – Brian Norman Jr. is preparing to defend his WBO welterweight title against Jin Sasaki on Thursday, June 19. The fight will take place at the Ota-City General Gymnasium and will stream live in the U.S. starting at 4 a.m. ET.

Norman Jr., who boasts an undefeated record of 27-0 with 21 knockouts, is not concerned about the challenge posed by the #2-ranked Sasaki, who has a record of 19-1-1 with 17 KOs. Norman studied Sasaki’s style and believes there are no surprises awaiting him.

“I know Sasaki’s habits, techniques, and anything he wants to do,” Norman said. “There’s nothing he can do to surprise me besides grow a third arm. I’m expecting him to fight harder than he ever has before because of the magnitude of this fight, but the end result will still be the same. I came with my belt and I’m leaving with my belt.”

Despite Sasaki’s WBO ranking, many view his past opponents as less competitive. Critics question how he achieved a top-tier ranking following victories against lower-level fighters.

Norman Jr.’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, may question the choice of Sasaki as an opponent, as the fight’s timing could limit viewership. However, Norman remains focused and ready, stating that he is accustomed to different fighting environments.

“I really haven’t needed to adjust my training for this location; training is training no matter where you are,” he added. “You don’t have to change how you walk just because you’re in another country.”

The main event of Norman Jr. vs. Sasaki is budgeted to begin at approximately 7:15 a.m. ET. A hand injury had previously delayed Norman’s first title defense, but he successfully defeated Derrieck Cuevas in March. As he gears up for this next fight, Norman aims to continue his rise in the sport.