Brian Norman Vows to Become Next Great Welterweight Champion

LAS VEGAS, March 29, 2025 — WBO world champion Brian Norman is determined to carve his name into the welterweight history books. He will defend his title against Derrieck Cuevas on the undercard of the Mikaela Mayer–Sandy Ryan rematch, set to air live on Sky Sports Action starting at midnight this Sunday.

Norman, who boasts an unbeaten record of 26 professional fights, aims to establish himself as the dominant force in a division otherwise noted for its lack of a standout champion. With prominent champions like Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis preparing for their own title bout next month, Norman is keen to assert his dominance.

“You will be entertained. Don’t go to the bathroom, the refrigerator, don’t check your mailbox, you better tune into the TV, because you will see something amazing,” Norman told Sky Sports. He expressed confidence in facing Cuevas, stating: “I believe he is the perfect opponent. He’s coming to bring it as well. So our styles will clash wonderfully together. It’s going to be a head-to-head fight and somebody’s going to sleep. And I’m not that tired myself.”

Norman recently achieved a significant knockout victory over Giovani Santillan, which he believes contributes to his assertion of being the best in the division. “I’ve got the best resume in the welterweight division right now. Nobody else has that caliber of opponent as their win,” he stated. “I believe in the work that I put in, I believe in the time I put in, and I just feel like I’m going to run through everybody.”

The welterweight division has historically produced some of the sport’s finest fighters, including legends like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and Terence Crawford. However, with Mayweather and Pacquiao retired and Crawford having moved up to super-welterweight, Norman sees himself as the next great champion in this weight class.

“We take it day by day, but I know for a fact that I will be a legend in the game. I will be one of those Hall of Famers,” he expressed. He continued, “As the years go on, you will see that resume stack up. The old generation just left, the last ones being Terence Crawford and Errol Spence. Right now it’s just new and not as big just yet,” he said.

Norman acknowledged the emerging stars in the division, particularly mentioning Ennis. “I’ll let them have that. Like Marvin Hagler, I’ve got to come in and change the whole game. I feel like 147 pounds is starting to warm up to those standards that everyone is looking for.”

Adding a personal dimension to his journey, Norman acknowledged his father, Brian Norman Sr., who also serves as his trainer. Recently, Norman Sr. returned to the ring with a professional bout after 14 years and secured a victory. “I don’t want to see him get hurt, so there were a lot of things going into it, but as we started training, I’ve seen where I get my attitude from, I’ve seen where I get my work ethic from,” Norman shared.

Norman Sr.’s comeback has instilled confidence in his son. “I can take over the world if he can come back after 14 years and fight an active fighter and beat him. So why can’t I do the same with these guys?” he asserted.

The anticipation for the Norman-Cuevas fight is building, and boxing fans are eagerly looking forward to the show, along with the highly-anticipated rematch between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan, which promises to deliver more action and excitement in the ring.