BRIAN Norman Jr will make the second defence of his WBO welterweight world title, just 82 days after a third-round stoppage victory in his first.

If you don't ask, you don't get. WBO's No. 2-ranked contender Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) was in attendance for Norman Jr's fast finish of Derrieck Cuevas and post-fight, shared handwritten notes respectfully calling out the 24-year-old - who revealed an openness to accepting the challenge.

Now, the Atlanta native will stay busy elsewhere during a week where unified and RING champion Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) has been tasked with a pair of WBA mandatories.

“The king from the south comes to take over the world. I like how that sounds,” Norman said. “On June 19, I’m ready to put on a stellar performance and write another triumphant chapter of ‘The Norman Experience.’”

Norman-Sasaki will be one of two world championship fights held at Tokyo's Ota-City General Gymnasium on June 19.

The other? Christian Araneta vs. Thanongsok Simsri for IBF junior-flyweight honours, after Masamichi Yabuki opted to remain at flyweight and vacate the title won last October against Sivenathi Nontshinga when pitching a dominant display against Angel Ayala on March 29.

Norman (27-0, 21 KOs), who reportedly rejected a $1.7m offer to unify titles with Ennis last autumn, will be paid handsomely for branching outside North America according to father/trainer Snr.

The 45-year-old foreshadowed this news when telling MillCityBoxing last month: "I like it. People are saying, 'You can't do it, can't make millions without Boots. So it's a very smart decision from a business standpoint. We want both legacy and money. 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.

Of course, they've got to pay us to come. So, that's where the millions come in at. It's worth more money [than an Ennis fight] and on the same network, so Mr Taxman says its good for the taxes."

Sasaki, The Ring's No. 6-rated welterweight, had his six-fight stoppage streak ended by Shoki Sakai with a 12-round decision win on January 24. That matchup featured on the undercard of undisputed super-bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue's fourth-round knockout win over Ye Joon Kim, which was shown exclusively on ESPN+ in US territories.

Top Rank-backed Norman knows that unification bouts with the other two champions isn't feasible at present, given Ennis and WBC champion Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) are considering their options elsewhere.

Ennis must face Shakhram Giyasov (17-0, 10 KOs) by August 12 after the unbeaten Uzbek stepped aside to allow a unification between him and Eimantas Stanionis earlier this month.

The winner of that bout will then be ordered to face the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero victor next weekend, May 2, after the WBA announced Ennis had been upgraded to Super champion and Garcia-Romero would be for the Regular title.

Since a split draw with Abel Ramos last November, Barrios has been rumoured to next face Hall of Fame former eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs), though details about a potential fight won't be unveiled until after the Philippine Senate election, held on May 12.

Pacquiao, now 46, is a former Senator seeking to reclaim a seat as a member of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas alliance, having announced his retirement from the sport in September 2021.