Brian Norman Jr anticipates a much more difficult fight Thursday night in Tokyo than he experienced in his first defense of the WBO welterweight title.

The records of Derrieck Cuevas and Jin Sasaki were comparable in that each contender had one loss and one draw when they signed to challenge Norman for his 147-pound title. Cuevas can punch hard, but Norman considers Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) a more complete, strong-minded fighter than Cuevas (27-2-1, 19 KOs), whom Norman stopped late in the 3rd round March 29 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

“He’s more well-rounded and he bringing that intensity,” Norman told The Ring. “I made Derrick Cuevas quit off a jab, so I don’t know how bad he wanted it. I know for a fact Jin is not gonna quit.”

Puerto Rico’s Cuevas caught Norman (27-0, 21 KOs, 1 NC) with flush punches in each of their three rounds of action. Norman withstood those shots, but Cuevas couldn’t overcome the left hook that rocked him with 10 seconds remaining in the third round.

A stiff jab by the 24-year-old Norman knocked Cuevas to the canvas with five seconds to go in the third round. Cuevas reached his feet before referee Thomas Taylor counted to 10, but Cuevas reacted to Taylor’s commands as if he didn’t want to continue.

That short fight enabled Norman, of Conyers, Georgia, to accept this quick turnaround for a main event ESPN+ will stream from Ota City General Gymnasium.

Japan’s Sasaki went the 12-round distance in his most recent appearance, a tune-up fight in which he unanimously out-pointed countryman Shoki Sakai (29-15-3, 15 KOs) on January 24 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The WBO’s No. 2-ranked welterweight contender has won seven straight fights since his six-round majority draw with Kotaro Sekine (then 3-0) in July 2022 at Esforta Arena in Hachioji, Japan, Sasaki’s hometown.

“He’s a very tough and rugged fighter,” Norman said about Sasaki. “He 19-1, 17 knockouts. The record speaks for itself. Also add the fact that this is his championship fight, his opportunity. So, I already know for a fact that everything I have seen [from him] is fittin’ to be a million times better. I’m making sure I’m doing my part as well, training hard.”

Sasaki, 23, has lost only to unbeaten Japanese junior welterweight contender Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs). Hiraoka stopped Sisaki in the 11th round of their scheduled 12-rounder in October 2021 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

By then, Sasaki seemingly had outgrown the 140-pound division. He came in four pounds overweight for his regional title fight against Hiraoka, who is ranked No. 10 among The Ring’s junior welterweight contenders.

Sasaki moved up to the welterweight limit of 147 pounds for his following fight. He then tried to move back closer to the junior welterweight maximum of 140, though that’s when he fought to the aforementioned draw with Sekine.

Sasaki settled in at welterweight thereafter and has earned Norman’s respect.

“I believe this is a much tougher fight than Derrieck Cuevas,” Norman said. “Jin Sasaki is championship material as well. Maybe later on in the future he will be a champion, just not right now.”

DraftKings lists Norman, The Ring’s No. 1-rated welterweight contender, as a 5-1 favorite over Sasaki, who is No. 6 in The Ring’s top 10.

Coverage of the Norman-Sasaki undercard is set to begin at 4 a.m. ET in the United States and 9 a.m. BST in the United Kingdom on Thursday. Organizers of the card expect the Norman-Sasaki fight to begin at approximately 7:15 a.m. ET (12:15 p.m. BST).