LAS VEGAS — One fight at a time.
That's Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum's mantra, and rightfully so as Georgia native
Brian Norman Jr. has already travelled halfway around the world in preparation for his second WBO welterweight title defence against
Jin Sasaki on June 19 in Japan on ESPN+.
Arum and the boxing world have seen their fair share of upsets spoiling planned fights in recent weeks, led by
Rolando Romero's win against Ryan Garcia and
Armando Resendiz's stunning split decision victory over Caleb Plant last month.
Norman (27-0, 21 KOs) has aspirations for fights against the likes of Teofimo Lopez Jr, a title unification fight against Ring, WBA and IBF champion Jaron Ennis and even facing the winner of the July 19 contest between WBC champion Mario Barrios and Manny Pacquiao.
But Arum
wants the near minus-350 betting favorite Norman solely focused on the power-punching Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) so that he doesn't come back empty-handed following a 7,000-mile trip.
"Brian Norman has a tough fight against Sasaki," Arum told The Ring. "[Sasaki promoter] Akihiko Honda tells me he gives the Japanese guy a big chance to win the fight, so we'll have to see. Instead of looking ahead with Brian Norman, look at what's in front of him in Tokyo and hope that he's able to pull it out. I don't think Brian Norman should consider a fight with Lopez, Boots, or anybody else until he fights and beats Sasaki.
"Otherwise, it's stupid. He's not going to do his best. Let him win that fight, and then we'll see what he wants to do next. Our matchmakers will have advice for him. I think he's a very, very good fighter. I think it's too early to tell. Let's see how he does in Tokyo."
Norman, 24, is as confident as ever now
that his hands are healthy, as evidenced by his first title defense of his 147-pound crown in March,
a third-round stoppage win against Derrieck Cuevas.
Sasaki, unbeaten in nine fights since moving up to the welterweight division, is gung-ho to play spoiler in a fight he asked for against the sport’s youngest male champion.
The 23-year-old from Tokyo, ranked No. 2 by the WBO, called out Norman by reading him a letter in person backstage right after Norman crushed Cuevas in Las Vegas.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan