American WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. has likely become the top welterweight fighter following Jaron Ennis’ departure after disposing of #2 WBO-ranked contender Jin Sasaki in Sasaki’s home country of Japan. The two headlined a Ohasi Promotions [home to Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue] card based in Tokyo at the Ota-City General Gymnasium earlier today [June 19th, 2025] with the match between the two culminating in a pinpoint knockout win by Norman.
Brian Norman Jr vs. Jin Sasaki
WBO welterweight (147 lbs) champion Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KO’s) faced a tougher test than his inaugural title defense his last match as he faced #2-ranked contender Jin Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KO’s) from Japan this time around. Considered a highly-rated contender with at least the WBO, Norman Jr. further took up a risk by facing Sasaki on foreign ground.
Despite the challenges he faced, fighting in an away crowd against an eager and competent challenger, Brian Norman Jr. did remarkably well as he netted a knockout (KO) win over his Japanese opponent.
The 1st round of their 12-round title bout showed a sign of things to come as Norman knocked Sasaki down twice; the first time in just the 1st minute of the fight’s start, and later following the 2nd minute. Despite the knockdowns, Sasaki showed tremendous courage as he fought to scramble back after being dropped twice, pressing Norman as much as able ― though his efforts would not undo the 10-8 score that would fall in Norman’s favor.
The 2nd round proceeded with Norman attempting to put Sasaki down once more, but the Japanese fighter proved tougher and more alert than he had the first round ― managing to endure the American fighter’s initial barrage before finding a last-moment spurt in the final minute of the round.
The 3rd round proved perhaps most damaging for Jin Sasaki as Brian Norman combined power, speed and grit to force Sasaki to almost capitulate several times in the round. Sasaki was forced to rely on counters but proved ineffective with his own shots, lacking the power to keep Norman off him, though his ability to maintain a high guard prevented any knockdowns despite the power punches thrown by Norman.
The 4th round was more tranquil. Though Norman did enough to claim the round, neither fighter fought with the same level of energy or aggression, allowing the American champion to claim the round by virtue of greater activity.
In the 5th round, however, things sharply shifted again as Brian Norman Jr. dropped Jin Sasaki within the 1st minute, landing a lefthanded counter ― much more powerful than the punch he landed that culminated in the first knockdown ― that dropped Sasaki like a stone.
Sasaki appeared knocked out cold afterwards and the fight was ruled a knockout win for Norman accordingly; claiming a rightful KO victory in just the 5th round. Additionally, Norman retained his WBO title for the second time of his career.
With a stupendous win over a top WBO contender completed, Brian Norman Jr. now likely stands at the very top of the division following the departure of WBA and IBF champion Jaron Ennis, and has become a prime candidate to beat the only other remaining champion in the division would they to clash; WBC champion Mario Barrios whose upcoming clash against Manny Pacquiao might not see his reign as world champion last.
Undercard fights:
Competing in the only other world title match on the card would be held between IBF junior flyweight (108 lbs) champion Cristian Araneta (25-3, 20 KO’s) from the Philippines and Thai challenger Thanongsak Simsri (39-1, 34 KO’s). In what undoubtedly became the most competitive bout of the match, Simsri survived a knockdown in the 3rd round to eventually take control of the bout, earning a split-decision (SD) win through scores of 115-112, 116-111, and 113-114.
Simsri now holds the IBF 108-pound belt, claiming his first world title the first time of his career.
