Norman vs Sasaki targeted for June 19 in Tokyo

Brian Norman Jr is reportedly lining up a showdown with heavy-hitting contender Jin Sasaki this summer in Japan

Brian Norman Jr’s next WBO welterweight title defense could be a road game, as Jake Donovan brings word of a brewing June 19th clash with no. 2 Jin Sasaki in the latter’s native Tokyo.

Sasaki (19-1, 17 KO) approached Norman (27-0, 21 KO) in the locker room following Norman’s knockout of Derrieck Cuevas last month and read out a challenge in English, to which Norman appeared open. The 23-year-old has won seven straight since a 1-1-1 stretch saw him fall to Andy Hiraoka and draw with 3-0 Kotaro Sekine, including seven inside the distance. He’s far from a technical marvel, but the power is very real and Norman has had some stumbles of his own. It’s an extremely fan-friendly matchup and I give Normal his props for entertaining a fight in his opponent’s backyard.

Per Donovan, the card could also feature Cristian Araneta (25-2, 20 KO) vs Thanongsak Simsri (38-1, 34 KO) for the IBF light flyweight title formerly held by Masamichi Yabuki before his current flyweight run. This is another quality scrap between BoxRec’s no. 2 and no. 5; Araneta’s only loss since 2019 saw him push Sivenathi Nontshinga to the limit in one of 2021’s best fights and the 24-year-old Simsri’s only career defeat came to Yabuki himself, since which he’s won 14 straight and notably edged out Masataka Taniguchi.

Real good doubleheader here if it comes together, definitely worth the early morning. We’ll keep you posted.