Brian Norman Jr. Ready to Prove His Championship Status in First Title Defense Against Derrieck Cuevas

A champion isn’t truly a champion until he defends his belt—that’s the mindset of undefeated WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr., who is set to put his title on the line against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas on Saturday, March 29. The bout will take place at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas as the co-main event to the highly anticipated rematch between WBO female welterweight world champion Mikaela Mayer and former titleholder Sandy Ryan.

Both fights will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

Norman vs. Cuevas: A Clash of Power and Ambition

Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) secured the WBO interim title with a dominant 10th-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Giovani Santillan last May. He was later elevated to full champion status after Terence Crawford vacated the belt. Since signing with Top Rank in 2023, the Atlanta native has been on a tear, racking up three wins in a breakout year.

His opponent, Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs), enters the fight with momentum, riding a four-fight knockout streak, including a sixth-round TKO over Marlon Aguas in December 2023. Now, he aims to dethrone Norman and claim his first world title.

Norman Speaks on His First Title Defense

During a recent training stint in Las Vegas, Norman shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight and his journey as a world champion: