Atlanta’s Brian Norman Jr. Heads to Tokyo for World Title Defense

Atlanta’s own world champion, Brian Norman Jr., has traveled nearly 7,000 miles to defend his WBO welterweight crown on foreign soil.

Norman (27-0, 21 KOs), the undefeated WBO welterweight champion, is set to face Japan’s Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) this Thursday at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium. This marks Norman’s second title defense since his breakout performance last May, when he upset Giovani Santillan in San Diego.

Now, he once again finds himself in hostile territory against Sasaki, a hard-hitting contender currently riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak. Sasaki earned his shot at the title after a solid 12-round victory over Shoki Sakai earlier this year on the undercard of Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim.

The action will stream live in the U.S. exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT, with the main event slated for around 7:15 a.m. ET / 4:15 a.m. PT.

What Brian Norman Jr. Had to Say at the Final Press Conference:

Brian Norman Jr.:

“This belt means the world to me. I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was seven. I’m 24 now—that’s 17 years of dedication. I’ve worked my entire life for this, and I’m not letting it go. No matter the location, this title stays with me.”

“I see the support Sasaki has here, and I respect it. He’s done his job. Now it’s time for me to do mine—as the reigning WBO welterweight champion.”

“Confidence is everything. Sasaki said he’s 80 percent confident—props to him for being honest. But I come in 1,000 percent confident every time. I know the effort I’ve put in. This isn’t just about this year or last—it’s about years of grinding, every day, every second. This is my life. This is what I love.”

“There are cameras and media here, but to me, it’s just boxing. That’s what I care about. I’m looking forward to having fun in the ring on June 19.”

Fight Card – Thursday, June 19

Live on ESPN+ | Coverage Begins at 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT

Main Event: Brian Norman Jr. vs. Jin Sasaki – 12 Rounds, WBO Welterweight World Title

Sora Tanaka vs. Takeru Kobata – 12 Rounds, Vacant OPBF Welterweight Title

Yuya Oku vs. Reiya Abe – 10 Rounds, Vacant Japanese Featherweight Title

Cristian Araneta vs. Thanongsak Simsri – 12 Rounds, Vacant IBF Light Flyweight World Title