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Brian Norman Jr. is defending his first WBO welterweight title towards #13 Derrieck Cuevas this Saturday, March twenty ninth, reside on ESPN on the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, in Las Vegas.
(Credit score: Mikey Williams / High Rank)
Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) is lastly defending his WBO 147-lb belt after sitting for the final 10 months since his tenth spherical knockout victory over Giovani Santillan on Could 18th final yr.
Brian Jr. wished to face IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in a unification struggle, however his promoters couldn’t conform to the cash that Norman Jr. and his dad wished. That match will finally occur as a result of Boots nonetheless desires to attempt to seize all of the belts at 147 earlier than shifting as much as 154.
Clearly, that’s not taking place if Ennis’ promoter doesn’t wish to make investments the cash to get him the unification fights he wants. Being tight-fisted received’t work. He may as properly transfer as much as 154 now if the negotiations play out the identical manner subsequent time Ennis’ promoters start talks with Norman Jr.
If that struggle had occurred, Norman Jr. would have most popular to face an even bigger identify than the perimeter contender Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs).
Location & Time
Norman Jr. vs. Cuevaas will happen on the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The time of the occasion is 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, reside on ESPN and ESPN+.
The Puerto Rican Cuevas is an 11-year professional with wins over Briedis Prescott, Ed Paredes, and Alberto Mosquera. It is a large step up in competitors for him. It’s going to be fascinating to see if he can deal with the ability of Norman Jr. with out wilting.
Cuevas suffered his solely profession defeat towards journeyman Damian Ezequiel Bonelli, dropping by a six-round break up determination on December 4, 2020. Since that defeat, Cuevas has received his final 4 fights.
Full card
Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy RyanBrian Norman Jr. vs. Derrieck CuevasBruce Carrington vs. Enrique VivasDelante Johnson vs. Kendo CastanedaEmiliano Vargas vs. Giovannie GonzalezEmmanuel Likelihood vs. Miguel GuzmanDedrick Crocklem vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba
“They are saying, ‘A star is about to be born on March 29th,’” said Brian Norman Jr. to Top Rank Boxing about himself. “I’ve been quiet a bit of bit too lengthy. I received to alter a bit of bit. You’re mentality modifications if you turn out to be a champion. That’s a particular actual deal. I conform to that.
“I already believed in myself beforehand, but it’s just amplified because I knew I had a whole lot more going into that fight [Giovani Santillan]. I was running too much the week of the fight. So, I had no legs in the fight. I just know in training camp that I had a whole lot more potential,” Norman continued. “I was 23 at the time. I’m still young, 24 right now, in my prime. The sky’s the limit.”
“So, where we’re from, people were ducking him. They’re still ducking him. We’re talking about sparring,” mentioned Brian Norman Sr., the dad for Brian Jr. “They wouldn’t work with him. We had to go to the fight table up to the time of the fight, and have fighters walk away and give excuse for why they didn’t have headgear. ‘We got a headgear.’ ‘We don’t have a cup.’ ‘We have a cup.’ Everything we do, we try to do it on the highest level.”
