WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) is ready for a unification fight against IBF champ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis after crushing Derrieck Cuevas (27-2, 19 KOs) in the third round last Saturday night in a Top Rank-promoted card on March 29th at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Ennis Targeted
Norman Jr’s father, Brian Norman Jr., says they want “Anybody that wants the smoke” after his son’s impressive victory over Cuevas.
Given the way Norman Jr. looked in making Cuevas quit after dropping him with a hard left hook in the third, many people now say that he’s the #1 fighter in the division. However, that could work against Norman Jr. because Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn may be hesitant to set up a fight with him if he’s concerned about him losing.
Norman Jr. failed last year when he attempted to negotiate a unification fight against Boots. Matchroom reportedly offered $1.5 million, but Team Norman wanted a better deal that would enable them to clear $1.3 to $1.5 million after expenses.
Ennis, 27, still needs to get through his unification fight against WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis next month on April 12th. Many fans view that fight as a 50-50 one.
Assuming ‘Boots’ gets through the clash, the fight to make is against Norman Jr if he’s still serious about staying around the division to try and become the undisputed 147-lb champion.
‘Smoke’ Challenge
“Derrieck Cuevas was 27-1 with 19 knockouts. He made him quit. You saw him blinking. You saw him in the corner,” said Brian Norman Sr. to Fighthype, talking about his son, Norman Jr’s third round knockout win over Derrieck Cuevas last Saturday night in Las Vegas.
“You can look for yourself what the power is. Look at the marks on their face. This is the real deal. My boy is full of power. He’s full of skills, and we’re ready to show it.
“We’re ready to fight the best, prove we’re the best, and as of right now, he’s one of the best,” Norman Sr. said about Brian Jr. “He’s one of four champions. There can only be one. Anybody that wants that smoke and you are worthy of that smoke, come get that smoke. Real s***. We ain’t playing with y’all,” said Norman Sr.
