Brian Norman Jr., WBO welterweight master, says that he wants to continue to unite with WBC Master Mario Barrios to capture his prestigious belt and become a champion of two stripes.
Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 KO) wants to take the WBC belt from Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KO), and then face the winner on April 12 between WBA Master Eimantas Stanionis and IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis for the undisputed championship. If everything goes as Brian Jr. plans, he keeps all four lanes in the next two fights.
Norman’s goal: Barrios first
“This is a fight that I want most, because united and then undisputed, then right after that,” said Brian Norman Jr. Sean Zittel Asked if he wants to fight the WBC WBC welterweight champion, Mario Barrios. “Besides, we all know that the legends in this game have a WBC belt. I want to have this belt.”
Norman Jr. He should focus on a more realistic fight for himself against 2 WBO Jin Sasaki. This is an effortless fight for Brian Jr. and his promoters in the highest rank. There is also a lot of money that would be available in this fight if they take them in Japan.
“This green belt, we all need it in our lives. This is a fight I want the most, because I can have a WBC and WBO belt. Then whoever wins the fight on April 12 [between IBF 147-lb Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBA champ Eimantas Stanionis]. Boom, the undisputed fight so quickly – said Norman Jr.
It would be shoes and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, if Norman Jr. He got to Barrios before they did it and released him from the WBC belt. This would put shoes in a position in which he would negotiate equal conditions with the master of two stripes Norman Jr. Things would be completely different if he had talks about two titles only for Norman Jr.
“Because of the work I put in. Of course, he comes with everything he has. He is a dog. I am everything, and then a little,” said Norman Jr. Asked why he defeated Mario Barrios. “So it’s just not enough.”
Norman Jr. He would be a great favorite against Barrios if he could have a chance to fight him. We saw Barrios fought in his last fight with Abeł Ramos, and he was kept at a controversial 12-round draw in their clash on November 15 last year at AT & Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Many boxing fans won Ramos in this fight. Barrio did not look better than him when he was beaten by Keitth Thurman in 2022.
Do you stop Barrios?
“Yes, I definitely stop him. No matter what the longer the fight, the better I get. I proved that in Giovani [Santillan] Fight, and I started to prove it in this fight – said Norman Jr. Asked if he would stop Barrios. “I was starting to prove that in this fight [Derreck Cuevas]But he couldn’t stand it. The longer the fight lasts, the better.
“Let’s deal with the fact that you haven’t fought for a minute, I think I am here. I just finished fighting. If necessary we can fall,” Nornan Jr. said when he was asked if he had news for Barrios.
“It’s very inevitable [Norman Jr. and Jaron Ennis fighting]. Many people say that we are the best two welterweight. So he has to go down. “
It doesn’t look likely that Norman Jr. He will have the opportunity to fight Barrios, because of course he is kept on ice as long as Money, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney or Teofimo Lopez does not look at him. Barrios’ promoters know better than match him to Norman Jr., because the chances are high that he lost. Jaron “Boots” Ennis may have similar problems, trying to fight Barrios, unless his promoters or Saudis do not offer him a lot of payments.
“My next fight will definitely be under a credible name, bigger than Jamaine Ortiz,” Keyshawn told Fight Hub TV.
Since stopping Jamaine Ortiz in the 12th round on January 31 at Madison Square Garden, Keyshawn has been openly calling for bigger fights. He has mentioned names from junior welterweights and welterweights in interviews and on social media, including Devin Haney, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Richardson Hitchins, Lewis Crocker and Lamont Roach Jr.
These challenges followed a performance that Keyshawn pointed to as evidence that he was among the top contenders. He dropped and stopped Ortiz in a fight where several previous opponents had gone the distance against a hard-wearing opponent. Now Keyshawn says the next step will take him to a welterweight title shot.
“I think I’m on the rise,” Keyshawn said when asked about the importance of his next fight, confirming plans to compete at 147 pounds and indicating the fight will be for the world championship.
Keyshawn did not name his opponent, but hinted that the fight would be a step up from his last fight. He also said that discussions about this fight have already taken place and that his return could come sooner than many expect.
A move up to welterweight would place Keyshawn in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions, with several established fighters already competing for title opportunities and championship fights receiving constant attention.
One possible opponent at 147 pounds is IBF champion Lewis Crocker, who Keyshawn mentioned when discussing future fights. Keyshawn has previously said he would be willing to head to the UK to challenge Crocker if a title opportunity arises. No agreement has been announced, but a fight has emerged as one potential path if the fighter wins the welterweight title outright.
For now, Keyshawn says preparations for his return are already underway as talks continue for a world title fight.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Canelo Alvarez talked about how long he could stay in the sport before hanging up his gloves and opting for a decorated career.
The 35-year-old is already destined for a place in the Hall of Fame, as he became a four-division world champion, but he still wants to compete at the highest level.
Since his professional debut in 2005, the Mexican has made 68 appearances and has twice become the undisputed king of the 168-pound division, scoring notable victories over the likes of Callum Smith and Caleb Plant.
More controversial was their first meeting a year earlier, when many felt Golovkin had done enough to claim a convincing victory and the Kazakhstan ended in a draw.
Still, Canelo received plenty of credit for his follow-up triumph before dethroning Sergei Kovalev to capture the WBO featherlight heavyweight title over a year later.
Alvarez’s second undisputed super middleweight reign came to an end last September when Terence Crawford moved up two weight classes and won a unanimous decision.
But Canelo explained anyway Froch About the fight that he can still compete for another two years, maybe even longer, depending on how often his opportunities come along.
“I don’t know. I think maybe two years. I don’t need it, [but] I still enjoy it. If I [fight] maybe once a year [I can go on] a little bit [longer].
“Once a year to rest my body, I think I can fight more [than two years]”
Although an official announcement has not yet been made, Canelo is scheduled to fight in Riyad, Saudi Arabia this September, and Turki Alalshikh has promised to fight for the world title.
Boxing’s worst kept secret has now been confirmed – Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KO) and Junto Nakatani (32-0, 24 KO) will meet on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome for Inoue’s undisputed junior featherweight championship.
The all-Japan clash was formally announced at a press conference in Japan. The fight will be broadcast live on Lemino pay-per-view; US distribution rights have not yet been announced.
Inoue – ESPN’s No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer – is coming off an impressive 2025 in which he competed four times, defeating Kim Ye-Joon, Ramon Cardenas, Murodjon Akhmadaliev and David Picasso. Thanks to Inoue’s unanimous decision victory over Picasso in December, Nakatani defeated Sebastian Hernandez in the second fight of the night in a tougher-than-expected fight. Their victories set up a long-awaited clash between two of Japan’s best players.
Nakatani is ranked No. 6 pound-for-pound by ESPN and will look to become a four-division champion after winning world titles at bantamweight, junior bantamweight and flyweight. Although Nakatani narrowly won his junior featherweight debut in a grueling fight against Hernandez, Nakatani proved he was one of the best fighters in the world and had a powerful showing in 2025, winning 3-0.
The Undercard will feature Inoue’s younger brother Takuma defending his WBC bantamweight title against former four-division titleholder Kazuto Ioka.
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