Latest news with #Norman
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Brian Norman Jr. knocks out Jin Sasaki, causing memory loss in WBO title bout
Brian Norman Jr. retains WBO welterweight title with fifth-round knockout Brian Norman Jr. (28-0) successfully defended his WBO welterweight championship by defeating Jin Sasaki (15-2-1) with a fifth-round knockout at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. The bout, held before a sold-out local crowd, ended when Norman landed a powerful overhand left that connected squarely with Sasaki's jaw. The impact rendered Sasaki unconscious, and the back of his head struck the canvas on the way down. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where further alarming details emerged. According to Issei Nakaya, Sasaki's trainer and promoter, Sasaki told medical personnel that he had no memory of the past month and a half. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Herval D'oeste (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Also read: 'Live in my house and see Ukraine's war': Heavyweight boxing champion Usyk challenges Trump 'I don't even remember this being a title fight,' Sasaki reportedly said, raising concerns among fans and officials about the neurological impact of the blow. Live Events Jin Sasaki suffers severe memory loss following knockout defeat The Japanese fighter was ranked No. 2 in the WBO welterweight rankings going into the match, having held the WBO Asia-Pacific title. His loss to Norman not only ends his winning streak but also places his immediate boxing future in question following the reported memory loss. Norman, known for his aggressive style and nicknamed 'The Assassin II,' took control of the fight early. He dropped Sasaki twice in the opening round, once with a clean head shot and a second time with a rapid combination that overwhelmed the challenger's defense. Despite attempts by Sasaki to recover in subsequent rounds, Norman's consistent left hook combinations continued to land with precision. The knockout punch in the fifth round marked the culmination of sustained pressure by the American champion. Medical evaluation and future outlook Following the match, Sasaki underwent a CT scan, with results still pending further analysis. While no structural damage was immediately reported, his team is expected to proceed with caution. The incident has prompted renewed attention on the risks of repeated head trauma in boxing, especially at the elite level. Also read: Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum, "The Bodysnatcher," dies at 68 Brian Norman Jr. retained his WBO welterweight title with a fifth-round knockout of Japan's Jin Sasaki in Tokyo. Following the defeat, Sasaki was hospitalized and revealed memory loss spanning six weeks. The incident has raised safety concerns while confirming Norman's dominance in the welterweight division Brian Norman Jr. knocks out Jin Sasaki, causing memory loss in WBO title bout Norman Jr. has now improved his undefeated record to 28-0 and remains at the top of the WBO welterweight rankings. With the victory, he solidifies his position as one of the premier welterweights in the world and may next face either a voluntary challenger or a mandatory defense, possibly against WBO NABO titleholder Alexis Rocha.
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Wexford defends its Norman heritage following comments from Sinn Féin TD – ‘We're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity'
Many of those events will take place across Co Wexford as places like New Ross, Carrig-on-Bannow, and Wexford town mark the legacy of the Normans since their arrival to Ireland over 900 years ago. However, Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, has criticised the decision to take part in the celebrations, asking if this will be a precursor to 'a Festival of Cromwell or a Famine Queen Jubilee?' 'William was a foreign king who never set foot in Ireland, and had nothing to do with Ireland, and yet his birth will be given a higher honour than bestowed by an Irish Government on any figure from Gaelic Irish history,' said the Sinn Féin TD. 'This is not a commemoration for Ireland. Marking the birth of a future English king is not for us, even if it was 1,000 years ago. 'Of course we should acknowledge, protect, take pride in the rich architectural, cultural, and literary heritage that stands testament to Anglo-Norman Ireland, which lives on today in surnames and songs, and celebrate those brave Irish heroes of Norman descent who rebelled against the imperial yoke of England, as early as the 1360s through to the Desmond Rebellion through to United Irishman Lord Edward Fitzgerald, in whose Leinster House our Dáil now meets, and beyond. 'We should make the most of Ireland's Norman heritage to boost tourism, to create jobs, to support communities, and reinforce links with families tracing their Norman Irish roots and with other places who share a Norman heritage, but celebrating England's William the Conqueror, however, is a step too far.' At the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), following confirmation that the council was in contact with Normandy regarding events for 2027, Deputy Ó Snodaigh's remarks were discussed in the chamber by Councillors Lisa McDonald and John Fleming. 'His comments were unpalatable and unfortunate,' said Cllr McDonald, 'we've proven that we're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity.' 'I've never heard such negative, dour comments, I can't understand it,' added Cllr Fleming. 'We're proud of New Ross and its Norman connections, Hook Head, Tintern Abbey, and we have the Norman Visitor Centre coming next year. Now we have some silly comments trying to put a stop to that. ' Director of services Eamonn Hore took time to clarify his feelings on the matter, admitting that it had taken him a while to 'calm down' when he'd first read the deputy's statement. 'If he wants to come down to Wexford we'll show him all that's good about the area and its heritage,' he said. 'And with regards to to Cromwell, Wexford people don't need any history lesson on that. I had a particular problem with him saying this wasn't well-prepared; since 2016 we've had the Norman Way in place and when we invited the president of Normandy to New Ross he was amazed at the influence of the Normans there. "This is a way for the two regions to celebrate their history and culture – I must say I was very disappointed in what he said.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Filipino webtoon creator Maria Mediarito spins a sapphic sanctuary through comic series 'Katlaya Rising'
MANILA, Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) -- Magic, monsters, and maidens are mainstays in fantasy stories. However, when the relationships and dynamics of these story staples have largely remain unchanged, Metro Manila-based comics creator Maria Mediarito -- or MariaMediaHere, as she's known online -- gives the genre a fearlessly Filipino and queer twist in Webtoon Originals comic, "Katlaya Rising." "Being queer is integral to the work that I have," says Mediarito. "I know when people don't feel safe to come out, they will end up in bad situations." Through "Katlaya Rising," Mediarito creates a sanctuary where her audience, especially queer and sapphic readers, could see themselves as heroes in epics. Don't be fooled, though. Mediarito's Filipino-driven fantasy world is anything but safe. Wild animals infected by frenzy run rampant in the stratified Pilipit Town. Exterminators, like Katlaya De los Kalye, risk their lives hunting these beasts for meager pay. Yet, for Katlaya, unhinged giant boars are a small part of her daily tribulations. Like her heroine, Mediarito leaps headfirst into the fray. In "Katlaya Rising," the author tackles tough topics like gender roles, classism, and religion. "Subtext is for cowards," she quotes fictional author Garth Marenghi in an interview. For Mediarito, comics create spaces where authors and readers can explore different facets of their identities. Self-discovery through comics Inspiration is found in mundane places. Mediarito found hers in her high school's art room. "I wouldn't have been able to access all of that if it weren't for my art teacher, Sir Norman Ramirez." Sir Norman was a personal hero to young Mediarito. He shared his personal comics collection with interested students looking for some company. The moment when Mediarito flipped through those comics, she was a goner. "Even if you pick up Chapter 400 of a long series and don't know these characters, you should still be able to be engaged," she explains. "That's proof of good comic book writing." Beyond appreciating the craft of comics, Mediarito internalized the importance of media consumption. Sir Norman knew that sharing comics, instead of letting them gather dust at home, was what was best for them. "I do believe the entertainment we consume molds our values and personalities." Sir Norman's influence set Mediarito on the path she's on today -- not only in her art but also in her identity. "I was in denial for a very long time, which is funny because my sister knew the entire time." Though her sister was supportive, Mediarito was self-conscious and scared. "I was so in the closet and so afraid of people judging me." In high school, she was desperate to find a boyfriend in order to fit in with her peers. The possibility of being ostracized distressed her. "They say that being queer makes people depressed," reflects Mediarito. A study conducted with 165,000 participants by the Open University reveals that LGBTQ+ teens face significantly higher risks of depression. But, being queer doesn't inherently affect one's mental health. "It's because the experience of queer leads people to situations where they're mocked, slighted against, or physically hurt." The Katlaya origin story For college, Mediarito majored in information design at Ateneo De Manila University. She didn't think she could earn a living from art alone, so she practiced corporate design. "I had a lot of side hustles in college," she says. "Because you have to feed your mouth and then you have to feed your heart." In between commercial gigs, Mediarito carved out time for comics. In 2018, Komiket, a Filipino nonprofit that organizes conventions, held a comics competition. Mediarito didn't want to join at first, but her best friend and poet, Ives, encouraged her to try it out. Mediarito's 16-page entry was shortlisted but didn't win. Though, losing one battle sometimes means winning the war. "Being acknowledged in this competition was a sign that I can go for it. Maybe I can win," she reflects. Komiket gave her a green light to pursue comics along with her commercial projects. The author came face-to-face with an adversary, as many other college students in the late 2010s did: COVID-19. Suddenly, her corporate gigs dried up. Not only was getting through the pandemic economically challenging, but it was also lonely for creatives. Without the routine of corporate gigs and art events, Mediarito poured her time into web comics. In 2021, she published "Ghoul Crush," which centers on a romance between a woman and the ghost haunting her apartment. Mediarito also submitted her work to literary publications and awards. "Then, I got an email from someone I didn't know who said they were a Webtoon editor," Mediarito says. She ignored that email for a few days, but in the back of her mind, she thought, "Let me check that just in case." The email, from LA-based Webtoon editor Aria Villafranca, was not spam. Villafranca was interested in working with Mediarito on a Webtoon Originals comic. Mediarito only had short comics at the time, so she sent over a 16-page story called "Katlaya De Los Kalye." "Aria saw what Katlaya could be," says the author. "We can make it a whole world with more creatures, monsters, characters, subcultures, and lore." Villafranca and Mediarito worked on what became "Katlaya Rising" for a whole year before publishing the first chapter on Webtoon. "Comics will bring you to places you never knew you could end up in." Writing queer characters the right way Katlaya De Los Kalye crashes through a married couple's tin-roofed home in Lower Pilipit Town to fight a rabid beast to the death. While Katlaya's monsters would feel more at home in a Nintendo game, Pilipit Town's atmosphere and citizens feel vaguely familiar. "The backgrounds are so important to informing the world," Mediarito says. "It has to be Filipino." Katlaya and her motley crew fight monsters and, occasionally, each other in tight eskenitas drenched in neon light from signs in Baybayin. Capiz shell windows line houses in Upper Pilipit Town. Tricycle drivers rush past pedestrians in the morning. These lived-in details are all by Mediarito's design. Mediarito works with a team of assistants based in the Philippines. "We do field trips around Manila to just look at old and new architecture," she says. "And then we see how we can fuse them together." Although readers see backgrounds for a few seconds, the rich references in Katlaya's world adds depth to the greater story Mediarito is telling. In a moment of vulnerability, Katlaya reminisces on her childhood and time as a nun in service to Pilipit Town's local religion. Growing up, she overheard her neighbors gossip about her queerness. "What a waste of a pretty face. ... She's like a 6/10 in looks." These comments are commonplace in the comic, with many members of the LGBTQ+ community being called "sayang" at least once. In "Katlaya Rising," Mediarito also touches on the expectations for Filipino women to bear children and the consequences they face regardless of their decision. "Society goes through ups and downs," says Mediarito. "In some older films, the villains were queer-coded to prove they were strange and not of this world." Giving antagonists traits and appearances commonly deemed as queer, such as crossdressing and flamboyance, feeds into stereotypes about the queer community. Now, some fandoms are at another extreme and fetishize queer characters. "We went from villainizing queer people to putting them on a pedestal," the author says. "We've come to the point where we can make queer characters just characters. That's why I have five different love interests in 'Katlaya Rising.'" Representation inches closer Planning, writing, and drawing a Webtoon -- especially one set in a fantasy world with five romantic subplots -- is no small feat. "I never expected to be in this situation, where I can say I'm a professional comic artist," Mediarito reflects. "Maybe it's not so crazy if you're from a different country where the comics industry is more developed." The Philippines has a tight-knit and vibrant comics community that self-organizes events and conventions, like Komiket and the Manila Comics Fair. However, most, if not all, large publishers, like Marvel, DC, and Kodansha, are based abroad, making it tougher for Filipino creators to reach international audiences. "We're just a small archipelago in the middle of the ocean. For any one of us to achieve acclaim is a net good," Mediarito says of her practice. In addition to raising the Filipino flag a little higher, she hopes "Katlaya Rising" would also hold space for the queer community. "You have to confront what type of artist you want to be. Do you want to make something for as many people as possible, or do you want to make something for yourself?" she advises. So, what kind of artist is Mediarito? A story about sapphic Filipinos fighting monsters and each other's love interests sounds quite niche. However, complex, unapologetic stories are cementing their place in the public's consciousness. In February 2025, Chappell Roan won Best New Artist at the Grammys, singing about drag queens, clubs, and coming out. The first installment of "Wicked," with queer-coded heroines, graced screens worldwide and brought in $756 million at the box office.
The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Only 27 seconds between life and death, Korean war pilot recalls
Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra. Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra. Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra. Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Norman Jr. retains WBO title with absurd one-punch KO of Jin Sasaki
Rising welterweight standout Brian Norman Jr. continued his ascension up the boxing ladder Thursday with a crushing one-punch knockout. Norman moved to 28-0 as a pro (22 KOs) with a fifth-round KO of Jin Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) to retain his WBO welterweight belt. Sasaki entered the fight as the WBO's Asia Pacific and OPBF welterweight champion, but Norman floored him with a vicious left hook. Advertisement The win was the 24-year-old Norman's second defense of the title after a third-round TKO in March against Derrieck Cuevas in Las Vegas. He won the vacant belt in May 2024 with a knockout of Giovani Santillan. He currently is the youngest male champion in the sport. "It was a wonderful fight. I had a great opponent in front of me. You all seen he's got heart. That boy is not a slouch at all. I give nothing but props to him," Norman said after the fight (via Top Rank Boxing). "I wish I had a certain fight coming up (against Jaron Ennis). They heard 'B. Norm The Storm' is coming, and you know what happens when a storm is coming: You grab your boots and run. We shall see what's next for me." Check out Norman's highlight-reel finish below. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Boxing: Brian Norman Jr. retains WBO title, one-punch KO of Jin Sasaki
