The youngest male world champion in boxing has just produced a sensational knockout win over his latest foe.
From David Allen’s explosive win over Johnny Fisher, to Fabio Wardley’s dramatic finish against Justis Huni, boxing fans have been treated with abundance of entertaining heavyweight knockouts since the turn of the year.
However, this week it was a welterweight star who threw his name into the hat for a potential ‘Knockout of the Year’ accolade when Brian Norman Jr successfully defended his WBO welterweight crown against Jin Sasaki.
Norman started the fight at a blistering pace, throwing heavy shots from the opening bell which saw him drop Sasaki twice in the opening round.
The 24-year-old from Georgia closed the show just under one minute into the fifth, catching Sasaki with a thunderous left hook which left the 23-year-old from Japan requiring immediate medical attention.
KO OF THE YEAR?! 😤
IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. pic.twitter.com/TVC5qurl3Z
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 19, 2025
The champion put his celebration on hold as medical staff attended to Sasaki, who was then taken out of the ring on a stretcher. Top Rank will likely provide an update on his recovery from the thudding shot and fall soon.
Norman – who remains the youngest male world champion on the planet at 24 with 23-year-old Gabriela Fundora holding that record for the females – could now find himself heading towards a unification showdown against one of the other welterweight title holders.
That won’t come against WBA and IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis however, after the unbeaten American announced earlier this week that he will be making the move up to 154lbs.
