Philippines, 13 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation


PhilBoxing.com



Jin Sasaki.

Japan is undeniably king of boxing's lighter weight divisions.

Led by Naoya Inoue, Japan's current harvest of seven world boxing championships are found in the flyweight, the bantamweight and super bantamweight where Inoue reigns undisputed. It could have been more if not for a couple of unification fights involving fellow Japanese world titlists.

With such achievement, Japan could boast to being the best boxing nation in Asia of all time.

It could very well if not for the fact that it has not produced a world champion in the welterweight, one of the original boxing weight classes.

Through Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines, a fierce regional rival, has won world titles at welterweight. And almost a century ago, the Philippines through Ceferino Garcia also won a world title at middleweight, another of boxing's original and glamorous weight division.

Japan hopes to win its first at 147 lbs as OPBF titlist Jin Sasaki challenges American champion Brian Norman for his WBO welterweight title on June 19, 2025 at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) has not lost in nine bouts since moving up to the welterweights after being stopped by another unbeaten Japanese prospect Andy Hiraoka in 2021. Noted for his heavy hands and volume punching, Sasaki's latest list of victims included Keita Obara, Australian Quamil Balla and Filipino Joey Noynay.

Brian Norman Jr is a motivated and talented champion who readily accepted this opportunity, according to Top Rank top honcho Bob Arum who will co-promote the bout.

"Jin Sasaki has power and punches in volume and their styles will make for a dramatic, action packed world title showdown," Arum said.

It will still be a tall order for Sasaki to beat Norman even if he will enjoy the hometown advantage.

Fighting abroad is the least of the American's worries as Norman (27-0, 21 KOs) fought 13 times in Mexico early in his career, including nine times before he was 18. Those experiences set him on a path to contention as "The Assassin" notched a string of highlight-reel knockouts prior to his Top Rank debut in early 2023. After a knockout drought in his last four fights, Norman registered a huge upset last May 2024 of hometown hero Giovanni Santillan in 10 dramatic rounds in San Diego for the WBO interim title. He was soon elevated as full champion after Terrence Crawford moved up to super welterweight. Norman defended the title last March by third round TKO over Puerto Rico’s Dierreck Cuevas.

"The king from the south comes to take over the world. I like how that sounds," Norman said. "On June 19, I'm ready to put on a stellar performance and write another triumphant chapter of the "The Norman Experience."

The closest a Japanese boxer came to fight at least for a crack at then world welterweight champion Curtis Cokes was in 1967 when then Oriental titlist Musashi Nakano, considered as almost unbeatable in Asia, fought then world title challenger Ernie "The Red" Lopez in Aichi and was knocked out in the third round.

Naoya said Japan is on a golden age in boxing, so who knows.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 19: JOE FRAZIER FIGHTS ALI, QUARRY AND ELLIS AGAIN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Berchelt captures "Reynosa" WBC commemorative belt after triumphant return
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Supeyia Fights Mamdouh in Brico Santig’s Thailand Show; Elmo Traya and Raymond Yanong Also in Action Oct 25 LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • PIJUS LABUTIS MAKES HISTORY WITH MAIDEN MATCHROOM MAJOR TRIUMPH IN HANOI
    , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV DEFEATS DAVE ALLEN AND DEMANDS TO FACE AJ NEXT
    , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • Domingo faces Fajardo in Thrilla in Manila 2 Countdown
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • Doroma-Aranas 2 on October 13
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FOR FISTS OF FURY 8, TOMORROW NIGHT AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO HOLLYWOOD
    , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • Alvin Camique Busts the "Mafia" in Tanzania!!!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • DAY FOUR: NEUHAUSEN, CAPITO, VERGARA AND LABUTIS CHARGE INTO SEMI-FINALS IN HANOI
    , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING BOXFEST XVI LIVE ON DAZN RESULTS: DEONTE BROWN DEFEATS GRIMARDI MACHUCA
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • SBA Expands Scouting Tour to Discover New Talents for Season 2 Team Expansion
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Alvin Camigue KOs unbeaten Ibrahin Mafia in Tanzania
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • DARE TO ENTER: ORTIZ VS. LUBIN LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY, GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD FEATURING FAN FAVORITES ERIC PRIEST AND ROBIN SAFAR
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Ennis vs. Lima: Boots is Back in Philly
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Weigh-in Complete: Philadelphia's Jaron Ennis and Uisma Lima Set for WBA Interim World Title Fight
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Ronny Alvarez Training Camp Notes Ahead of Most Valuable Prospects 16 on DAZN
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Featured in Exclusive Global Boxing Network Interview
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • SHEFFIELD WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TME
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Manchester says Goodbye to Ricky Hatton
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • DAY THREE: CHUA AND GORST KNOCKED OUT AS BIADO, YAPP AND SHAW MARCH INTO LAST 16
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • JARON ‘BOOTS’ ENNIS AND UISMA LIMA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING: BOXFEST XVI – OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Irish amateur star Jim Donovan Right back in ring after pro debut
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Robert Racasa Named as the Sole Philippine Representative to the 2025 World Memory Championships in Mumbai
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.