Brian Norman Jr., 24, put Sasaki flat on his back for over a minute after connecting with a brutal left-hook counter in Round 5 to retain his WBO welterweight title Thursday morning at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Norman (27-0, 21 KOs), one of Uncrowned’s Top 25 Under 25, scored two knockdowns in the opening round. The young American champion dropped Sasaki with a counter left hook inside the first 40 seconds.
