WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. has been forced to withdraw from his November 8th title defense after suffering a left-hand injury. The 23-year-old was set to face Derrieck Cuevas at the Scopes Center in Norfolk, Virginia, but the fight will now be rescheduled for 2025.
Norman’s injury is a disappointment for fans, as this bout would have marked his first defense of the WBO title. Despite his absence, the November 8th event will proceed, with one of the undercard fights being promoted to the co-main event. Keyshawn Davis will still headline the card against Gustavo Lemos, which will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Some fans have taken to social media to criticize Norman for turning down a $1.7 million offer to face IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a unification bout on November 9th in Philadelphia. However, Norman’s team had requested $2.2 million for the fight to take place in Las Vegas instead, which didn’t materialize. His father, Brian Sr., maintained that they were open to negotiations, but Ennis’ team wasn’t on board with the change in location.
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At just 23 years old, Norman is in no rush to accept what his team views as lowball offers, particularly for high-stakes fights like one against Ennis. His decision to wait could pay off, as his profile continues to rise, potentially leading to better financial opportunities in the future.
Norman’s most recent bout saw him knock out Giovani Santillan in San Diego, where he captured the WBO interim welterweight title, which was later upgraded to the full championship. Fans will have to wait until 2025 to see his next defense, but bigger fights could be on the horizon.
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