Norman Calls Out Eimantas Stanionis, Mario Barrios & Jaron Ennis
WBO welterweight champion Brian “The Assassin II” Norman Jr wants all the smoke with the other champions. He is looking to fight WBC champion “El Azteca” Mario Barrios, WBA champion Eimantas Stanios, and IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
On May 18, The Assassin (26-0, 20KO) upset Giovani Santillan with a Knockout of the Year candidate performance. That victory was significant, considering it was for the interim title. When multi-divisional champion Terence Crawford vacated the title, Norman was elevated to full champion status.
THE PATH TO UNDISPUTED
With the boxing public asking what’s next, the IBF champion laid out a plan to become undisputed with MillCity Boxing.
“Plain and simple. I’m all about getting these belts. I keep telling you this, I ain’t say it one more again. I need Stanionis, I need Barrios, and I need Boots. That’s all I’m saying.”
The next question fans will ask is, can he get those fights? Norman fights under the Top Rank banner, and with the help of Turki Alalshikh, there have been a lot of cross-promotional fights.
El Atecza (29-2, 18KO) is also a benefactor of Crawford vacating the title. In his last outing, the WBC champion put on a noteworthy performance against Fabio Maidana on May 4th.
Stanionis (15-0, 9KO) has been eager to prove he is the real deal and is looking for a big fight. This author believes Barrios and the Lithuanian may tangle in a unification possibly this year. So, Norman probably won’t get a shot at either of them anytime soon.
The most likely option for a big fight next is with Ennis. Boots (32-0, 29KO) would welcome the challenge with open arms. Viewed by many inside the boxing community as the next undisputed champion, he has been running through opponents like a storm.
The landscape in the welterweight has changed as Norman Jr wants to become the division’s next Kingpin.
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