Brian Norman, Jr.: The Kid Next Door and World Champion

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 13, 2025

Brian Norman, Jr. seems like any other 24-year-old from Decatur, Georgia. He enjoys music, spending time with friends, and—even though he wasn’t asked — he probably enjoys pizza and movie nights. Standing 5’8″ and weighing 147 pounds, he carries himself with quiet confidence, a neatly trimmed beard, and a smile that could brighten a hundred nights.

But unlike most people his age, Norman doesn’t head to an office, warehouse or classroom when he goes to work. He walks into a boxing gym, pulls on his gloves, and steps between the ropes.

There, he’s not just Brian Norman — he’s The Assassin II, a name that signifies his lethal precision and power in the ring, and the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.

Boxing 101 for the Casual Fan

For those new to the sport, professional boxing is organized into weight classes to ensure fair competition. Norman competes in the welterweight division, which includes fighters weighing no more than 147 pounds. The WBO is one of four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing — alongside the WBA, WBC, and IBF — recognized worldwide for awarding official world titles.

A boxer’s win can come in several ways:

Knockout (KO): When a fighter is knocked down and cannot get back to their feet before the referee counts to ten, or is physically unable to continue.
Technical Knockout (TKO): When the referee stops the fight because one boxer cannot defend themselves safely, even if they are still standing.
Unanimous Decision: After the scheduled rounds are completed, all three judges agree on the winner, awarding points based on clean punches, defense, effective aggression, and ring generalship — a fighter’s ability to control the pace and location of the action.
Split Decision: two of the three judges scored the fight for one boxer, while the third judge scored it for the other boxer. It’s a way to determine the winner when the judges’ opinions are divided.

Norman’s record — 30 fights, 28 wins, and no losses — includes 22 victories by knockout, six by unanimous decision, and two bouts ruled as no contest due to accidental injuries.

From Decatur Roots to the Top of the Sport

Born November 23, 2000, Norman grew up in Decatur and attended Lakeside High School. His father, Brian Norman, Sr., was a professional boxer from 2003 to 2011, compiling a record of 18 wins and 11 losses. From childhood, Norman Jr. trained under his father’s guidance, learning both the mental and physical demands of the sport.

In November 2023, Norman won the WBO International welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Quinton Randall in Las Vegas, NV. Brian defended his title in March 2024 against Janelson Figueroa Bocachia in Verona, NY. Both fighters were cut in an accidental clash in the ring. Norman was cut above his right eye in the second round, while Bocachica suffered a cut in the opening round. The bout was stopped at the end of the third round due to the severity of Bocachica’s cut, resulting in a no contest.

His big break came in August 2024, when Terence Crawford — a legend in the sport — vacated the WBO welterweight belt to move up in weight. Norman, already holding the WBO interim title, was promoted to full champion, becoming the youngest male world champion in boxing at the time.

Knockouts, Travel, and Titles

Norman’s most recent defense took him to Tokyo, Japan, on June 19, 2025, where he faced hometown contender Jin Sasaki. In the opening minute, Norman scored his first knockdown with a left hook to the head. By the fifth round, he delivered another left hook so devastating that Sasaki was left on the canvas for several minutes. Many analysts called it a Knockout of the Year candidate.

Norman spoke of the Japanese customs and traditions, and mentioned that since the fight he and Sasaki have exchanged kind and respectful words.

Business in the Ring

Currently signed with Top Rank — the promotional powerhouse behind legends like Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, and Manny Pacquiao — Norman has earned an estimated $1 million in career purses. His biggest payday so far was $650,000 in a bout against Cuevas.

The WBO, headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a key gatekeeper in boxing, with its champions recognized as among the best in the world. Holding a WBO belt is often a stepping stone to multi-division championships and career-defining fights.

The Risks of the Sport

Brian Norman well understands the risks of his profession. He knows that hundreds of punches to the head can lead to serious long-term effects. As a knowledgeable boxer himself, Norman, Sr. placed an exceptionally high emphasis on Brian, Jr. to become an excellent defensive boxer to protect himself as best as possible.

This is one way to ensure a long, healthy career.

The Place He Calls Home

Brian trains at Granite City Boxing & Fitness (GCBF) in Ellenwood, GA. GCBF has a rich history of its own. Some of the most elite boxers in Georgia were birthed at GCBF, including Eli Lankford, Casey Dixion, Hakim Lopez, and Najee Lopez to name a few.

Coach Natasha (Titi) noted, “It’s amazing to see where Brian has come from versus the skills that he has developed now.”

As for training, Brian says, “he starts counting reps once the workout starts to hurt. Discipline is the key to training and development.” His training regimen includes rigorous workouts, sparring sessions, and a strict diet, all of which contribute to his physical and mental preparedness for each fight.

Next Challenge: Devin Haney in Saudi Arabia

On November 22, 2025, Norman will defend his title against two-division champion Devin Haney in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both men are undefeated — Norman at 28-0 (22 KOs) and Haney at 32-0 (15 KOs) — making this a rare matchup where neither fighter has ever tasted defeat. This highly anticipated bout is expected to be a test of skill, endurance, and determination for both fighters.

For Norman, the fight is another chance to prove that The Assassin II is more than just a nickname. With an undefeated record of 28-0 (22 KOs), he has shown his dominance in the ring. For the sport, it’s an opportunity to showcase one of boxing’s youngest champions to a global audience.

From Decatur’s neighborhood gyms to the bright lights of Las Vegas, Tokyo, and soon Saudi Arabia, Brian Norman, Jr. has shown that even the kid next door can rise to the very top of the boxing world — and do it without a single loss.

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