Brian Norman Jr. he says the fans haven’t seen his best before the Giovani Santillan game

Welterweight prospect Brian Norman Jr. Photo courtesy of Brian Norman Jr.
Brian Norman Jr. he does not lack confidence.
Although he hasn’t fought a legitimate contender at 147 pounds, Norman is confident that his skills and that of his father, a former fighter, will be enough to defeat rival Giovani Santillan.
Norman will face Santillan tonight at the Pechanga Arena in Santillan’s hometown of San Diego, California. The 12-round fight will precede the main fight between Emanuel Navarrete and Denys Berinchyk, both of whom will be fighting for the vacant WBO worldweight title.
Both fights will air live on ESPN (10:30 pm ET/ 7:30 pm PT).
A compelling conflict between Santillan and Norman will be at stake. The WBO announced Thursday its interim welterweight title.
Norman (25-0 1 No Contest, 19 KOs), who lives in Conyers, Georgia, was unsuccessful in his third bout after his opponent Janelson Figueroa Bocachica suffered a serious injury above his left eye that led the ringside doctor to stop the fight. late in the third round. Norman was knocked out late in the opening round and had to deal with a cut to his left eyelid from an accidental clash of heads.
The 23-year-old will be taking a big step up against Santillan, who is coming off a stunning victory over former contender Alexis Rocha on October 21. Santillan, 32, is ranked No. 4 by The Ring at 147 pounds and is co-trained by Robert Garcia.
As of Friday night, Santillan was a -475 favorite to win. Despite the odds, fighting in Santillan’s hometown and taking a big step forward, Norman believes he can pull off the win.
“I’m approaching this as a real championship fight,” Norman told The Ring last week. “I’m approaching this as if I’m fighting for my life. I have debts to pay. I approach this as there is no future. I am sure that I will use the best performance that you have seen from me.
“I think (Santillan) is a very good fighter, especially after Rocha’s performance. What I am looking to use is that you are facing me. I believe that I have the power to do anything and everything that needs to happen. I’m Brian Norman, Jr.”
Norman enters the fight against Figueroa having won his previous three fights by decision. It’s a far cry from winning fights with devastating blows or referees needing to step in to save a fighter. The quality of the opposition improved, including modest opposition from Jesus Perez and Quinton Randall.
Improving his skills was something that Norman needed to develop as he realized that power output was not the only way to win battles.
“Hitting hard is nice and fun but what if someone doesn’t care how he hits?,” said Norman, who signed a promotional deal with Top Rank last year. “I feel like you should (win) the round well. Of course, I’m proud of my strength and things of that nature, but if you don’t get it, then what? If you ever come, and they don’t care how hard you hit, you don’t get him out. So what? You have to have that full game around you and I feel like I have that full game. “
Norman benefited from having his father, Brian Norman, Sr., to coach him. Norman, Sr. amassed a 17-11, 5 KO record during a professional career that spanned between 2003 and 2011.
In an era where the father-son relationship works as a trainer and fighter, Norman, Jr. he is thankful to have his father in his corner.
“I believe it’s a great help,” said Norman. “No one can touch you like your Father. He is the one who pushes me to the gym. I don’t care how tired I am. I came and my father was looking at me. I have to go on. No matter what, I do not bow before him. He taught me the game early on. He instilled a lot of discipline and principles in me, inside and outside the ring. I got Norman’s blood inside me. I got it from him. I have to show him. I deserve to show about his legacy. I am his inheritance. We will be seen in this thing.”
Norman has taken steps to further improve his career, traveling to Las Vegas to face top fighters in preparation for this fight. Norman counted former lightweight world champion Edwin De Los Santos and undefeated welterweight Alberto Puello.
As some might think he got in over his head fighting the likes of Santillan, Norman is confident, believing he has the intangibles to emerge victorious.
“I know that the fans have never seen the best in me. At all. Not 100 percent. I don’t get caught up or anything like that. I’m going to do my thing and get some W’s. Things like that. I know that on the last bell, as long as my hand is raised, I’m straight.
“I believe that I am the best. That’s how I feel. I know for a fact. I work hard every day. I know for a fact every gym I walk into and, if I run with anyone, I know for a fact, for some reason, I always outrun everyone. And I do more. That’s why I feel this way. In every aspect, no matter what, no matter how much money anyone has, I have more than them.
“That’s why I feel that way.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]