The city of Atlanta, Georgia has produced yet another world champion. On Saturday, May 18, Brian Norman Jr. knocked out Giovani Santillan in the 10th round to capture the interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight Championship.
Norman Jr. traveled to Santillan’s hometown of San Diego, California for his first title. The first two rounds of the bout were spent fighting on the inside. Exchanging a flurry of hooks and crosses, Norman Jr. was able to best his opponent with a collection of hard uppercuts. Things began to shift in the third round when a cut opened up on the hometown hero’s left eye. After the cut opened up, Santillan’s attack picked up as he unloaded a series of straight left hands and began to focus on hitting the Atlanta native’s body. However, the Atlanta native was able to bounce back with straight right hands and left hooks to the head in rounds seven and eight as blood began to leak from Santillan’s nose. The assault continued into the 10th round as Norman Jr. sent the San Diego native to the canvas twice before referee Ray Corona stopped the fight.
“He was pressing but not hitting s—t. I made him miss and [I] made him pay. I like going to other people’s hometowns and taking what they have. Whoever they have next for me, I’m ready for the challenge,” Norman Jr. said after the fight.
Norman Jr. joins Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Mario Barrios among the trio of boxers who have captured world titles relinquished by former undisputed champion Terence Crawford.
