Brian Norman Jr. W10 Giovani Santillan .... Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) captured the WBO interim welterweight title with a tenth-round knockout over hometown favorite Giovani Santillan (32-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday's ESPN broadcast from San Diego. Santillan was the aggressor, but Norman’s quick counters and clinching nullified his offense. Santillan tried to make the most of it by punching inside the clinch, but this provided the openings for Norman to counter.

 

In the eighth, Norman hurt Santillan with a left hook. This changed the tide decisively to Norman’s favor, as he rallied with combinations in the following stanza. In the 10th, Norman landed a counter uppercut that dropped Santillan, who rose off the deck to be dropped by another, more devastating uppercut that floored him and ended the fight.

 

Norman was ahead on all three scorecards, 89-82, 88-83 and 86-85. Norman said, “He was pressing but not hitting s**t. I made him miss and 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."