布莱恩·诺曼Jr续签管理合约 / 超中量级WBA挑战者决定战：排名第3的梅里克季耶夫对阵第4的弗尔甘。Bryan Norman Jr. re-signs management contract / WBA Super Middleweight Title Eliminator: No. 3-ranked Murtazaliev to face No. 4-ranked Falcao.

 

6月19日将在东京大田区综合体育馆举行的比赛中，WBO世界次中量级排名第2的佐佐木尽（八王子中屋）＝19胜（17次KO）1负1平＝将挑战现役世界冠军布莱恩·诺曼Jr（美国）＝27胜（21次KO）保持不败（另有2场无效比赛）。在赴日之前，诺曼Jr与三年前签订合约的Fighters First Management公司续签了多年合同。

「我非常感激Fighters First为我所做的一切。虽然这三年漫长，但转瞬即逝。我从7岁开始就一直在训练，从没想到在这个年龄（24岁）能达到现在的成就。我一直梦想的事情已经实现。未来能走多远，只能靠想象。」（诺曼Jr表示）

Fighters First Management的总裁是乔琳·米佐内（美国），她曾在凯西·杜瓦的Main Events公司担任副总裁达10年。目前该公司与世界重量级排名选手奥托·瓦林（瑞典）＝27胜（15次KO）2负1无效赛＝以及WBO世界轻量级第14位、WBC第15位的贾斯汀·保尔德（美国）＝18胜（9次KO）2负＝等选手签订了合作协议。

On June 19, at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Jin Sasaki (Hachioji Nakaya Gym, 19 wins, 17 KOs, 1 loss, 1 draw), ranked No. 2 by the WBO at super welterweight, will challenge the reigning world champion Bryan Norman Jr. (USA, 27 wins, 21 KOs, undefeated with 2 no contests).

Before traveling to Japan, Norman Jr. renewed his multi-year contract with Fighters First Management, the company he originally signed with three years ago.

“I am extremely grateful for everything Fighters First has done for me. While these three years have felt long, they’ve also flown by. I’ve been training since I was seven years old, and I never imagined I would achieve this level of success at the age of 24. What I’ve always dreamed of has now come true. How far I can go in the future is only limited by my imagination,” said Norman Jr.

Fighters First Management is headed by Jolene Mizzone (USA), who previously served as vice president at Main Events under Kathy Duva for ten years. The company currently manages several fighters, including world heavyweight contender Otto Wallin (Sweden, 27 wins, 15 KOs, 2 losses, 1 no contest), and Justin Pauldo (USA, 18 wins, 9 KOs, 2 losses), who is ranked No. 14 by the WBO and No. 15 by the WBC at lightweight.

排名第3的梅里克季耶夫对阵第4的弗尔甘 —— WBA超中量级挑战者决定战

No. 3-ranked Murtazaliev vs. No. 4-ranked Falcao — WBA Super Middleweight Title Eliminator

WBA世界超中量级挑战者决定战。排名第3的贝克特米尔·梅里克季耶夫（乌兹别克斯坦）＝15胜（10次KO）1负＝将对阵排名第4的达里厄斯·弗尔甘（美国）＝14战全胜（12次KO）。这场比赛将作为5月30日（日本时间31日）在美国拉斯维加斯维珍酒店剧院举行的金童推广公司（Golden Boy Promotions）主办赛事的主赛。赛事将在DAZN平台播出。

2016年里约奥运会中量级银牌得主梅里克季耶夫自2019年6月转为职业选手以来一路连胜，但在2021年6月，被加布里埃尔·罗萨多（美国）＝26胜（15次KO）17负1平1无效＝在第三回合逆转KO，遭遇职业首败。不过在2023年4月的复赛中，他以巨大优势判定胜出，成功复仇。去年11月2日（日本时间3日），他在同一场馆与世界排名第10的大卫·史蒂文斯（美国）＝14胜（10次KO）2负＝进行了一场12回合的挑战者决定战，并以分歧判定获胜。

弗尔甘在业余时期曾获得全美重量级第一名，并赢得2018年金手套全美冠军。今年2月15日（日本时间16日），他在美国加利福尼亚州阿纳海姆的本田中心，用4回2分18秒KO击败温弗雷德·哈里斯Jr（美国）＝22胜（10次KO）3负2平。虽然技术稍显不足，但凭借卓越的力量保持职业不败战绩至今。

The WBA Super Middleweight Title Eliminator will feature No. 3-ranked Bektemir Melikuziev (Uzbekistan, 15 wins, 10 KOs, 1 loss) facing No. 4-ranked Darius Fulghum (USA, 14 wins, 12 KOs). The bout will headline a Golden Boy Promotions event on May 30 (Japan time May 31) at the Virgin Hotels Theater in Las Vegas, USA. The fight will be broadcast on DAZN.

Melikuziev, the silver medalist in the middleweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics, turned professional in June 2019 and racked up a string of victories. However, in June 2021, he suffered his first professional defeat when he was stopped by Gabriel Rosado (USA, 26 wins, 15 KOs, 17 losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest) via a dramatic third-round KO. He avenged this loss in a rematch in April 2023, winning by a wide decision. On November 2, 2023 (Japan time November 3), he faced David Stevens (USA, 14 wins, 10 KOs, 2 losses), ranked No. 10 in the world, at the same venue in a 12-round eliminator and won by split decision.

Fulghum was a top-ranked U.S. amateur heavyweight and won the 2018 National Golden Gloves Championship. On February 15 (Japan time February 16) this year, he scored a KO victory at 2:18 of the fourth round against Winfred Harris Jr. (USA, 22 wins, 10 KOs, 3 losses, 2 draws) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. While his technical skills are still developing, his impressive power has allowed him to maintain an undefeated record in the professional ranks.