This week, rising American welterweight Brian Norman Jr. is set to face Japan’s Jin Sasaki in Tokyo for the WBO World Welterweight title — a genuine crossroads fight between two explosive young contenders. The bout will stream live on ESPN+ in the United States.
But here in Britain? We’re left wondering how the hell to watch it. Because, once again, the Brian Norman broadcast in the UK doesn’t actually exist.
Great for Global Fans — Rubbish for the UK
Let’s be clear: ESPN+ showing this fight is a positive sign for boxing’s global reach. Norman’s a slick, confident switch-hitter with momentum behind him. Sasaki’s a knockout artist with a rabid home crowd. It’s a brilliant match-up on paper — and credit to ESPN+ for giving it a platform.
But unless you’re in America, you’re out of luck.
ESPN+ isn’t available in the UK. There’s no domestic rights deal, no DAZN simulcast, and no satellite TV alternative. If you’re in Britain, the only way to watch the Brian Norman broadcast is through a VPN — and I’m not condoning that.
Once again, British boxing fans are being treated like an afterthought.
Boxing’s Vanishing Act on British TV
It’s not just this fight. It’s a growing problem.
Right now, there is no regular televised boxing on British TV:
- Sky Sports cut ties with BOXXER (I covered that here).
- TNT Sports has moved on to focus on MMA and football.
- Channel 5 airs the occasional card via Mick Hennessy, but they’re smaller fights, low profile, and inconsistent.
Meanwhile, Matchroom and Queensberry both stream exclusively on DAZN — a service many casual fans still haven’t fully embraced. DAZN’s price point, lack of transparency, and scattershot schedule have made it hard for even diehards to stick with it.
So where does that leave the average UK fan?
Casual Fans Have Nowhere to Go
Let’s say you’re a casual boxing fan who hears that Norman vs. Sasaki could be a breakout fight. You want to watch it.
Sky? Nope.
BT/TNT? Nope.
DAZN? Not covering it.
Channel 5? Nowhere near it.
ESPN+? Not legally available in the UK.
So what do you do? You wait until the result hits social media, maybe catch a clip on YouTube, and miss the drama of seeing it live. It’s frustrating — and it’s slowly killing interest in the sport.
The Danger of Normalising Highlights Over Live Action
Boxing thrives on tension, risk, and immediacy. That gets lost the minute you know the outcome.
And yet more and more British fans are being trained to accept watching after the fact. We’ve all done it — it’s 8 a.m. on a Sunday, and you’re trying to avoid spoilers before clicking on a 5-minute highlight video.
But that’s not how you build the next generation of fans. That’s not how you grow a sport.
UK Boxing Deserves Better
This is a country that’s produced legends in every weight class. A country where fans pack arenas, tune in loyally, and create electric atmospheres. But these days? We can’t even legally watch a world title fight like Norman vs. Sasaki — unless it’s headlined by a YouTuber or stuck behind a pay-per-view wall.
The Brian Norman broadcast in the UK should be part of a broader effort to grow the sport. Instead, it’s another symbol of how fragmented and inaccessible boxing has become — especially for fans in its spiritual home.
Over to You
Will you be watching Brian Norman vs. Jin Sasaki this Thursday? Do you think fights like this deserve UK coverage? Are boxing’s broadcasters failing British fans — or are we just being priced out?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, tag a mate who’s feeling the same, and head over to CMBoxing.co.uk for more no-nonsense boxing analysis that actually puts fans first.