Former WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (29-1, 23 KOs) bounced back from his loss to Devin Haney with a quick second-round stoppage of Josh Wagner (19-3, 10 KOs) in a confidence-building comeback.
Norman pressed the action immediately and looked sharper from the opening round, forcing Wagner on the defensive with hard right hands and quick combinations. Wagner tried to stay active early, but Norman’s speed and power quickly separated the two fighters.
The end came in the second round when Norman dropped Wagner for the first time with a heavy right hand during an exchange. Wagner got back to his feet, but Norman quickly returned to the attack and moments later scored another takedown with a combination that badly injured Wagner.
After the second takedown, Wagner indicated he could not continue, leading the referee to call off the fight after a brief consultation with the ringside doctor.
The performance was an important comeback for Norman after losing his WBO welterweight title to Haney last November. Norman was knocked down in the third round of that fight before losing a wide decision, but he showed no hesitation in his first appearance since the loss.
Norman improved to 29-1 with his 23rd knockout win, while Wagner dropped to 19-3. The quick finish also keeps Norman positioned for bigger fights at welterweight as he tries to work his way back into the title picture.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 2026/05/17 at 12:20
 bounced back from his loss to Devin Haney with a quick second-round stoppage of Josh Wagner){kind=link}