Brian Norman Jnr recently shared a moment with former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence that left a lasting impression.
The two were pictured together in an image posted by Adrian Clark, CEO of Fighters First Management, sparking speculation about the connection between the rising star and the seasoned veteran.
For Norman, the parallels were clear.
“When I saw him, I saw the future version of me,” Norman, the WBO welterweight titleholder told BoxingScene. “He’s a country kid, just like me, going about his business and working hard. I’m pretty sure we all know he is a workhorse, and he shared so much knowledge—about what he did right, what he messed up, and how to approach training differently.”
Norman from Conyers, Georgia, has been navigating the highs and lows of boxing. Elevated to full champion in August after a stunning 10th-round knockout of Giovani Santillan in San Diego, the 23-year-old boasts a perfect record of 26-0 (20 KOs). Yet, an injury forced him to withdraw from a bout with Derrieck Cuevas, temporarily halting his momentum after getting a career-best win. Spence, who reigned as champion for over half a decade before losing to Terence Crawford in July 2023, offered valuable advice during their meeting.
“He telling me how to operate the whole situation,” Norman said. “We’re both workhorses, so we may overtrain sometimes. He showed me how to balance that. He gave me a lot of knowledge.”
But the connection wasn’t just about boxing. Norman saw a like-minded and relatable individual, when he talked to Spence.
“Everything about him—inside and outside of the ring—is similar to me,” Norman said. “We’re both country boys, laid-back, not city people. We like the slow life, and even the way we talk, it’s just who we are. Seeing him, it’s like looking in a mirror.”