Japanese boxer Jin Sasaki has lost six weeks’ worth of memories after falling victim to one of the most brutal knockouts of the year.
Sasaki challenged Brian Norman Jr for the American’s WBO welterweight title on Thursday afternoon in Tokyo, Japan.
The 23-year-old was taking a massive step up in competition after previously operating at fringe world-level.
Norman Jr dropped Sasaki twice in the opening round and battered his overmatched opponent from pillar to post en route to a vicious fifth-round knockout.
A perfectly timed sweeping left hook left Sasaki flat on his back as medical staff rushed to the ring.
The local fighter lay motionless for over a minute before he was placed on a stretcher and whisked off to hospital.
There, he underwent neurological tests before being discharged the same day.
CT scans showed that there was no bleeding on the brain.
However, according to Issei Nakaya, the president of Sasaki’s gym, the boxer lost his memory for the last month and a half before the fight.
Nakaya claims Sasaki told him in the hospital: “I don’t even remember that this title match was decided.”
As Sasaki was rushed to the hospital after the fight, the post-fight press conference was cancelled.
Instead, Nakaya released a statement on Sasaki’s condition, reading: “Sasaki Tsutomu was taken to the hospital after the match and underwent a CT scan.
ESPNNorman Jr decked Sasaki with a booming left hook[/caption] ESPNSasaki was left flat on his back for over a minute before he was rushed to hospital[/caption] ESPNThe Japanese boxer lost six weeks’ worth of memories after the KO[/caption]“There were no injuries such as bleeding. However, he hit the back of his head hard and is currently losing his memory.
“There were no visible physical injuries, but we will be keeping an eye on him and he will be going back to the hospital tomorrow for another checkup.”
Sasaki’s setback marked his second stoppage loss after previously being blasted away inside the distance by Andy Hiraoka in a Japanese super lightweight title fight back in 2021.
He falls to 19-2-1 as a professional, while Norman Jr climbs to 28-0 with 22 of those victories coming inside the distance.
Norman Jr is now setting his sights on unification bouts.
However, a blockbuster showdown with IBF and WBA champion Jaron Ennis is now out of reach after ‘Boots’ recently announced his intentions to move up to 154lbs due to difficulties with making 147lbs.
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“About the future, I wish I had a certain fight coming up, but they heard there was a storm coming,” Norman Jr said of a clash with Ennis post-fight.
“And you all know what happens when a storm is coming, you grab your boots and run.
“We shall see what is next for me. Hopefully October or November, we can get something, but we shall see.”
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