Sparring stories seemingly appear every other day. While they’re entertaining, due to most of those sessions being shrouded in mystery, finding a reliable source becomes tricky.

Recently, we had another case of practice sessions between two high-level fighters.

Jaron Ennis, the welterweight divisions IBF champion, and Brian Norman Jr., who holds the WBO strap, got in the ring behind closed doors and got it on. Members from Team Ennis suggested that Norman couldn’t hang. News of him failing to give Ennis some legitimate competition was both confusing and laughable from Norman’s point of view.

If he wanted, he could have revealed exactly how things played out. Doing so, however, isn’t Norman’s style. So instead, he simply praised Ennis and thanked him for the opportunity.

“It was very, very great work,” Norman told Boxing News during a recent interview. “I learned a lot. It was great sparring.”

Just a few months ago, several conclaves took place between the two teams. The end goal was a unification. Ennis is on the verge of doing just that but not against Norman.

On April 12th in Atlantic City, Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) will take on WBA titlist Eimantas Stanionis. Two weeks prior, Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) will return in a much lower profile fight against Derrieck Cuevas.

The next few weeks will be simple for Norman. Beat Cuevas, cross his fingers that Ennis wins, then fight immediately after. If everything falls right into place, a showdown between them would have major fireworks. But while Ennis would give him a few headaches and something to worry about, Norman has enough confidence in his skills to bet the farm that he would brutalize Ennis.

“I know for a fact I can knock Boots out,” continued an animated Norman. “Not just beat him, but knock him out.”