Even when Brian Norman felt like he was on a collision course with Jaron Ennis, historical perspective persuaded him to covet the WBC welterweight title.

Now that Ennis, The Ring/IBF/WBA champion, seems set to move up from welterweight to junior middleweight, Norman is even more motivated to add the WBC crown to his WBO belt. The unbeaten Norman is entirely focused this week on his title defense against Japan’s Jin Sasaki on Thursday night in Tokyo.

If the favored Norman leaves Sasaki’s country with his WBO belt, he will set his sights on the winner of the July 19 bout between WBC champ Mario Barrios and returning legend Manny Pacquiao.

“Actually, that’s, real deal, the main fight I want simply because of that WBC belt,” Norman told The Ring. “And if Pacquiao win it, that makes it even better because that’s a legend in the game. That WBC belt is actually my main goal.”

San Antonio’s Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) is listed by most sportsbooks as a 4-1 favorite to defeat the Philippines’ Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) in their Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view main event next month at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, 46, will end a layoff of almost four years when he battles Barrios. He has concentrated mostly on his political career in the Philippines since Yordenis Ugas, a late replacement for an injured Errol Spence Jr., upset him by unanimous decision in August 2021 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Norman didn’t anticipate Pacquiao’s comeback. He nonetheless understands what inspired the recent inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame to return to the ring, even at such an advanced age.

“I was very surprised,” Norman said. “He’s 46 years old, but I know for a fact it’s very, very hard to sleep that competitive nature in you. Just a few years ago, he beat the man, ‘One Time’ Keith Thurman. So, I’m pretty sure he’s like, ‘I know I got at least a little bit more left.’ I understand where he’s coming from, but if I get that opportunity, respectfully, I gotta do him like he did Oscar De La Hoya.”

Pacquiao pummeled De La Hoya in what emerged as the final fight of the six-division champion’s illustrious career.

De La Hoya was favored to beat Pacquiao due to his height and reach advantages and success in the welterweight division. Pacquiao, who moved up from the lightweight division for their fight, shockingly dominated 'The Golden Boy' until he quit on his stool following eight one-sided rounds in December 2008 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Norman, 24, is barely half Pacquiao’s age. He still wouldn’t be surprised if the southpaw beats Barrios, who turned 30 last month.

“Manny Pacquiao is Manny Pacquiao,” Norman said. “Anything is possible.”

A mindful Norman (27-0, 21 KOs, 1 NC) has taken a comparable approach to his fight with Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs). The Conyers, Georgia native is a 5-1 favorite, but he considers Sasaki a much greater threat to beat him than his last opponent, Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas (27-2-1, 19 KOs), whom Norman stopped in the third round March 29 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

ESPN+ will stream Norman-Sasaki live from Ota City General Gymnasium at approximately 7:15 a.m. ET in the United States (12:15 p.m. GMT in the United Kingdom). Norman-Sasaki undercard coverage is set to start at 4 a.m. ET (9 a.m. GMT).