Derrieck Cuevas took exception to Brian Norman Jnr’s claim that he is the champion.

Cuevas, a first-time title challenger, was repeatedly dismissive of the WBO welterweight title status enjoyed by Norman, 26-0 (20 KOs). The topic provided an unexpectedly spicy exchange during Thursday’s press conference at Moonstone Event Center at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. 

The venue will host Norman-Cuevas as a scheduled 12-round ESPN-televised co-feature this Saturday, when Norman will risk his title for the first time as chief support for the Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan WBO women’s welterweight title fight rematch.

Cuevas will be more than happy to lift the belt from an unbeaten titleholder, which he feels would be more impressive than the manner in which Norman, of Conyers, Georgia, claimed that status.  

“You’re not the champ,” Cuevas insisted. “You didn’t fight with the real world champion. They give [the belt] to you, you know?” 

The claim caught Norman a bit off guard, though his response helped put Saturday’s fight in proper perspective.

“If you was to beat me, would that make you a champion, then?” Norman asked Cuevas, 27-1-1 (19 KOs), of Puerto Rico. 

“They give to you,” Cuevas reiterated.

The claim was in reference to Norman being elevated to full titleholder from interim titlist status last summer. Four-division titlist Terence Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), held the WBO belt from June 2018 through his WBA 154lbs title win over Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles.

A decision was made soon thereafter that Crawford was done with the welterweight division, just more than a year after he fully unified all of the major titles. Norman previously scored a highlight-reel 10th-round knockout over Giovanni Santillan (then 32-0) to claim the interim WBO 147lbs title last May 18 in San Diego.

Crawford’s move up in weight made Norman the new full titlist by default. The situation wasn’t ideal, nor was the fallout from his all-too-public negotiations with unbeaten IBF titleholder Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 33-0 (29 KOs).

Norman instead turned his attention to a planned voluntary defense against Cuevas, who has never fought a scheduled 12-round bout. The two were due to meet last November, but Norman suffered a hand injury that required surgery. 

“I injured my hand trying to knock somebody’s head off, thinking about you,” Norman told Cuevas, 30, when questioned by his opponent. “I got the scars to prove it. This ain’t nothing new. Guess what? I’m out here ready for you – best believe that.”

Cuevas insisted the same in return.

“You’re a good fighter, but I’m much stronger than you,” Cuevas said. “I’m smarter than you.”

Saturday’s bout will mark Cuevas’ first ring appearance in nearly 16 months. He has won his past four bouts, all inside the distance, but hasn’t fought since a sixth-round stoppage of Marlon Aguas on December 1, 2023.