Devin Haney’s victory over the No. 1 147-pounder, considered by some fans to be WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr., last Saturday made Haney temporarily the top fighter in the division.
Norman Jr. was not a test
There are five welterweights in the division that Haney would have to do a lot more than just move and hold to beat. While clinch-based game plan which Devin used against Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KO) was effective, this strategy would not be effective against the top predators in the division.
Beating these five takes more than just sticking to it:
- Ryan Garcia
- Karen Chukhadjian
- Rolando “Rolly” Romero
- Shakhram Giasov
- Jack Catterall
There is a good chance that all five challengers will find a workaround if Devin decides to apply Norman Jr.’s exact fight plan against them. They are older than Brian Jr. and it takes more than just diving forward to beat welterweights.
“No fighter can beat me on equal terms.” Haney said after his victory over Norman Jr. last Saturday. He added that he was a “level above” him, even though there was very little action in the fight due to the hold Devin used.
Haney (33-0, 15 KO) didn’t look like gold last Saturday in his defeat of Norman Jr. unanimous decision lasting 12 rounds, scores 114-113, 116-111 and 117-110.
We can say that Haney was better than Norman Jr., but that’s all we know for sure. He neutralized his offense by hanging on all night, but after that win he looked nothing like the No. 1 contender in the division.
Garcia’s left hook problem
During Devin’s loss to Ryan on April 20, 2024, he held on a lot early on and was stopped in round seven when he tried to catch him in the clinch. If Haney uses a hold in the second fight with Garcia, it could get him into trouble. Kingry’s compact, quick left hook is the perfect weapon for a fighter who often holds on like Haney does.
Until Devin cleans up the division, all we can say is that he is one of the sixth best fighters at 147 pounds. If some of the 140-pounders move up, he might not even make the top 10. There are some real talents at 140 right now who would quickly understand Haney’s fighting style and dominate him. If all he can do is hold and throw 70 punches in a fight, he won’t beat the top guys.
140 sharks are waiting
- Keyshawn Davis
- Teofimo Lopez
- Emiliano Vargas
- Subriel Mathias
- Albert Puello
- Jamaine Ortiz
- Ernesto Mercado
- Richardson Hitchins
- Gabriel Valenzuela
Robert Segal was a key voice in Boxing News 24providing fight news, previews and analysis with direct access to insider information. Covering sports for over a decade, his work focuses on champions, challengers and emerging talent around the world. Known for his pointed in-ring perspective, Robert brings fans closer to the action with straightforward, educated reporting.