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“At 147 you’ll see if I can really punch.”

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Image: Devin Haney Promises to Silence Critics in Brian Norman Jr. Fight: “At 147, You’ll See If I Can Really Punch”

Devin Haney says his fight with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. will show if he can “punch harder” in the full weight class at 147 pounds on November 22 at the ANB Arena in Riyad.

Haney (32-0, 16 KO) sounded confident during an interview this week when talking about how his fight with Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KO) will allow him to prove the doubters wrong. They think he can’t punch and he can’t make a shot.

Haney doubters point out that Ryan Garcia and Jorge Linares have hurt him multiple times. 24-year-old Norman Jr. he is bigger and stronger than those players. He is also a deadly performer when hurting his opponent. So if Haney gets injured, he won’t be able to get out of trouble like he did against Ryan and Linares.

The question of power returns

“They say I can’t punch. Now, at 147, we’ll see. We’ll see if I can hit harder and take hits better,” Devin Haney said on Ariel Helwani’s channel YouTube. “That’s why this fight is so vital to me, because they say I can’t block a left hook.”

Six years without downtime

People say Haney can’t punch because the reality is he can’t. He has Rate 46.88% ORand hasn’t scored a knockout in six years, since he defeated Zaur Abdullaev in the fourth round of the event September 13, 2019. Since then, Haney hasn’t knocked out anyone in his last 10 fights. It’s quite a arid period. Surely if Devin had the power, he would have shown it over the last six years, right?

The weight Haney has put on this camp probably won’t give him enough power to be a knockout threat. Attempting to knock out Norman Jr. would be risky for Haney as he would have to stay still to sit on his punches. That’s a risky move against a knockout artist like Brian Jr.

If Haney beats his middleweight sparring partner, Troy Isley (15-0, 5 KO), during this camp, it doesn’t mean anything because he himself lacks power.

Why Haney’s style won’t save him

“We saw him take a guy down in Brian Norman’s last fight [Jin Sasaki] frigid left hook. They say I can’t take a punch. We have a guy who is powerful and can hit. From what they say, he’s my kind of kryptonite,” Devin said.

It’s not really about Norman Jr. was wrong about Haney’s fighting style. Rather, the point is that Norman Jr. is too powerful for him because his resistance to blows is not on par with someone at his power level.

There are certain fighters that a fighter with a frail jaw like Haney shouldn’t fight. Put Devin with a ponderous, elderly guy like Jose Ramirez or Regis Prograis and he’s in his element. But if you compare Haney to Ryan Garcia or Norman Jr., it falls apart. It will evaporate on impact. This is the reality.

“That’s why this fight is so vital to me, because I want to turn non-believers into believers and prove the doubters and non-believers wrong,” Haney said.

Can Haney handle the real power?

This fight will likely cement the fact that Devin doesn’t belong at 147 pounds and should stay away from anyone in power for the rest of his career. His father, Bill Haney, did a good job maneuvering him. However, in this case, he is the wrong type of player for Haney.

For Haney, after November 22, it doesn’t have to mean the end of the world. Bill just needs to refocus by staying away from these players:

  • Ryan Garcia
  • Rolando “Rolly” Romero
  • Lewis Crocker
  • Gary Antuanne Russell
  • Teofimo Lopez
  • Ernesto Mercado
  • Keyshawn Davis
  • Liam Paro
  • Subriel Matias
  • Shakhram Giasov

Tom Galm: Reality awaits in Riyad

On November 22, he will reveal what awaits Devin’s survival in the treacherous waters at the age of 147, as he must face the many shark-like predators that will hunt him. Norman Jr. again. is just one of many ponderous hitters in the welterweight division.

His destruction of weight will be a clear sign that Devin needs to return to his original weight of 140, and possibly even 135. It would make no sense to remain at 147 if he was massacred by Norman Jr., as many boxing fans predict.

Last update: 10/30/2025

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Boxing

The Shakur Stevenson vs. Devin Haney fight is in the works, but there is one major issue standing in the way

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Shakur Stevenson vs Devin Haney is ‘in talks’ but one major issue stands in the way

Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney are reportedly in talks for an all-American superfight.

Stevenson scored the biggest victory of his career this year, moving up to super lightweight to defeat Teofimo Lopez to become a four-division world champion.

Haney won titles in three weight classes and was undisputed at lightweight. Most recently he defeated Brian Norman Jr. for the WBO welterweight world title.

Both men have impressed in their recent wins and are widely considered two of the most technically elite fighters in the sport today. A fight between the two has been discussed for a long time, and The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that it could now become a reality if one key hurdle can be overcome – an agreed weight limit.

This problem is not effortless to solve and may prove too stern for negotiations to overcome. Haney said he felt best at welterweight and looked exhausted at super lightweight. Stevenson argues that his opponent faced Jose Ramirez at the 144-pound catchweight last year and could do the same again. While Haney handled the weight well and performed well on the night, there is no doubt he would have been at a disadvantage.

Stevenson, however, argued that he is still a natural lightweight – even though he looks comfortable against Lopez at 140 pounds – and that a meeting under the welterweight limit creates a more even playing field.

Time will tell whether this can be agreed behind the scenes. A significant amount could assist move things forward, but given their undefeated records, pound-for-pound status and position as the face of American boxing, both Stevenson and Haney will be cautious in making decisions.

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David Benavidez says his speed will be too much for Ramirez

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Image: David Benavidez Says His Speed Will Be Too Much For Ramirez

David Benavidez doesn’t think size alone will decide his fight against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Ahead of the cruiserweight title clash, Benavidez says the advantage will come down to speed, combinations and a style that he feels Ramirez hasn’t faced before.

Benavidez said Ramirez is a bigger man and is used to facing naturally bigger opponents in the cruiserweight division, but he doesn’t see it as a problem. He believes the slower pace typical of this weight will work to his advantage once the punches start falling.


Benavidez said Ramirez has never faced someone like him in an official fight. Although both have sparred in the past, Benavidez has made it clear that he sees a major difference between rounds in the gym and fighting him under the lights for twelve rounds.

“There are a lot of opportunities to hit him with a lot of combinations because he is slower,” Benavidez told Double3 Coverage. “My speed, my movement and my defense will be too much for him and I will surely overwhelm and drown him with pressure and volume.”

It’s compelling that he so casually disregards the size difference. While Zurdo Ramirez is a natural cruiserweight and holds the unified WBA/WBO titles, Benavidez is betting that speed and volume will be the universal equalizer.

Benavidez sounds like a man who thinks he’s found a flaw in the system. Moving up to cruiserweight, he believes his hand speed will be a blur compared to fighters in the 200-pound division. But here comes the fear of a massacre.

He already says this is “his era.” When a fighter begins to look beyond a unified champion like Ramirez toward a September coronation or a legacy-defining run, he usually leaves his chin exposed.

On the other hand, bookmakers do not predict a massacre, at least not in the case of Benavidez. There’s a reason he’s a -600 favorite. Most analysts believe he is just unique enough that his volume will break Zurdo’s rhythm before the size difference becomes a factor.

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Categories David Benavidez, Gilberto Ramirez, Quick Strikes

Last updated: 27/04/2026 at 22:41

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Shakur Stevenson responds to reports that he is in talks to face Devin Haney next

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Shakur Stevenson responds to report that he is in talks to face Devin Haney next

Shakur Stevenson has hit the brakes following reports that he is in preliminary talks to fight Devin Haney.

Both elite Americans have claims to pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered among the most defensively gifted operators of the contemporary era.

However, a weight class or two has always separated them, and Haney’s recent move to welterweight – a division Stevenson says he can get to but is in no rush – seemed to make that fight less likely.

To make that happen, Stevenson said he would like Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144 pounds, the same limit he reached when defeating Jose Ramirez in 2025.

Today, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that discussions had already begun, but the weight was a sticking point, with Stevenson likely still insisting on the stipulation, but Haney was keen on staying at 147 pounds.

However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger’s claim by speaking further X that there was no contact between the teams.

“I know the fans like to get excited and can toy with you all and easily manipulate you, but this rumor is dead for the second time. I haven’t heard a word about it, [I don’t know] what are they? [trying to] hide or hide, but me and my team haven’t heard any nonsense.”

It’s unclear where Haney and Stevenson will go next Haney is reportedly considering a move to Zuffa Boxing and Stevenson are still deciding which division to compete in.

For now, it seems any excitement about their meeting on the ropes is premature.

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