Devin Haney predicts tonight will be: “presentation” for him, during which he showed off his technical skills en route to defeating the No. 1 contender in the 147-pound division, WBO champion Brian Norman Jr., at the ANB Arena in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
Haney (32-0, 26 KO) says that will be the case “game” for him and his team for what he will do to Norman Jr. (32-0, 16 KO) in their 12-round fight on the DAZN PPV on the Ring IV card. The way he talks, it sounds like he’s about to stun 24-year-old Brian Jr.
Real 50-50 now
Today’s match is Haney vs. Norman Jr. is now the choice for bookmakers. Norman Jr. was the betting favorite throughout, but bettors increasingly sided with Haney. It is currently believed that 50-50 fight. None of that will matter if Haney’s punch resistance betrays him again, as we saw in his April 2024 fight against Ryan Garcia.
“Canelo didn’t have feet. I have feet. So it won’t be like that, not even 1%,” Brian Norman Jr. said. MillCity boxg asked about the possibility of tonight’s fight with Devin Haney, which could be reminiscent of Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Terence Crawford, which pitted the Mexican star against the more mobile Crawford.
Norman Jr.’s reach advantage
Haney won’t be able to apply his mobility to neutralize Norman Jr.’s attack. in the same way that Crawford did in his 12-round unanimous decision victory over ponderous, undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo on September 13, 2025. Norman Jr. he can move, cut off the ring and has the reach advantage in this fight. Canelo gave up 4 1/2 inches of reach to Crawford.
Haney’s presentation theorem
“I think he is the division man for now. Once I win, I take over the weight class,– said Devin Haney Queensberry about his fight with Norman Jr. today. “Saturday night will be a great night for me and my team. They will have a lot of fun and show off a lot of skills.”
A win for Haney today would temporarily make him the No. 1 welterweight in the division, provided the victory is not tainted by controversy. Some boxing fans suspect that Devin may receive the division if the fight is close or even if it isn’t.
Can the controversy continue?
They see it as Haney being the A-side, the more popular fighter, waiting for a massive rematch with Ryan Garcia in 2026; there is a risk of being handed a decision that he does not deserve. Let’s hope we don’t see any controversy in this fight, because it would mean a black eye for the event.
Who leaves number 1 at the age of 147?
If Haney dethrones Norman Jr. today, he will still have to prove that he can defeat his former conqueror, Garcia, and prove that he is the rightful king of the 147-pound division. Last year, Ryan showed he was Haney’s kryptonite hit and catch fighting style.
“I’m going to show a lot of everything. I think I’ll have a great performance,” Haney said of his predictions today.
Ken Woods was a senior writer in Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering sports from every angle. With years of reporting from the ring, he delivers fight news, results and analysis that cuts through the noise. Ken’s work consistently focuses on champions, challengers and prospects, giving fans a acute and well-informed view of the global boxing scene.