Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KO) says yes “accepting all comers” will fight his next fight after winning the WBO welterweight title by defeating champion Brian Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KO) on Saturday evening at Ring IV at the ANB Arena in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. Haney won by unanimous decision over 12 rounds, scores of 114-113, 116-111 and 117-110.
(Source: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
Protecting Ryan Garcia’s paycheck
When Haney was asked after the fight if he was interested in fighting Conor Benn again, he replied: “Throw it away.” To keep Haney interested in fighting, Benn suggests he wants to make sure he doesn’t lose before his lucrative rematch with Ryan Garcia. That’s a intelligent decision because he could have a lot of trouble against a hitter like Benn.
The tactics Devin used tonight to beat Norman Jr. and used it often, it probably wouldn’t have been effective against Benn. He is intelligent and would find a way to deal with this strategy. His father, Nigel Benn, came up with a tactic to counter grabbing throughout the night in every round, just as Haney used as his primary strategy to defeat Norman Jr.
“I wanted to face the best fighter so I could be that guy in the division,” Haney said Second exit after his victory over Brian Norman Jr. on Saturday evening. “A lot of people doubted me and wrote me off. But I used it as fuel and motivation. They made me believe how risky he was. So I believed them.”
Norman Jr. Neutralized, literally
“My dad had a great game plan and I executed it and it showed in the ring. I knew he had a weakness for the left hook. I saw him get hurt by a left hook.”
Bill Haney said Devin would do it “neutralize” Norman Jr. Attack before the fight and he wasn’t kidding. Devin resembled a Greco-Roman wrestler tonight, grabbing and tugging at Norman Jr. whenever he got near. Not only did he neutralize Norman Jr.’s attack, but he did a good job of stopping his own, landing just 70 punches out of 271 thrown throughout the fight.
“Everyone is willing” – with conditions
“We accept all comers. It doesn’t matter who it is. Whoever my dad says he wants me to fight, that’s who I’m going to fight,” Haney said DAZN Boxing when asked who he wants to fight next after his victory over Norman Jr.
Apart from Norman Jr. only Ryan Garcia, who Devin says he wants to fight since moving up to 147 pounds. The division is restricted in terms of potential cash fight opponents for Devin unless Turki Alalshikh is willing to offer him substantial money to fight the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Jack Catterall.
Bob Smith wrote for Boxing News 24 since 2008, making him one of the site’s longest-serving contributors. With over a decade of experience, he has established himself as a senior boxing writer who accurately covers the global fight scene.
Bob’s work includes fight reports, news and features featuring world champions and emerging fighters alike, giving fans a clear picture of the sport’s past and present. Known for his consistency, accuracy and deep understanding of boxing, Bob remains a trusted voice for readers who want to stay up to date with global martial arts news.
Gorokhov (16-11-2) had already done damage with large shots, finishing Kalkan (7-0, 4 KO) with a spotless knockout that forced the referee to wave his hand. The task has been completed.
After being detained, Gorokhov walked to the opposite corner, where a fight began. That was enough. The cornermen ran inside, the voices became piercing, followed by punches. Within seconds, many people entered the ring.
The situation got out of the referee’s control. The horns could not be separated. Once the non-fighters make it through the ropes, the result will be written in the record books.
The footage showed flying chairs and people trading on ropes as security tried to take control of the situation. The recording shows objects thrown near the ropes. The announcements to stop the fight didn’t change anything. The ring is already gone.
The sanctioning authority has confined powers and the ruling follows standard procedure. When the ropes are broken and extra hands are involved, the score cannot stand and is removed from the scoresheet.
An investigation is ongoing and suspensions and penalties are expected once reports are submitted. The verdict now comes from the officials, not the blows that ended it.
Kalkan keeps his undefeated record in the books. Gorokhov leaves without the victory he earned. Disciplinary action is expected following the investigation.
Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
Although Oleksandr Usyk presented his three-fight plan, a recent challenger entered the fight with hopes of taking a shot at the Ukrainian and winning the unified world heavyweight titles.
Next month’s meeting with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven kicks off what Usyk envisioned as a series of three hand-picked fights before his planned retirement in 2027, with his next dance partner being the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois.
However, the WBC is expected to demand that Usyk fight mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel in his next fight, and promoter Frank Warren believes he will be stripped of his belt if he fails to face the undefeated German.
Meanwhile, the WBA and IBF titles are not on the line against Verhoeven, which has fight fans wondering whether Usyk could soon be stripped of those belts as well.
I’m talking to Fighting Hub TV after “Gigantic Baby” won, he told Usyk that there was nowhere to run or hide when fighting him.
“He’s a great fighter, man, but when you’re fighting a bully like me, there’s nowhere to run or hide. Usyk doesn’t really have crazy punching power, and he has trouble with guys who punch to the body and throw a lot of punches.”
This performance [against Pero] it was just a taste of what I could do. So the most essential thing is to go back and get the drawing board back. Let’s work and be ready for everyone.
I want Usyk to come back after the Rico fight and I can spank him.
If Usyk loses the WBA title, Miller could find himself in line for a title fight with current WBA Regular titleholder Murat Gassiew, who expected to be promoted to full champion. Although Moses Itauma would probably get the first shot at the proposed scrap with the Russian.
Benavidez enters Saturday’s fight with Gilberto Ramirez in a situation where even a tiny defeat may have a higher price than one defeat in history. Greater opportunities lie ahead, but those plans depend on beating Ramirez cleanly and leaving Las Vegas intact.
Benavidez will meet Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas in a fight for Ramirez’s WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles for $79.99. On paper, this is a bold move as Benavidez makes the jump from lightweight heavyweight to challenge an established titleholder who has already established himself in the division.
The pressure on Benavidez goes far beyond physical titles. For months, his name has been linked to huge opportunities at 175 pounds, most notably a clash with Dmitry Bivol. A loss to Ramirez would immediately derail those plans, forcing Benavidez into a rebuilding phase and delaying any significant career moves for the foreseeable future.
Winning in an ugly or narrow way can still invite skepticism. Benavidez is known for his constant pressure and high efficiency, and recently he has had a record of immaculate shots and has been forced to persevere in hard moments. Facing naturally larger opponents makes these defensive mistakes much more steep in the long run.
Ramirez may lack elite strength, but he has the experience and durability of a seasoned cruiserweight. He also enters the ring with much less weight on his shoulders than the challenger. All the pressure to perform rests entirely on Benavidez.
Therefore, the risk for Benavidez is much higher than for the man holding the belts. A victory will ensure that his path to mass fights remains clear, while any other result could immediately ruin his momentum and force him to spend time fighting Ramirez again. Getting stuck twice in the Ramirez fight would be a nightmare for Benavidez.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.