Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn today confirmed what many fans already suspected about Devin Haney: yes “he’s afraid of being hit” since the fight with Ryan Garcia.
Hearn says Devin’s dad, Bill Haney, is worried about his son “impact resistance”. So he expects Haney (32-0, 16 KO) to be in constant motion to avoid shots in his title fight with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KO) November 22, 2025 because it is a powerful punch with the strength of both hands.
Logic dictates that he will run away again
Hearn says he doesn’t think Devin will run away from Norman Jr. like he did on May 2 against Jose Ramirez earlier this year. He believes this was just a one-off situation where Haney had to be careful as he was seriously injured multiple times in his previous fight against Ryan Garcia on April 20, 2024.
“Devin and Bill [Haney] they’re especially worried about getting hit, and that’s a really bad situation when you’re fighting, especially when you’re fighting someone who can punch tough,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. media.
It’s unclear why Devin wouldn’t run even further against Norman Jr. than against Ramirez. It doesn’t make sense for Haney to suddenly fight aggressively with a much bigger punch than Ramirez did against Norman Jr.
If he’s going to run for the hills against leisurely ancient Ramirez, why wouldn’t he run even harder against a younger, stronger fighter with one-punch power like Norman Jr? I don’t think Hearn has thought this through.
Can Devin stay in the pocket?
Logically, you would assume that Devin would run non-stop for the full 12 rounds, a classic example of Jerry’s style of fighting. This wouldn’t be in Haney’s best interest because Turki Alalshikh will be in the audience and he’s clearly paying him well. Turki needed to have one no run clause built into the contract with Haney. So if he decides to do a Jerry-like act despite his “No Tom and Jerry” mandate, he won’t get the full amount of money.
Fans may not boo Haney because the event is taking place in Riyad, but people watching the event on DAZN PPV at home in the US will be furious paying to watch this type of performance.
“He’s Bill’s son and Bill doesn’t want him to get hit. They are also concerned about its impact resistance. This is true. And if you’re worried about your impact resistance, I think it’s a hazardous game. So Devin will get on the bike against Brian Norman and try to outsmart him,” Hearn said of Haney.
Clinch trap
Given the power of Norman’s punch, it won’t aid Haney to run around the ring hoping not to get hit. He’ll get there often enough to land bombs that will be more powerful than the ones Ryan repeatedly dropped on Haney.
Norman Jr. he has power in both hands, not just the left. However, this would be the hand that Norman should focus on as Devin has shown that he is unable to block Garcia’s left hook. It hit him all night long.
Haney’s habit of over-holding will put him in striking range of Norman Jr. when he reaches out to catch him in the clinch. This is how Kingry was able to hit him. He just waited for Devin to lunge forward to hold him, and then he watched him. He didn’t last that long in his last fight against Ramirez, but he didn’t have to.
Ramirez was so leisurely that he couldn’t cut off the ring that trapped him in the ropes like Ryan did. If this were the case, we would likely see Haney over-holding, as this is a strategy he has used in the past to neutralize his opponents’ attacks.
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 edged and educated view of the global boxing scene.
Many boxing fans consider Muhammad Ali the greatest of all time, but he once revealed his own choice.
Ali’s notable achievements include winning the world heavyweight title three times while talking about the greatest fights in history, including “Rumble In The Jungle” against George Foreman and “Thrilla In Manila” against Joe Frazier.
His final record was 56 wins in 61 fights, also defeating the likes of Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Earnie Shavers and Ken Norton, and also became a cultural icon outside the ring.
These achievements are why many fans consider Ali to be the greatest of all time, but in a renewed interviewthe heavyweight legend once revealed that he chose Sugar Ray Robinson for the honor.
“This man was attractive. The timing, the speed, the reflexes, the rhythm, his body, everything was attractive.
“I’d say I’m the greatest heavyweight of all time, but pound for pound I still say Sugar Ray Robinson was the best of all time.”
Robinson reigned as the world welterweight champion for five years, from 1946 to 1951, and went on an incredible 91-fight unbeaten streak.
His record at one stage was 129 wins from 132 fights, 85 of which were knockout victories. After reigning at welterweight, he moved up to middleweight, where he became a five-time world champion in that category.
When he finally hung up his gloves in 1965, he finished his career with a record of 174 wins in 201 fights, and it’s clear why Ali considers him the best.
Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1
Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.
“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”
Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.
“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”
Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.
“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”
Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.
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 vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.
At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.
After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.
The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020
Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.
Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.
Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.
“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”
“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”
Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).
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