“I can only take what’s coming my way,” Norman told Ring magazine when asked about the bigger names being discussed in the division. “I’m pretty sure these guys will still be here when that time comes.”

Norman concluded his response by stating that he would address matters on May 16 and then accept whatever was proposed after that date.

“Whatever is put on the table next, I’ll take it. I don’t care who it is.”

That loss to Devin Haney in November stripped him of his WBO title and appears to have stripped away some of his fighting spirit as well. This is a complete 180 from the “Savage” personality he brought to Saudi Arabia.

When Malik Scott insisted on naming names, his broken spirit was likely a lingering effect of the reality check Haney handed him.

Getting dropped in the second round and then being chased around the ring for 12 rounds by a guy most people thought was damaged after the Ryan Garcia fight has to be a huge psychological blow.

The May 16 fight with Josh Wagner is textbook matchmaking for a fighter whose confidence is in the basement. Wagner is a solid enough professional, but he’s not in the same stratosphere as the names Norman previously dismissed.

Norman is a huge 1/20 favorite. This fight is about a knockout so he can remember what victory feels like.

It’s irritating to hear a teenage player who was once so vocal suddenly seem content to just “take whatever’s on the table.” In boxing, this is usually code for “I’m not sure I belong at the top yet.”

If he fights Wagner at all in Norfolk, or even if he wins but looks unsure, this assertive and confident version of Brian Norman Jr. may disappear for good.

May 16 will be less about Josh Wagner and more about Norman proving to himself and his coach that the Haney loss hasn’t permanently damaged him.

The version of Norman Jr. we saw in Riyad was unrecognizable from the guy who annihilated Giovani Santillan. When Haney dropped him in the second, it seemed like the “Savage” personality immediately evaporated and was replaced by a warrior who was in survival mode.

Watching the octopus separate from Haney was definitely frustrating, but the real problem: Norman Jr. he didn’t have the dog in him tonight to fight it. Instead of using his strength to push Haney away or work his body during the hold, he simply stood there and allowed Haney to neutralize his attacks over and over again.

This defeated energy is precisely why Wagner’s fight on May 16 is so blatantly planned. If Norman Jr. he was afraid to push a guy like Haney, who isn’t exactly known as a devastating one-punch KO artist, which is a huge red flag when he finally faces a real puncher like Ennis or even a heavy-handed Benn.

In boxing, when a fighter’s invincibility is destroyed and he shows his timidity, it is rarely a one-off event. It usually becomes a novel plan for each opponent.

The fight in Norfolk is clearly a test for his team to see if they can find the missing aggression in a low-risk environment. Wagner has ten knockouts, but he won’t demand respect like a top-flight elite would.

If Norman Jr. comes out on May 16 and is still uncertain, waiting for Wagner to lead or fail to initiate exchanges, then we will know for sure that the fight with Haney cost him not only the belt, but also his fighting identity.

It’s one thing to lose a decision, but it’s another thing entirely to lose an edge and start sounding like you’re just ecstatic to be there.