WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. made his Grand Arrival today for his defense against Devin Haney at the Ring IV: Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) said his focus is to “knock out” Haney because he doesn’t trust the judges.
(Credit: Leigh Dawney Photography)
A-Side Games in Full Effect
Despite Norman Jr. being the world champion and betting favorite, Haney is the A-side in this fight, with his name coming first. The rematch between Devin and Ryan Garcia is already being floated ahead of Saturday’s battle with Norman Jr.
When you see something like that, it’s doubly important for the B-side fighter to make sure they score a knockout or make it one-sided enough that they don’t wind up on the short end of the stick. Norman Jr., 24, has the power to take the judges out of play, foiling the plans for a Haney vs. Ryan fight to happen next. Technically, it could still happen, but not under ideal terms.
KO Mission, No Judges Needed
“Knock him out. I ain’t trying to do no 12 rounds. I don’t trust no judges at all,” said Brian Norman Jr. during the grand arrivals today in Riyadh, revealing what his goal is for Saturday night when he defends against Devin Haney. “I got the power to judge myself, and I’m going to go out there and use it.”
One can understand why Norman Jr. has mistrust of the judges going into Saturday’s fight. He’s nowhere near as popular as Haney, even though he’s the far more exciting-to-watch fighter.
Haney’s Movement & Holding Plan
Haney’s last fight against Jose Ramirez on May 2, 2025, hinted at what we could see from him on Saturday night. There will likely be a lot of movement and holding involved on Haney’s side to neutralize Norman’s offense.
The punch output between the two fighters could be at the lowest levels that fans have seen. That’s not because of Norman Jr. He’ll be trying to get to Haney to land, but it’s going to be difficult if he chooses to move and hold all night.
“This is a dream come true for me. I want to fight the best fighters in the world,” said Haney in his grand arrival today, explaining why he’s challenging Brian Norman Jr. for his WBO welterweight title. “Brian Norman is the champion, and I’m the challenger.”
Only Two Elite Names in Ten Years
Haney has fought only two good fighters during his long 10-year career, Vasily Lomachenko and Ryan Garcia. The rest of the names on Haney’s resume were a mix of older and lesser fighters. Lomachenko was 35 when Haney fought him in 2023.
“This isn’t the first time for me. This isn’t the second time for me. This will be my third time fighting a champion, and I look forward to it,” said Haney.
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