Brian Norman Sr. gave his reaction today to Devin and Bill Haney’s plans to neutralize WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr’s offense, predicting that Devin is going to “go to sleep” on November 22nd in Riyadh.
The ambitious, goal-oriented Haney (32-0, 16 KOs) is in search of his third division world title in the last six years since 2019. He’s facing his toughest test to capture a belt, fighting Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs). It’s a more formidable obstacle than how Haney won his world titles in the past:
- Regis Prograis (December 9, 2023) – WBC light welterweight title
- George Kambosos Jr. (June 5, 2022) – WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring Lightweight titles.
- Elevated to the WBC lightweight title on October 24, 2019
The “Box, Hold, Move” Blueprint
Norman Sr. says Haney’s plans of boxing, holding, moving, turning, and smothering will be effective against Brian Norman Jr. on November 22nd.
He states that Haney can’t “hide” in the ring because he’s going to catch up to him eventually. Can Haney really survive a pressure fighter like Norman Jr. without power to keep him off? It’s going to be next to impossible for Devin to stay in there for the full 12 rounds with the weak power that he’s shown in his recent fights.
Haney says he’s gained size and gotten stronger in building up to 147 for this fight against Norman Jr., but it doesn’t sound realistic because he appears to be the same size in his last fight against Jose Ramirez on May 2, 2025, and he couldn’t punch in that contest. That’s why he was forced to move on nonstop for 12 rounds.
“This is a personal message for Devin Haney. Bill Haney and Devin Haney, ‘We’re going to turn him. We’re going to smother him. We’re going to run from him. We’re going to box him. We’re going to handicap him,'” said Brian Norman Sr. on social media, reacting to some of the past comments Devin Haney and his father, Bill Haney, have said about the November 22nd fight against Norman Jr.
Haney has no other choice but to run, hold, and attempt to smother Norman Jr. He doesn’t have the power or the chin to fight him traditionally the way he did when he was campaigning at 135 against smaller fighters.
Devin doesn’t have the size advantage he used to when he was melting down to lightweight to face much smaller opposition. He’s facing a guy with natural power above and beyond what Ryan Garcia showed in his destruction of Haney on April 20, 2024.
“You Can’t Hide in That Ring”
“This is what I got to say to y’all. We’re going to do all of that. We’re going to hide in the ring. We’re going to hide outside the ring. You can’t hide nowhere. November 22nd, baby. Everybody has got a plan until they get hit in the mouth. You ain’t turning s***. You ain’t smothering s***. You ain’t running from s***. You’re a** is going to sleep,” said Norman Sr.
The Ghost of Ryan Garcia’s Left Hook
Devin is going to need to fight back to keep from getting knocked out. What happens when Norman Jr. cuts off the ring? Does Haney have an escape plan beyond holding? Against Jose Ramirez and Ryan, Devin didn’t have any other plan except to hold when he was trapped. That’s how he got hurt against Ryan because he repeatedly clipped him when he would reach out to hold. It’s become his #2 defensive strategy behind moving to escape against punchers.
