According to Tim Bradley, Bill Haney “erred” in permitting his son, Devin Haney, to accept a bout against WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr. scheduled for November 22nd as part of the upcoming Turki Alalshikh event, dubbed The Ring IV, broadcast on DAZN PPV from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bradley is forecasting that Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) will “defeat” Haney by knockout in their contest, proceeding to stand over him afterward. This engagement was reportedly proposed to Devin (32-0, 16 KOs) by Turki himself. It’s not a matchup he actively pursued following his less-than-stellar showing against Jose Ramirez on May 2, 2025, held in Queens, New York.
Speculation among some observers suggests that Haney’s acceptance of Alalshikh’s offer stemmed from the substantial criticism he faced due to his uninspired performance against Ramirez. Did Haney feel compelled to agree to the Norman Jr. fight in response to this negative feedback?
“You Are Setting Up Your Son for a Fall”
“Bill Haney, you are once more placing your son in a precarious position. Brian Norman Jr. is seeking a fierce battle. He intends to knock your son out. Be certain you are prepared for a fight,” commented Tim Bradley on his platform, addressing Bill Haney for seemingly sending his son, Devin Haney, into a difficult situation against Brian Norman Jr. on November 22nd.
The financial compensation Haney is poised to receive for the Norman Jr. fight undeniably contributes to its appeal. Moreover, should this fight be a prerequisite imposed by Turki for funding Haney’s rematch with Ryan Garcia, he might have had no alternative but to accept it to secure the significant financial rewards anticipated from the second clash with Kingry.
“Refrain from employing that hesitant approach in the ring, similar to what you displayed against [Jose] Ramirez. You expressed a desire for intense competition. Engage this man directly. I assure you, you will suffer a knockout,” Bradley asserted, predicting Haney’s fate. “He will proceed to step over you as if you were a minor obstacle.”
Limited Maneuvering in Riyadh
It would serve Haney well to avoid excessive movement on November 22nd, considering this event is under Turki’s banner and is hosted at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. The last thing Haney needs is to circle the ring, eliciting boos and receiving even more criticism from fans than he did during his recent fight against Ramirez.
Haney must strike a balance, demonstrating enough aggression to satisfy Turki while simultaneously preventing Norman Jr. from knocking him out. The challenge lies in his questionable resilience to punches, suggesting a potential early knockout within six rounds by Norman Jr. should he opt to stand and trade blows.
“Junior is not to be trifled with. He is coming with the intention of removing your head. Junior, apply pressure, force him to engage. Upon connecting, I am eager to witness his legs falter. Bill, you have committed a blunder, I assure you. You will soon realize the magnitude of your mistake,” Bradley stated.
