Analyst Tim Bradley is advising Brian Norman Jr. to avoid the pitfall of trying to engage in a boxing match with Devin Haney this Saturday night in Riyadh. According to Bradley, it would be unwise for Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) to attempt to outmaneuver a “skilled boxer” such as Haney (32-0, 16 KOs) by playing his game.
(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
Norman Jr. is set to defend his WBO welterweight title against Haney in the co-main event on November 22nd, which will be available on DAZN PPV at Ring IV, situated at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Haney aims to secure a world title in a third weight division by facing off against Norman Jr., whom many boxing enthusiasts consider to be the top welterweight.
The Crucial Error Norman Must Avoid
Leading up to the fight, Norman Jr. has frequently expressed his belief that he can counter Haney’s agility and movement by outboxing him. It would be unusual for him to even consider trying to defeat Devin at his own style of fighting. However, this could be a strategy to mislead his opponent.
“This marks his third fight within the year. He’s entering with significant momentum,” Tim Bradley commented on his platform, discussing Brian Norman Jr.’s title defense against Devin Haney this Saturday night. “This is his natural weight category. He boasts a perfect record of three wins with three impressive knockouts.”
In his two bouts in 2025, Norman Jr. has achieved knockout victories against Jin Sasaki in the fifth round and Derrieck Cuevas in the third. Notably, in 2024, Norman Jr. garnered considerable attention by defeating Giovanni Santillan in the tenth round on May 18th.
“If Norman Jr. were to face the two opponents that Haney struggled against [Ryan Garcia and Jose Ramirez], he would triumph over both. Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman Jr. would definitely defeat you,” Bradley asserted. “Jose Ramirez, Brian Norman Jr. would challenge you significantly. Haney enters this match following two less-than-stellar performances.”
Norman Jr.’s forceful and relentless fighting approach would pose considerable challenges for both Ramirez and Ryan Garcia. If Ryan were unable to inflict damage with his left hook, he would be in for a grueling fight. Ramirez, at 33, was once a formidable competitor, but his performance seems to have declined.
A Power-Boxing Strategy for Norman
“If you believe you can step into the ring and outbox a technically skilled boxer, you are seriously mistaken,” Bradley cautioned regarding what Norman Jr. should not attempt. “You won’t outbox Devin Haney. If you are going to box, you will have to use power. You’ll need to keep moving forward.”
Over the past couple of days, Norman Jr. has mentioned his desire to secure a knockout victory against Haney. Just yesterday, he stated his intention to “take him out” on Saturday.
