Boxing figure Eddie Hearn commented this evening that Devin Haney’s appeal as a popular fighter hinges on participating in the Saudi Arabian boxing showcases.
Hearn expressed respect for Haney (33-0,15 KOs) after he secured a three-division world title the previous weekend by defeating WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr., but noted he finds Haney’s style “challenging to engage with.” Hearn suggested Haney appears “hesitant to commit,” an opinion shared by a segment of the boxing fanbase.
Currently, Haney is experiencing success, accumulating substantial earnings through his appearances on Turki Alalshikh’s cards since 2024. However, his most recent two matches, featured in Turki’s Riyadh Season events against Norman Jr. and Jose Ramirez, have faced criticism from viewers due to what they perceived as excessive movement and clinching.
“I’m offering my sincere assessment. His showing against [Jose] Ramirez was genuinely hard to follow. Despite his victory over Brian Norman, I don’t believe he’s performing at his maximum potential,” Eddie Hearn told media representatives this evening, commenting on Devin Haney.
Aggressively engaging in exchanges could expose Haney to potential blows. He absorbed considerable punishment during his defeat to Ryan Garcia in 2024. Although the loss was subsequently excused due to Garcia’s positive test for the banned substance Ostarine, a lingering impression remains among followers that Haney has a susceptible chin.
In his bout against Norman Jr., Haney landed only 70 blows throughout the 12 rounds. This averages to approximately 5.8 successful hits per round. This reduced figure might be acceptable if Devin possessed knockout capabilities. This is not the case, however.
Haney isn’t recognized for his punching strength and typically achieves victory through point decisions. He benefited from fortunate circumstances against Norman Jr., repeatedly restraining him to nullify his attacking efforts without incurring penalties or disqualification. During that particular encounter, Devin was often observed in clinches.
“I doubt he will maintain popularity without guaranteed income from these Saudi events,” Hearn continued, in reference to Haney. “Should that arrangement cease, the impact would be quickly evident. Nevertheless, he is a very skilled fighter, difficult to overcome.”
