According to Brian Norman Jr., a “return” is on the horizon, and he believes Devin Haney will encounter him “very soon.” Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs), a former WBO welterweight titleholder, is pursuing a rematch with Devin to settle the score from their recent encounter last Saturday.
The Practicality of a Second Match
Despite the pre-fight excitement surrounding Norman Jr., his performance was notably underwhelming. He exhibited hesitation, refrained from executing his attacks, and passively allowed Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) to clinch without offering any resistance.
The likelihood of Norman Jr. securing a rematch with Haney appears remote unless he can accumulate several significant victories within a condensed timeframe. The challenge lies in Norman Jr.’s perceived inability to overcome top-tier contenders to warrant a second opportunity against Haney.
Devin’s career trajectory may well be taking a downward turn, given his own subpar showing. Relying on excessive clinching or evasiveness may not suffice against elite welterweights. His performance against Norman Jr. was lackluster, with his victory attributed primarily to Brian Jr.’s passivity and failure to capitalize on opportunities. His strategy seemed ill-conceived.
Norman’s Hope for a Replay
“I’m making a comeback with even greater determination,” Brian Norman Jr. communicated to Ring Magazine. “He will be seeing me once more in short order. This setback changes nothing,” Norman Jr. expressed, maintaining his conviction about securing a prompt rematch with Devin Haney to seek redemption.
Top Rank will need to carefully select Norman Jr.’s opponents, as a matchup against any moderately skilled fighter could result in another defeat. Names like Jack Catterall, Conor Benn, Shakhram Giyasov, Karen Chukhadzhian, and Raul Curiel would likely prove to be formidable challenges for Norman Jr.
“The contest became somewhat untidy. Brian Norman was aggressively pressing him, but then lacked inside fighting,” trainer Bernie Davis commented to YSM Sports Media, dissecting Norman Jr.’s shortcomings against Haney. “Brian Norman didn’t engage on the inside, and neither did Haney.”
Haney’s Unchallenged Clinches
Norman Jr. failed to engage in inside fighting, instead allowing Haney to immobilize him without countering. When clinched, Norman Jr. remained passive, awaiting the referee’s intervention. His apparent lack of preparation for Devin’s tactics is surprising, considering the ample time his team had to analyze Haney’s disruptive strategies.
“Brian Norman might have inadvertently stifled his own offense to a degree. However, there was a lot of close holding from both sides, and Brian Norman ought to have been more physical on the inside,” Davis suggested.
