Norman vs. Haney: Unbeaten Stars Collide for Welterweight Supremacy

By Milton Kirby | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | November 17, 2025

A Rising Champion Steps Onto Boxing’s Biggest Stage

At just 24 years old, Brian Norman Jr. enters the most significant fight of his career — a November 22 welterweight showdown against former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Standing 5’8” and fighting at 147 pounds, Norman arrives as the reigning WBO world champion, unbeaten at 28-0, with one of the division’s most feared left hooks. His last two bouts turned heads worldwide, especially his June 19, 2025 demolition of Jin Sasaki in Tokyo.

In the first minute of that fight, Norman floored Sasaki with a sharp left hook. By round five, he delivered a knockout so brutal that Sasaki remained on the canvas for several minutes — a finish many analysts immediately labeled a Knockout of the Year contender.

Brian Norman & Devin Haney Touching Gloves — Two undefeated champions

The Road to the WBO Throne

Norman’s ascent began with a breakthrough win in 2024, when he claimed the WBO interim title by stopping the undefeated and highly ranked Giovanni Santillan. When Terence Crawford later vacated the welterweight belt, Norman was elevated to full champion and has defended his position with steady, disciplined dominance.

Like his upcoming opponent, Norman turned professional at just 17. He fought his earliest bouts in Mexico, sharpened his technique across smaller U.S. shows, and built a highlight reel filled with stoppages. In 2022, Top Rank — the promotional home of Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao, and Oscar De La Hoya — signed him, providing the platform that accelerated his rise.

Today, Norman has earned an estimated $1 million in career purses, including a $650,000 payday in his bout against Cuevas.

His record now stands at 30 fights, 28 wins, and no losses, including 22 knockouts, six unanimous decision victories, and two no-contests due to accidental injuries.

The Haney Equation

Devin Haney enters the ring with his own immaculate resume: 32-0, multiple world titles across divisions, and wins over some of the sport’s most accomplished fighters. His resume includes:

Vasiliy Lomachenko
Regis Prograis
Joseph “JoJo” Diaz
Joseph Ramirez

Haney’s lone scare came against Ryan Garcia, who knocked him down multiple times. Though Haney lost that night, the bout was later ruled a no-contest after Garcia failed a drug test.

Since then, Haney has taken a cautious path — even opting for a catch-weight bout against Jose Ramirez in Times Square — but now steps into the welterweight arena with every intention of reclaiming dominance.

Styles Make Fights

Haney has openly dismissed Norman’s résumé, suggesting the young champion has not yet faced an elite lineup. But analysts see a more complicated picture.

Norman is a physical fighter on the inside, willing to lean on strength and timing to break down opponents. He sets his feet before launching power shots, particularly that devastating left hook. For Haney, the assignment will be to keep Norman off balance, force him to reset his stance, and make him walk into straight counters.

Haney’s defensive skills and ring generalship could frustrate a power puncher. Norman’s explosiveness could overwhelm a boxer who sometimes gets drawn into exchanges.

A Fight for Legacy — and Leverage

With Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in global boxing, the November 22nd card represents far more than a payday. Both fighters are in the early chapters of what could be long, defining careers. A victory here positions the winner for: