Notebook: Haney challenges 'just another guy' Norman for 147 title
Rocha-Curiel 2 official; Tim Tszyu set for comeback with new trainer; Parker speaks on positive cocaine test; Quick hits; Show & tell double
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Devin Haney, the former WBC junior welterweight titleholder and former undisputed lightweight champion, has certainly piled up his detractors in recent years.
He is sometimes criticized for his cautious style. Others taunt him because he got dropped three times by left hooks in an otherwise competitive decision loss to Ryan Garcia, who badly missed weight for what was supposed to be a WBC 140-pound title challenge, the result of which was changed to a no contest after Garcia tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug following their April 2024 fight.
Others still rant against Haney for being on the winning end of a close unanimous decision over Vasiliy Lomachenko in defense of the undisputed lightweight title in May 2023.
“People are going to say something regardless,” Haney said. “I just want to keep beating who is in front of me, the best fighters in the world. Let them keep making up new people and I’ll just keep beating them.”
One thing even Haney’s most ardent haters can’t downplay is his willingness to fight the best opposition fight in and fight out.
Just look at the who’s who he has faced since claiming the WBC lightweight title in 2019: Yuriorkis Gamboa, Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz Jr. (before his long losing skid), George Kambosos Jr. twice on his turf in Australia to become the undisputed 135-pound champion followed by a defense, Lomachenko, Regis Prograis in a shutout to win the WBC 140-pound title, Garcia, and former unified junior welterweight titleholder Jose Ramirez by a near shutout decision at welterweight in May, albeit in a largely unwatchable fight.
Still, Haney’s resume is about as deep as it gets in the current era. And don’t forget he also agreed in late May to face lineal/WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez in a welterweight bout on Aug. 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, only to have Lopez agree to terms and then back out.
Haney is about to add to that impressive lineup of opponents when he challenges WBO welterweight titlist Brian Norman Jr. in a fight many see as extremely dangerous. The fight is part of the loaded “The Ring IV: Night of Champions” card headlined by David Benavidez defending the WBC and WBA “regular” light heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde on Saturday (DAZN PPV, 3 p.m. ET, $59.99 in U.S., £24.99 in the U.K.) at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Haney and Norman have spent the past few months trash talking each other but now it’s down to business as Haney looks to claim a world title in his third division.