Devin Haney says he’s ready to make a statement when he faces WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman on November 22 in Riyadh. The unbeaten 26-year-old, now preparing for his third weight class title bid, insists he’s in peak condition as he targets another milestone in his career.
“I feel so much better at 147,” Haney told Ariel Helwani. “I eat what I want. My training camps aren’t based around weight, like they were.” The former lightweight and super lightweight champion plans to fly to Saudi Arabia on November 1 to complete his final training phase.
Haney believes Norman presents the right challenge to prove his greatness. “They say he’s kryptonite for my style,” he said. “That’s why this fight is such an important fight for me, to turn the non-believers into believers and prove the doubters and naysayers wrong.” Despite his confidence, Haney acknowledged Norman’s reputation, calling him “the best at welterweight in the world.”
The American also revealed that he had signed to fight both Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez, though neither matchup materialized. “I’m a throwback fighter,” Haney said. “I don’t do it for credit. I want to test myself against the best fighters in the world. Everybody cares about being undefeated, but I genuinely want to test myself.”
Haney, who has worked with several major promoters, confirmed he’s now working directly with Turki Alalshikh and shared his views on the sport’s future. He praised Top Rank’s matchmakers while noting uncertainty about their broadcast situation. As for the Muhammad Ali Revival Act being debated in Congress, Haney admitted he wasn’t fully informed but supported keeping protections for fighters intact.
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