The rumored Saudi showdown between WBO welterweight ruler Brian Norman Jr. and former lightweight king Devin Haney is officially dead. Norman’s manager Adrian Clark confirmed talks have “stopped completely,” offering no explanation. Many quickly filled the void, arguing Team Haney got cold feet after replaying Norman’s four-round demolition of Jin Sasaki, one that ended with the challenger stretchered from the Tokyo ring on June 19.
Critics note Bill Haney only called for the fight after Norman’s viral knockout as the move was more clout-grab than concrete plan. They ask why negotiations weren’t pursued before Sasaki if the intent was genuine. From a risk-reward standpoint, the skepticism tracks: Norman is two years younger, a natural 147-pounder, and owns an 80 percent KO rate; Haney is still recovering public confidence following a hard fight with Ryan Garcia and a shaky win over José Ramírez.
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The collapse leaves Devin in an awkward holding pattern. A lucrative Riyadh purse is gone, and with Garcia sidelined by his own defeat to Rolando Romero, marquee options have thinned. To preserve seven-figure paydays, Haney must now seek another dance partner with both popularity and peril - a combination scarce in the current landscape.
Meanwhile Norman Jr. keeps his momentum and belt intact, free to chase unification or headline a stateside defense.
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