Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season will stage a November welterweight clash dripping with bad blood as WBO champion Brian Norman Jr. defends his belt against unbeaten former lightweight king Devin Haney. Norman thanked Turki Alalshikh on X for brokering the deal and promised to “knock that boy out” when they meet five months from now. Haney moves to 147 lbs after a heavily criticized run-and-hold decision over José Ramírez; Saudi organizers insist this matchup must deliver action, not “Tom-and-Jerry” footwork.
The animosity extends beyond the fighters. Brian Norman Sr. told ThaBoxingVoice he’s instructing his son to step over Haney’s fallen body and glare at Bill Haney in the corner “to show you that you are beneath him.” The elder Norman claims Bill’s recent call-outs were mere clout chasing and now demands “humiliation” for the outspoken trainer-father duo.
Many might wonder if Haney can survive Norman’s brutal power; the Atlanta champion’s last two opponents left on stretchers, most recently Japan’s Jin Sasaki on June 19. With Turki set on entertainment, rumors swirl that the ring could be tightened to 16-feet square - eliminating escape routes and forcing Haney into exchanges.
November’s bout offers Haney a lucrative redemption path after losing public favor, while Norman eyes a breakout global platform. Contracts are signed; trash talk is scorching. For both unbeaten records, Saudi Arabia will decide whose perfect mark and ego gets shattered.
Image Credit: The Ring