Devin Haney proved his worth and answered the doubts raised in the last 18 months, achieving a resounding victory this Saturday.
Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) became a three-division world champion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by defeating Brian Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) by unanimous decision, claiming the WBO welterweight championship. The judges scored the fight 117-110, 116-111, and 114-113 in favor of Haney in the 147-pound title fight.
This was Haney’s first official appearance at 147 pounds, as his previous fight was at a catchweight of 144 pounds.
The victory represents a resurgence in Haney’s career, who faced questions about his ability to withstand punches and avoid the left hook, as well as doubts about his adaptation to a higher weight category, especially after being knocked down three times in a majority decision loss to Ryan Garcia in April 2024.
Although the defeat against Garcia was transformed into a “no decision” after Garcia’s positive test for a performance-enhancing substance, questions about Haney’s stamina and mentality persisted.
In 2024, I lost everything. Everything fell apart. In 2025, I came to get it back. In 2026, I’m going for everything.
Devin HaneyHaney, originally from Miami, not only proved willing to take punches from one of the division’s hardest hitters, but also demonstrated his ability to attack at this weight. In the second round, he connected with a right hand that sent Norman to the canvas and from there, he maintained control. His jab caused problems for Norman all night, and surprised many by deciding to fight in close and connect effective hooks.
Norman, who starred in a knockout that was a “Knockout of the Year” candidate earlier this year against Jin Sasaki, never managed to match Haney’s speed or ring control. Although he had some success in the intermediate rounds, trying to force a more physical fight, he found no answer to Haney’s jab. His nose bled profusely from the second round, and his left eye began to swell in the final rounds.Devin Haney se coronó campeón del peso wélter de la OMB el sábado por la noche, convirtiéndose en campeón de tres divisiones.The victory opens up a range of possibilities for Haney, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday. His father, Bill Haney, did not want to mention a possible opponent immediately after the fight, but a rematch with Garcia would undoubtedly be the most prominent matchup.
Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) also moved up to welterweight from his fight with Haney. He lost to Rolando Romero by unanimous decision in a fight for the vacant WBA welterweight title in May. If Garcia had won, the rematch with Haney would probably have been set.
We are ready to face any rival. [Welterweight] is a category I should have been in for a long time. My father has told me that I needed to gain weight for a long time. I will stay at 147 pounds for a long time.
