Brian Norman Jr. is scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight championship against Devin Haney. This significant fight will take place in November as part of a Riyadh Season event.
The official announcement of this bout was made today just before 4:30 PM GMT by Turki Alalshikh on the social media platform X. Alalshikh is widely recognized as a key figure in promoting major boxing events.
This title defense comes shortly after Norman`s recent successful outing in Japan, where he secured his second consecutive title defense by defeating Jin Sasaki via a fifth-round knockout. The fighter from Georgia went into the Tokyo fight as the clear favorite but was expected to face a tough challenge from the aggressive Japanese contender. However, Norman showcased a significant gap in skill level between himself and the challenger, ending the fight in a decisive manner.
Devin Haney, a former undisputed lightweight champion and WBC super-lightweight titleholder, recently stepped up in weight, competing at 143 lbs in his last bout. His decision victory against Jose Carlos Ramirez in a unique Times Square setting drew criticism for the perceived lack of action. Following that fight, Haney`s father publicly called out Norman on social media for a fight against his son, and that challenge has now materialized into this upcoming championship clash.
When previously asked about a potential fight with Haney, specifically if he would accept the same terms offered for a potential fight against Jaron “Boots” Ennis (who recently unified a welterweight title but is expected to move up in weight), Norman indicated his willingness to accept such a deal.
He also referenced Haney`s prior fight with Ryan Garcia, implying that Haney was significantly hurt in that contest and contrasting it with the power he himself carries in his hands. Norman concluded by stating he is open to facing Haney and is interested to see how the situation develops.
