Brian Norman’s sparring partner, Elijah Flores, who also sparred with Devin Haney, is picking Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) to win their fight on November 22 in Riyadh.
The Betrayal Contained in the Gym
Haney’s sparring partner activates him. Flores states that WBO welterweight champion Norman’s power, athleticism, “nasty hook,” and skill to chop off the ring will consider his defeating Haney (32-0, 16 KOs). He says that to win a fight, you’ve got to give you the option to face within the pocket against Norman Jr., and he doesn’t consider that Haney can try this.
Norman Jr-Haney can be fighting within the co-feature slot on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde card on the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event can be shown survive DAZN PPV. The worth is $59.99 for U.S fans.
“I got it 60-40, Brian Norman. He’s athletic, cuts off the ring good, strong, quick, and nasty hook,” said Elijah Flores to MillCity Boxing, picking Brian Norman Jr. to defeat Devin Haney. “He’s capable of get there. His feet are matching up along with his hands.”
Norman Jr. has the reach advantage, a capability to chop off the ring, and a jab that is sort of a power punch. There may be no escape for Haney if he tries to make a run of it. Essentially, he has two decisions:
- Stand & fight: Survival may be measured in minutes for Devin, but no less than he’ll show courage before meeting his end.
- Run: It is a coward’s way, and it won’t work. Norman Jr. will get to him quickly.
Flores Sees What Haney Can’t
“Obviously,” said Flores when asked if he got more out of sparring with Norman Jr. than in his sparring with Haney. “I believe in terms of an actual fight, you’ve got to give you the option to sit down. You bought to give you the option to remain there. And I don’t see Haney staying there, not one bit. And, I believe that’s going to favor Brian Norman.”
Elijah raises some good points. Devin won’t stay within the pocket and fight Norman Jr, because he’s going to be hyper-alert about getting hit. As Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn stated recently to FightHype, “Bill doesn’t want him to get hit. And they’re concerned about his punch resistance. That’s the reality.”
So, the Jerry-esque performance we saw from Haney in his last fight against Jose Ramirez on May 2 at Times Square in Latest York is a mirrored image of Bill being “concerned about [Devin] getting hit.”
That translates to Haney running much more against Norman Jr. than he did in his fight with Ramirez. He’s got to. It’ll be suicide if Dev stands and fights Norman Jr, as he won’t last three minutes. The bombs that Brian Jr. was hitting his last opponent, Jin Sasaki, on June nineteenth, would likely devastate Haney much faster than five rounds for the Japanese fighter.
Written by Ken Woods, Ringside Boxing Analyst, covering world title fights since 2018.
Last Updated on 10/19/2025