Brian Norman Sr. says his son, Brian Jr. is the “worst type” of fighter for Devin Haney to be fighting post Ryan Garcia fight. Norman Sr. says he doesn’t see this as a “hard fight” for Brian Jr. because Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) isn’t the same fighter he once was.
Devin’s confidence is gone, and he no longer has the size advantage that he’d depended on for his success when he was fighting at 135.
Norman Sr. on Haney’s Fear
“[Top Rank vice president of operations] Tom Moretti said he [Haney] tested positive for no confidence. You can watch him at the beginning of the Ryan Garcia fight. He’s not a confident guy or confident person, especially with someone that is bigger than him or his size,” said Brian Norman Sr. to the Ring Magazine channel about Devin Haney.
Devin looked like a soldier coming home from war in his last fight, appearing shell-shocked, jumpy, and unwilling to engage last May against Jose Ramirez. What Haney experienced in his loss to Ryan Garcia affected him in the same way as someone on the battlefield, dealing with bombardments and feeling terror daily. The tough guy persona that Haney has shown since signing to fight Norman Jr. is just an act, a pose. He showed his true self against Ramirez at the Times Square event in New York City.
It’s going to be worse for Haney going up against Brian Norman Jr. because one false move, and he’s going to get caught. Getting hit by a puncher like Norman Jr. bad news. His last opponent, Jin Sasaki, lost his memory temporarily after being knocked cold in the fifth round last June. He was in trouble from the first punch Brian Jr. hit him with.
Devin Haney’s Fading Size Advantage
“He’s only confident when you see him in there with smaller guys when he knows he’s out the way,” said Norman Sr. “He knows he can use his jab. He knows he can use movement to stay out the way. Against Ryan Garcia, he was never comfortable in that fight at all.”
Devin was at his best when he fought at 135, and would look gigantic inside the ring after rehydrating for his fights. He took advantage of his size to dominate most of the opposition he faced.
When he moved up to 140, he was strategically matched against the WBC champion Regis Prograis, who was long in the tooth at 35, and beatable compared to the other belt-holders at the time. When Haney fought Ryan Garcia, he was brought down to earth and shown that he was just an average fighter.
Life is going to be difficult for Haney now that he’s fighting at 147. If Norman Jr. reduces Haney to dust, like I think he will, his career is going to be in bad shape. The old fox Bill Haney will need to work his magic to try to salvage what’s left of him because his situation is going to be bleak.
The New Haney: Doubt Has Settled
“He definitely won’t be the same fighter,” said Norman Sr. when asked if he doubts if Haney will ever be the same fighter he once was after losing to Ryan Garcia. “That fight he had in him goes away because now the doubt has set in, it’s settled. So, now it’s like a, ‘Oh my God, not again’ type of situation.
“This is the worst type of match-up [for Haney]. I don’t think this is going to be a hard fight for Brian Norman Jr.”
What Norman Sr. says is correct. This is the worst possible match-up for a fighter like Haney, who has lost his self-belief and has shown to have shaky punch resistance when hit hard. We saw how afraid Devin was in his last fight against Jose Ramirez last May, in which he ran around the ring, not engaging, and looking terrified. You can only draw one conclusion after that performance. Haney isn’t the same fighter he was pre-Ryan Garcia.
Last Updated on 07/12/2025
