Haney Dropped Norman and Took His Welterweight Crown
Devin Haney defeated Brian Norman Jr. by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight championship on November 22, 2025, at ANB Arena in Riyadh. The twelve-round contest ended with scores of 117–110, 116–111 and 114–113, all favoring the challenger.
A second-round knockdown established Haney’s position
Haney hurt Norman with a check left hook before a right hand sent the champion to one knee. Norman beat the count and survived the round, but the knockdown changed the early contest.
Norman continued seeking the kind of heavy connection that had made him a dangerous champion. Haney’s jab, movement and measured counters repeatedly frustrated those attempts to create a sustained attacking sequence.
Norman found moments without taking over the fight
A left hook from Norman forced Haney to retreat and hold in the third round. The champion also landed a hard right in the eighth, showing that the contest still demanded careful defense.
Haney nevertheless continued managing the distance and limiting Norman’s opportunities. His work behind the jab allowed him to collect rounds without needing to exchange recklessly with the younger puncher.
The decision completed a third championship division
All three judges preferred Haney’s performance, although their margins varied considerably. The second-round knockdown remained the bout’s clearest scoring moment, and Norman never produced a comparable reversal.
Haney added a welterweight title to his previous championships at lightweight and junior welterweight. The result made him a three-division world champion after an assignment built around accurate punching, defensive discipline and control of the fight’s pace.
Sources
- WBO: championship results and official scorecards
- The Ring: knockdown, defensive work and round-by-round exchanges
