Haney vs Norman Jr Predictions: ‘Dream’ looks to end a nightmare two years

WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr defends his title against former undisputed lightweight king Devin Haney this Saturday, November 22. The bout takes place at the ANB Arena in Riyadh as part of Ring IV: Night of Champions. 

The bumper, Saudi-backed card also features WBC 175lb champ David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde, unified super flyweight boss Jesse ‘Bam Rodriguez’ vs Fernando Martinez and a vacant WBO lightweight tussle between Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes. The event will air live on DAZN pay-per-view. Read on for my predictions ahead of Norman Jr vs Haney.

Norman Jr vs Haney Odds

Haney is in the unusual position of underdog for this one. Usually a favourite, you can get 21/20 on 'The Dream' to come true. Norman is 5/6 to continue his 100% winning record as a pro. The draw is marketed at 14/1.

Norman Jr vs Haney Fight Preview

Has any unbeaten fighter ever been subjected to the hero-to-zero narrative with as much of a precipitous drop as Devin Haney? Two years ago had just departed 135lbs as the undisputed champion, picking up the WBC super lightweight title by beating Regis Prograis that December.

Christmas 2025 finds Haney’s public image at an all-time low. The scorn has two parents. The first is the brutal beating he endured from Ryan Garcia. ‘KingRy’ beat Haney from pillar to post in Brooklyn last year, knocking our subject down three times on the way to an announced unanimous decision. But Garcia failed a drugs test in the aftermath and the result was changed to a No Contest.

The venom has not been spat Garcia’s way though, but Haney’s. An alarming number of fight fans seem stubbornly determined to take Ryan’s chemically-enhanced beatdown of Devin as a genuine athletic victory. Boxing has always been a popularity contest, but never to quite this insidious degree.

The second blot on Haney’s recent copybook was a cautious approach in his only fight since the Garcia injustice. ‘The Dream’ was accused of putting viewers to sleep as he danced away from Jose Ramirez, outpointing the former super lightweight champion. The victory was paramount, but Haney looked ill-at-ease. Garcia lost to Rolly Romero in a WBA title fight on the same card, only adding fuel to the Haney-hate fire.

Haney was too cautious on that night. But getting a frightening beating from an athlete found guilty of doping in his previous outing perhaps lent itself to caution. This is not a staunch defence of the Ramirez win. Haney could certainly have gone up through the gears as it became clear his opponent carried little threat. But every fighter has off nights.

Haney can ill afford one when he takes on Norman, the consensus best welterweight operating today. Still only 24 years old, ‘Assassin II’ looks well-equipped to make a muddled division his own personal playground.

Norman’s handlers will have been happy to see Jaron Ennis move up to 154lbs. But then what welterweight wasn’t happy that ‘Boots’ is now someone else’s problem? The division left behind is wide open, with WBC champ Marios Barrios having struggled against an ancient Manny Pacquiao. He takes on Garcia next, in another example of how the popularity of ‘KingRy’ overrides what he does in the ring. Romero beat Garcia but is vulnerable, if entertaining. 

Norman is the only one who looks secure in his status as a champion. The WBO kingpin went through a run of three decision wins and a No Contest (due to an accidental head clash) before knocking out Giovani Santillan to capture the WBO interim strap. Norman was upgraded when Terence Crawford vacated the title to pursue super welterweight (and eventually super middleweight) opportunities.

The Georgia star has lived up to the mantle of champion, finishing Derrick Cuevas and Jin Sasaki in title defences. It is a hot streak to be sure, though Norman has never faced anyone of Haney’s pedigree.

It gets forgotten now in light of what followed, but Haney has an admirable resume. Eight wins in world title fights. A win over Vasiliy Lomachenko in a close, hotly-debated fight. Victories over former or reigning world champions like George Kambosos Jr, Jorge Linares, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Prograis. It is easy to forget that, before Garcia, this man was on most pound-for-pound lists.

Nothing is forever in this sport, though. This fight feels designed to highlight Norman as the new generation and consign Haney to the history books. But ‘The Dream’ is still only 27. He is not out for the count just yet.

Norman Jr vs Haney Full Card

David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde

Sam Noakes vs Abdullah Mason

Jesse Rodriguez vs Fernando Martinez

Brian Norman Jr vs Devin Haney

Vito Mielnicki Jr vs Samuel Nmomah

Mohammed Alakel vs Jiaming Li

Julio Porras Ruiz vs Pius Mpenda

Sultan Almohammed vs Umesh Chavan

Norman Jr vs Haney Prediction

This fight favours one man over the other depending on the theme on the night. If this is a tactical battle held at distance, Haney wins. If Norman gets close and turns it into a firefight, he keeps his WBO welterweight championship.

Norman is the favourite going in. That is likely a symptom of Haney’s recent struggles. But it is also perhaps an indication that, while he can thrive in Haney’s world, Haney is unlikely to thrive in Norman’s.

That is because Norman is quick, defensively-astute and comfortable at distance. But Haney is not a planted-feet, gun-slinger like ‘Assassin II’ can be.

So a Norman win, then? Not for me. Despite Norman being more multi-functional than his challenger, I actually think Haney’s scientific acumen on the back foot will see him home here. The caution that was derided against Ramirez might actually stand him in good stead here. Norman can bang. Stay out of the way of those pummeling shots, back-up if he closes the distance and point-score your way to a decision. Haney on points is 11/8.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.