David Benavidez picks Devin Haney to fight WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. to defeat on 22 November in Riyadh.
He says the “experience” Haney (32-0, 16 KOs) has against “big fighters” will give him the edge he needs to defeat Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) at the ANB Arena in their co-fight.
“I think Devin Haney is going to win because of how much experience he has. He’s fought a lot of great fighters. I think he’s more of himself now,” David Benavidez said. Ring Champswho chose Devin Haney to fight WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. to defeat on November 22.
Benavidez plays it safe
It must be tough for Benavidez. He shares the November 22 card with Haney, and the two are also booked for a fight in the same event in early 2026 in Saudi Arabia. The last thing you want to do if you’re Benavidez is to downgrade Devin and creates a toxic atmosphere with those two events.
PTSD Talk
It will be interesting to know what ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez’s real view is on his chances against Norman Jr. The way Haney ran around the ring in his last fight against Jose Ramirez must have caught his attention. How can you ignore it? Tim Bradley says he believes Haney has PTSD from the traumatic experience he went through against Ryan Garcia in 2024.
“He can use more of his strength, more of his conditioning and more of his speed,” Benavidez said of Haney. “I haven’t really seen Brian Norman. I’ve seen him knock out some guy (Jin Sasaki), the Japanese guy, but as far as opponents go, Devin Haney is miles ahead of him,” Benavidez said
Norman’s power threat
Haney beat several good older fighters who were on the downside of their careers. It doesn’t matter what he’s done in the past because he’s fighting at 147 against what many boxing fans consider to be the toughest puncher in the division. What Devin has done in the past won’t save him if he can’t handle Norman’s hitting power.
“I don’t like how people put Devin Haney down because he’s got so many good fighters on his resume. A lot of good fighters. He’s had great fights, and he’s beaten everybody. I don’t think it’s going to be easy,” Benavidez said of Haney’s win.
David goes a little overboard with his praise of Devin because he definitely lost to Ryan Garcia. Many fans believe he’s got a decision over Vasily Lomachenko in 2023, and he’s by far the best fighter Haney has ever fought. He had a considerable size and youth advantage over Loma. It still wasn’t enough. The judges gave it to him, but it didn’t look like he won.
Written by Ken Woods, Ringside Boxing Analyst covering world title fights since 2018.
Last updated on 15/10/2025
