Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

Brian Norman Jr. has given credit to Devin Haney for what ‘The Dream’ has been able to accomplish over the course of his career.

The ‘Assassin II’ just believes it is his time to shine, not Haney's. Norman Jr. looks to prove that tonight when he puts his WBO welterweight world championship on the line against Haney in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View. The fight will serve as the chief support to the Ring IV: Night of Champions main event between David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde.

The 24-year-old Norman Jr. (28-0 with 2 no contests, 22 KOs) has already delivered a huge 2025, defending his title twice by producing a third-round TKO of Derrieck Cuevas in March followed by a fifth-round Knockout of the Year candidate in his crumpling of Jin Sasaki in June. Meanwhile, Haney (32-0 with 1 no contest, 15 KOs) intends to show that his sweet science skills are more than enough to resolve Norman Jr.’s power. Haney last generated a quiet unanimous decision over Jose Ramirez in May.

Will Norman Jr. stop Haney in proving it is indeed his time? Or will Haney outpoint him severely to be crowned a three-division world champion? With the anticipation reaching a fever pitch, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both the champion and decorated challenger.

Brian Norman Jr.’s Keys to Victory

Get inside of Haney’s jab

Allowing Devin Haney to establish the jab with range could be the recipe for ‘The Dream’ banking rounds toward snatching Brian Norman Jr.’s WBO welterweight world title.

To prohibit that from happening, Norman Jr. must get inside of Haney’s jab. Forward-fighting pressure alone will help the champ do this. Then, he could dictate the pace of the fight with inside boxing.

Launch the left hook

Seeing how Ryan Garcia pummeled Haney with the left hook, Norman Jr. should be encouraged to launch the same weapon, too.

The Decatur, Georgia native already does a great job of keeping his feet under him without lunging on his left hook attempts. These mechanics allow Norman Jr. to leverage stiff impact with the shot.

If he catches Haney flush with the left hook, we could very well see ‘The Dream’ turn into a nightmare for the former undisputed lightweight champion of the world.

Keep emotions in check

The way Norman Jr. has talked about proving himself and making sure respect is heaped onto his name, one would think he’s the challenger and not Haney entering tonight’s fight.

Therefore, it is imperative that the champ keeps his emotions in check as getting too high emotionally could lead to being overzealous — a frenzied state that Haney could exploit Norman Jr. in.

Norman Jr. has to calmly go about destroying Haney. The champ does that and he will pave the way for an incredible 2026.

Devin Haney’s Keys to Victory

Establish the jab

If Devin Haney is going to return to the hit and don’t get hit practitioner he has shown to be in the past, asserting the jab should be paramount.

For Haney, finding a home with the stick will allow him to control the tempo of this bout, score points and bank rounds to victory … as long as he is not tentative with it.

Use movement and spacing to negate Norman Jr.’s power

Once Haney establishes his crisp jab and pieces together combinations stemming from the stick, he must use movement and spacing to also help negate Norman Jr.’s power.

The jab, in of itself, can go long ways to keeping Norman Jr. at bay. But the movement, whether it is subtle steps or getting on the bicycle when necessary, will be crucial to frustrating the champion and forcing him to box with Haney.

The latter could put a ring operator like Haney in the driver’s seat.

Deliver a boxing clinic statement

Just like Norman Jr. is looking to prove that he belongs in boxing’s top tier, Haney should be aiming to produce a boxing masterclass of a statement.

Despite it being ruled a no contest, Haney tasting the canvas three times at the hands of Ryan Garcia in April 2024 is a memory stained in fans’ minds.

Haney did defeat former world champion Jose Ramirez via unanimous decision this past May, but it was a low-action, lackluster affair.

Tonight, Haney not only has to defeat Norman Jr. to become a three-division champ, but do it convincingly to return his name to its rightful star power.