Devin Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr.: A must-win in the most literal sense for the current welterweight champ at The Ring IV

The best welterweight on the planet faces his toughest test on Saturday evening from the ANB Arena in Saudi Arabia, live and exclusive on DAZN PPV, as Brian Norman Jr. defends the WBO title against former two-division champion Devin Haney.

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Norman is perhaps the most dynamic puncher outside of the heavyweight division. He's undefeated with a 28-0 record, 22 of those by knockout, including the KO of the Year so far in 2025 when Norman bounced Jin Sasaki's head off the mat with one of the most violent left hooks you'll ever see. 

"I mean, he's the best guy right now at 147 pounds," Haney admitted to DAZN's Chris Mannix during his face-off with Norman. "He was the best guy that was willing to step up and fight me. So, here we are."

Despite the proclamation from Haney, you still go into this fight knowing Norman still has a lot to prove in a must-win situation. 

We know his standing in the welterweight division. But if we are being true to ourselves, the division is thin. WBC titlist Mario Barrios escaped with his title when he struggled to secure a gift majority draw over a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao in July. There's WBA title holder Rolly Romero, who, yes, beat Ryan Garcia in a very awkward fight in May, but many remember him for getting starched by Gervonta Davis, who fights at lightweight. And you have the newly crowned IBF champion Lewis Crocker.

Norman has never faced any of those guys. He's been matched up well by Top Rank matchmakers. And there lies the problem. Because of that matchmaking, we have no clue how good Norman is.

The left hook is Norman's most dangerous weapon. But can Norman land the kill shot on one of boxing's best defensive tacticians? Garcia landed it a number of times on Haney in their April 2024 fight, in which the latter got dropped three times. 

You'd think Haney and his team won't make the same mistake twice.

One doesn't become an undisputed lightweight champion and then pitch a shutout over the then top dog at 140 pounds in Regis Prograis by not learning how to make adjustments. 

It's easy to land the knockouts that Norman has when you are facing competition beneath you. It's expected of you to close the show. 

What other tools does Norman have in his arsenal if Option 1 is closed off? 

What about Option 4 if Haney neutralizes 2 and 3? 

Norman has never gone past the tenth round. What happens if he gets into the 11th and 12th rounds? 

"I can win by any means necessary," Norman said at Thursday's press conference when asked by host Todd Grisham if he needed to win by knockout. "If I want it to go the cards, I can do that. If I wanna knock him out, I'm definitely going to do that anyway as is."

Norman can march right into Riyadh and quiet everybody by outclassing Haney, knock him out, or win a decision to show the world he's more than a one-trick pony. 

"I truly feel like you either got it or you don't," Norman said when asked by Grisham about him not beating any world champions at this point in his career.

A loss in any fashion, and the narrative surrounding Norman will be proven to be correct.

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