Haney Won’t Last 12 Rounds With Norman If He’s “Shy”

By Elliot Raines: Coach Kenny Ellis says whether Devin Haney can go the full 12-round distance with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. on November 22nd will come down to whether he’s still fighting “shy” like he showed in his last fight earlier this year on May 2.

The Look of Panic in the Ramirez Fight

Ellis saw a lot of fear in Haney (32-0, 16 KOs), noting that he had the look of “panic” to him in his fight against former WBC and WBO light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez on May 2. He states that if Devin fights like that against Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs), he won’t make it past the halfway point.

Haney-Norman Jr. are fighting in the co-feature slot on DAZN PPV on The Ring IV David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde card at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. It’s a must-win fight for Haney, as there’s a chance that he could fight a rematch with Ryan Garcia if he’s victorious.

“It depends on whether Haney is shy. In the last fight, he was shy. He wasn’t moving with skills. He was moving like more of a panic,” said coach Kenny Ellnis to MillCity Boxing when asked if Devin Haney can go 12 rounds with Brian Norman Jr. on November 22nd. “It’s a difference.

Haney will have to be “shy” if he doesn’t want to put his chin on the line, and wind up like Norman Jr’s last challenger, Jin Sasaki, earlier this year on June 19, 2025. He got knocked out cold in the fifth round. Norman Jr. punches harder than Ryan Garcia, and he had Devin on the canvas three times in their fight in April 2024.

Can Haney revert back to the fighter he was before Ryan got to him in time for him to dethrone Norman Jr. on November 22nd? He looked like he was still shaken from his frontline duty against Garcia.

Haney’s Size Edge Is Gone at 147

Realistically, it’s not likely without a mind meld to snap Haney back to the way he fought when he was campaigning at 135. But back then, he was much bigger than his opponents, and he never fought any big punchers. So, he could get away with fighting aggressively with his size advantage and his weaker opponents. He can’t do that against Norman Jr. It would be fun to see Devin try, but the end results could be bad for him.

“So, if he could do it with skill, it could be a 12-round decision. If he does in there panicking, I don’t see it going past the halfway mark,” said Ellis about Haney getting knocked out by the sixth round if he’s panicking.

Elliot Raines has covered British and European boxing since 2010. Known for his sharp pen and low tolerance for hype, Raines dissects the sport’s politics, promoters, and paper champions with dry precision.