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Philippines, 12 Feb 2026 |
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Devin Haney Dominates Brian Norman Jr. to Claim WBO Welterweight Title By Dong Secuya PhilBoxing.com Sun, 23 Nov 2025  In a masterful performance that secured him world titles in a third weight division, Devin "The Dream" Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) defeated Brian Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) by unanimous decision to capture the WBO welterweight championship. The third world title fight of the Ring IV: Night of Champions card at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia early Sunday saw Haney overcome an aggressive start from the defending champion before flooring him in a pivotal early round. The official scores, reflecting Haney’s overall dominance, were wide: 117-110, 116-111, and 114-113. The narrowest score, 114-113 (which strangely showed Norman Jr. winning one more round than the other two cards), was superseded by Haney's superior work rate and the crucial knockdown. The fight opened with the champion, Norman Jr., immediately asserting himself. In Round 1, "The Assassin II" threw quick jabs and aggressively took the center of the ring, forcing Haney to maintain a technical, counter-punching style. Norman Jr. even surprised Haney with a powerful straight punch that backed the challenger into the corner. The momentum, however, flipped violently in Round 2. Haney delivered a great right hand that scored a stunning knockdown. Norman Jr. bravely beat the count at nine seconds, but the round belonged entirely to "The Dream," who came close to finishing the champion. In Round 3, Norman Jr. attempted to respond, aggressively driving Haney into the corner in what became a great two-way battle. Haney, displaying great head movement, began dodging the champion’s blows while the technical complexity of the fight increased. The middle rounds saw Haney solidify his control. Round 4 was fought at close quarters, with Haney looking to land hooks and uppercuts to inflict damage, while both men showcased their distinct strategies. In Round 5, Norman Jr. tried to close the gap, landing a good combination, but Haney consistently looked for the counterpunch, brimming with confidence following the knockdown. The champion seemed to gain confidence in Round 6, using his jab and a 1-2 combination, but Haney’s superior footwork allowed him to easily dodge and evade. As the fight moved into the second half (Round 7), Haney landed a big right hand and continued to effectively employ his jab. Despite closing the distance, Norman Jr. struggled to unlock his power, leading to a highly technical affair. Throughout Round 8, Norman Jr. largely relied on his jab, slowly working combinations, while Haney comfortably waited to counter, having faced little trouble since the opening round. The championship rounds saw the pace drop slightly. In Round 9, Haney landed a straight hook to the champion’s soft spots, though the increasing frequency of clinches prevented sustained action. Round 10 marked the championship rounds, a moment where the champion needed urgency, but Norman Jr. instead waited for the counterattack, allowing Haney to continue controlling the narrative. Round 11 was fought primarily at close range, with Haney consistently separating and looking for the counterpunch. The Final Round (12) saw Norman Jr. constantly resorting to clinching, prompting Haney to try and break him free with hooks to the body. Despite Norman Jr.'s efforts to use his power, Haney's superior ring generalship and the crucial second-round knockdown secured his victory, cementing his status as a three-division world champion. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.  |
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