More than the sons, the fathers appear rather gung-ho to step in and take a swing at each other. At the press conference, Bill Haney even stood up, staring menacingly at Brian Norman Sr., who taunted nonchalantly. So the fathers clearly stole the show, taking the sheen off what’s perhaps the most intriguing fight on the Night of the Champions. Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney continues to perplex fans and pundits. Unlike other matchups, this sits on the fence.

Both are young – Devin Haney turned 27 four days ago, while Brian Norman Jr. will turn 25 a day after the duel in Riyadh. It’s two fighters squaring up in their prime. However, unlike other fights on the card, where the outcomes are easy to predict, it’s difficult to gauge Haney vs. Norman. Will Haney finally succeed and become a three-division champion, or will Norman Jr. add yet another famous name to his resume? A brief overview of stats and records should help calm jittery nerves.

Predicting Devin Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr.: Who has better stats and a record?

The record of co-main fighters matches with that of the headliners, David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde. Haney and Norman Jr. both account for over 63 professional bouts—the former contested in 33 and the latter in 30. Haney’s slight lead could be on account of his decade-long career as opposed to Norman Jr., who kicked off his career in January 2018.

Barring the few non-contests, both welterweights remain undefeated. In Devin Haney’s case, the Ryan Garcia fight sticks out like a sore thumb. Brian Norman Jr. has had to go through the dubious distinction twice.

Where the record differs, and what may foreseeably set the tone of the fight is the knockout-to-win rate. A powerful puncher whose deadly left hook stopped many an opponent, Norman Jr.’s 79% strike rate confirms his reputation as one of boxing’s best finishers. Haney, on the other hand, relies on his technical craft and movement, luring foes into setups. Still, 15 knockouts validate his ability to stop a fight.

Devin Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr.: Height, weight, reach comparison, and more

Ignoring the slight edge, both Haney and Norman Jr. match each other physically. At 5 feet and 9 inches, Haney is just an inch taller than Norman Jr., whose 72-inch reach overtakes the former champion’s 71-inch wingspan.

Five months ago, before he knocked out Jin Sasaki, Brian Norman Jr. weighed 146.8 pounds. On the other hand, Haney recorded 143 pounds when he fought Jose Ramirez on May 2, Fatal Fury. But it should be noted that the bout was fought at a catchweight. Against Norman Jr., Haney marks his welterweight debut.

Per the latest update, at the official weigh-ins, Haney weighed 146.6 pounds and Norman Jr., 146 pounds.

Fight prediction

Oddsmakers seemingly disagree on who could possibly win. A few favor the challenger, Devin Haney, with as much as a 62% chance of winning the bout. Still backed by -130 odds, some believe the champion might still prevail.

The difference is just negligible, so to speak.

The reasons are aplenty. Confidence in Haney largely stems from his impressive resume that features a string of big names, including Jorge Linares, George Kambosos Jr., Vasyl Lomachenko, and Regis Prograis. Apart from the wins over Giovani Santillan and Sasaki, Norman’s record looks mundane. Moreover, the feats are quite recent. Haney’s rather spread out over the last four years.

The yearlong layoff following the Garcia fight, which raised doubts over his chin, and the listless win over Ramirez continue to haunt Devin Haney. Norman Jr. has no ghosts to shadowbox.

Styles and strategy

In a classic clash of styles, Devin Haney once again faces an orthodox fighter with a powerful left hook. Putting aside the doping controversy, Garcia used it to brilliant effect and knocked down Haney thrice. So will Norman Jr. achieve something similar?

His boxer-puncher style and sheer aggression add counterweight to Haney’s technical finesse.

Haney’s experience might come into play. A poised display behind the jab and then taking Norman Jr. by surprise with a swift counter could impress judges and give him a clear headway. He will probe and feint, using an up-jab to dictate the distance and pace.

Norman Jr. will have second thoughts after initial drills. Haney’s head movements and check hook pose a serious threat.

But it will be foolish to think of the Atlanta-born champion as a one-dimensional fighter. A pressure fighter like Benavidez, Brian Norman Jr., can crush Haney’s plan long before he sets it up. If Norman manages to corner Haney, then it will be difficult for the former undisputed champion to wriggle himself out. The welterweight champion is a past master in phone booth brawls.

Haney vs. Norman promises fireworks. It’s clearly difficult to predict. One who maintains his composure and makes fewer mistakes will be the winner.

If Haney wins, then do you think he should pursue a rematch with Ryan Garcia?