Tim Bradley has changed his prediction from previously favoring WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. to knock out Devin Haney in their November 22nd chief support fight in Riyadh.<\/p>\n
Tim says Haney (32-0, 16 KOs) can execute a \u201cdefensive-first\u201d strategy to mentally wear down Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) to win a points decision on the scorecards.<\/p>\n
Haney\u2019s Defensive Blueprint<\/p>\n
Movement
\nFeints
\nDictate pace
\nControl center of the ring<\/p>\n
Bradley believes that Haney can keep the action in the center of the ring and not allow Norman Jr. to trap him against the ropes. Using movement will prevent Norman Jr. from sitting down on his shots to generate power.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to be fighting a defensive-first kind of fight. He\u2019s going to try and burn Brian Norman out mentally with the pre-engagements, with the movement, but he\u2019s going to be defensively responsible. He knows Norman is going to be very strong early on,\u201d said Tim Bradley on his channe<\/a>l, talking about the Devin Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr. fight on November 22.<\/p>\n Norman Jr. Doesn\u2019t Fade Easily<\/p>\n The problem with Bradley\u2019s analysis is that Norman Jr. hasn\u2019t shown signs of tiring in the later rounds. He doesn\u2019t fade late and lose power like some fighters. If you look at Norman\u2019s fights against Giovani Santillan and Quinton Randall, he was still punching hard in the later rounds. Some of the shots he hit both fighters with would be devastating for Haney to take.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Devin Haney wins this fight, he\u2019s got to be put on the pound-for-pound list. He\u2019s joining Shakur Stevenson with three belts in three weight classes,\u201d said Bradley.<\/p>\n Devin Must Engage to Impress Judges<\/p>\n For Haney to win, he\u2019s going to need to engage against Norman Jr, because he\u2019s not going to win a decision by running around like he did against Jose Ramirez on the Riyadh Seadon card earlier this year on May 2. Norman Jr. will chase him down and land big shots to impress the judges.<\/p>\n It\u2019s going to be impossible for Haney to win a decision if he\u2019s moving around, throwing jabs, and holding frequently. That\u2019s the strategy that Devin used in his two fights against George Kambosos Jr, and fights against Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez. Those guys are not in the same league power-wise as Norman Jr.<\/p>\n The judges will be more impressed with the hard punches that Norman is landing, and they\u2019ll give him every round. That\u2019s assuming that Haney doesn\u2019t crumble at some point in the fight.<\/p>\n Written by Ken Woods, Ringside Boxing Analyst covering world title fights since 2018.<\/p>\n Ken Woods has been a senior writer at Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering the sport from every angle. With years of ringside reporting, he delivers fight news, results, and analysis that cut through the noise. Ken\u2019s work consistently spotlights champions, contenders, and prospects, giving fans a sharp, knowledgeable view of the global boxing scene.<\/p>\n