Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

A buildup that has gotten tense and personal should explode Saturday night when Haney (32-0 with 1 no contest, 15 KOs) challenges Norman Jr. (28-0 with 2 no contests, 22 KOs) for the latter’s WBO welterweight world championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, as the Ring IV: Night of Champions co-feature.

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Norman has defended the WBO title twice this year including a wicked fifth-round knockout of Jin Sasaki in Tokyo, Japan back in June, while Haney scored a relatively quiet unanimous decision against former world champion Jose Ramirez in Times Square in New York City this past May.

Will Norman Jr. prove he’s a world champion for a reason and that his name belongs with the top tier in boxing? Or will Haney point his way to a dominant showing in becoming a three-division world champ, once again demonstrating there are levels to the sweet science?

The stakes are high and DAZN News analyzes who has the edge between this champion and challenger.

Boxing Styles

At his best, Devin Haney is a prime operator who manages his ring real estate and works behind the jab toward piecing together clean combinations in a hit-and-not-get-hit clinic.

Conversely, Norman Jr. enjoys doubling up with his left-handed jab with quicker hands and better boxing skills than critics give him credit for.

And of course, there is the champ’s power as the 24-year-old carries dynamite in both hands, sitting on his hooks well.

What is intriguing about this styles clash is Norman Jr. carries a vaunted left hook — the same punch that Ryan Garcia used to give Haney a world of problems.

That said, Haney is easily the most skillful opponent that Norman Jr. has ever faced and the champion must prove he can land his power against a slick ring general in ‘The Dream.’

Until he does that, Haney gets the nod in this clash of styles.

Edge: Haney

Power

Haney himself has noted Norman Jr.’s power punching prowess.

While speaking on DAZN's FACE OFF, Norman called his walk-off fifth-round KO of Jin Sasaki in Tokyo this past June, the “knockout of the decade,” acknowledging how nightmarish and eviscerating his power can actually be.

That he has collected 22 of his 28 wins by knockout only adds to his undeniable power.

This category is a landslide in Norman Jr.’s favor.

Edge: Norman

Mental Warfare

Haney did make it a point to tell Norman Jr. to his face that while he acknowledges his power, he questions the champ's quality of opponents.

‘The Dream’ has fought former world champions in eight of his last nine fights. Those opponents include the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa, Jorge Linares, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Ramirez to name a few.

Haney is by far Norman Jr.’s most accomplished opponent.

Though the champion seems hell-bent on making ‘The Dream’ turn into a nightmare for Haney, the latter has lengthy experience that Norman Jr. just doesn’t.

That said, despite his match against Ryan Garcia getting turned into a no contest, Haney did seem to be carrying a bit of PTSD from being knocked down three times in that bout into his fight with Jose Ramirez. He defeated Ramirez on points but fought tentative so if there is a mental hurdle Haney must clear, it could very well be his own mental outlook in handling reservations about engaging.

Edge: Haney

Who has the edge in Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney?

DAZN News has Haney with a 2-1 edge entering this welterweight world title bout and his style and experience have a lot to do with it.

Though, Norman Jr. has the power to change all that with one punch, the former undisputed lightweight world champion in Haney will look to return to his sharp form and become a three-division world champion. And he has the skills and know-how to get the job done.