Bob Arum has dubbed Devin Haney “a track star” ahead of his bout in November with Brian Norman Jnr.
Haney is 32-0 (15 KOs) with a no contest after his loss to Ryan Garcia was scrubbed when Garcia subsequently tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and was banned by the New York State Athletic Commission.
They returned on the same promotion in New York in May, but both were roundly criticized for their displays. Garcia failed to dazzle and was floored on his way to a decision loss to Rolando “Rolly” Romero in Times Square, while Haney was flat in a listless points victory over Jose Ramirez. Haney was also bashed for “running” and for his negativity.
Norman Jnr, 28-0 (22 KOs), was anything but listless when he delivered an early knockout-of-the-year contender to stop Jin Sasaki in Japan earlier in June to defend his WBO welterweight title.
He is promoted by Arum at Top Rank, who took to social media to write about the Norman Jnr-Haney fight that is due to take place in Saudi Arabia in November: “We look forward to working with our friend, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, as the best welterweight in the world, Brian Norman Jnr, defends his WBO title this November in Riyadh against track star Devin Haney.”
