Hearn Labels Devin Haney’s Norman Win “Pretty Boring”

Promoter Eddie Hearn reiterated today that Devin Haney’s performance against WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. was “pretty boring” for him to watch last Saturday night in Riyadh.

Hearn points out that Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) had Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) hurt “quite a few times,” and he could have gone for the knockout. Instead, he fought in a safety-first manner, jabbing and holding a lot. Devin won by a 12-round unanimous decision, but it left him open to criticism.

“I didn’t find that exciting to watch. Devin is a hell of a fighter and tough to beat. I just don’t think at the moment that he’s very good to watch,” said Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn to The Stomping Ground about Devin Haney after sitting through his performance against Brian Norman Jr. last weekend.

Hearn compares Haney’s performance unfavorably to super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, who fought on the undercard against Fernando Martinez. He notes that ‘Bam’ was attacking nonstop in going for a knockout. Devin fought nothing like him.

“It was the same comment from everyone else I was sitting near. But that’s how Devin fights now,” said Hearn. “I think Devin up at 147 is a lot more powerful and dangerous than he thinks he is. Norman was hurt badly. He was actually hurt and buzzed quite a few times. So for me, Devin could step on the gas there and stop him.”

When Norman began pressuring Haney in the fourth, that’s when the holding began. Devin went into a prevent defense mode and stayed that way for the remainder of the contest. The look on Turki Alalahikh’s face in the front row during the fight was priceless. He looked unhappy, non-smiling, arms folded, and the appearance of someone not pleased with what he was watching.

“He could have stopped Brian Norman and looked sensational. What he did was be smart in there, get behind the jab. There was a lot of holding. I was watching as a fan, and I found it pretty boring,” said Hearn about Haney’s effort.