Devin Haney will make his welterweight debut with an immediate world title shot.
The 26-year-old has affirmed his position among boxing’s top dogs with high-profile victories in three weight classes. This year, after becoming undisputed at lightweight in 2022 and securing the WBC super lightweight title in 2023, Haney vacated his 140‑pound belt to step up once more.
His first outing on the way to 147 came against former unified champion Jose Ramirez at a catchweight, where Haney showcased his trademark defensive style and ring intelligence to earn a unanimous decision win, though it was criticised for being too safety first, perhaps a hangover from a torrid night against Ryan Garcia which was initially a loss but later ruled a no contest.
Off the back of the win, and with failed talks to face Teofimo Lopez now in the past, it has been announced by Turki Alalshikh of Riyadh Season and Ring Magazine that Haney will challenge WBO Welterweight World Champion Brian Norman Jr in November.
Norman has cemented his status as a dominant world champion in at 147 since being elevated to full champion in August 2024. He successfully defended his belt in March 2025 with a third-round stoppage of Derrieck Cuevas. His latest outing on June 19 saw him retain the belt in Tokyo with a stunning fifth-round knockout of Jin Sasaki – a finish widely hailed as a knockout of the year contender.
The 24-year-old – boxing’s current youngest male world champion – is now recognised as one of if not the biggest force in the division, particularly now Jaron Ennis has moved up to super-welterweight.
More details on the intriguing title fight are expected soon, though it will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
