With Devin Haney set to step straight into a welterweight title fight against Brian Norman Jr on Nov. 22, both fighters sat down with Ring Magazine to talk about the matchup and their expectations for the fight. You can catch some excerpts of what both fighters had to say below with the full video interview in the link at the top.
Haney on moving up in weight and going straight into a fight with Norman
“That’s just not the type of person that I am, the type of fighter that I am (to take a tune up). I do think think that he is the best at 147 and what better way to take over a weight class than to fight the best guy, get right to it, and take over the division.”
Norman on why this fight with Haney was the right one to make
“Why wouldn’t I want to fight a fighter like himself. It’s just the competitive nature that’s in me, it’s the reason I am a champion. He say he’s the best, I say I’m the best, cool, let’s go out and see who truly is that one.”
Haney on if Norman is biting off more than he can chew
“Of course. I think that I’m levels above him. I think he’s a good fighter, he’s done what he’s supposed to do against those guys, Top Rank has done a great job of matching him against the right guys. But now he’s fighting a real fighter, a guy who’s been at the top for a long time and I will just show him that I’m levels above him.”
Norman on whether Haney is underrating him
“I don’t really care about the betting odds or anything like that. In regards to sleeping on me, I’m pretty sure he not going out like that, pretty sure he was raised better than that. I’m pretty sure he know what he in for as well, I’m pretty sure he’s going to try to do everything possible but no matter what it’s not enough.”
