Devin Haney continues to cling to the dream of a rematch with Ryan Garcia, insisting that the bigger picture still favors “unfinished business” between them.
Speaking to DAZN Boxing, Haney emphasized that a sequel fight with Garcia is still very much part of his future vision.
He sees the potential rematch as a major milestone in his career, a chance to settle old scores and solidify his legacy. However, looming large in that scenario is Brian Norman Jr., the rising welterweight champion who could completely upend those plans this Saturday.
Haney has repeatedly made it clear that Garcia remains a marquee matchup for him: “Ryan obviously was the biggest fight … down the line, we will get that fight … there’s still unfinished business there on both sides,” he said.
Despite this, he acknowledges that Norman Jr. represents the next significant challenge. “The next best guy is Brian Norman,” Haney explained. Yet if Norman Jr. dominates or even stops Haney at their upcoming fight, the dream of a Garcia showdown might evaporate entirely.
The threat isn’t just theoretical. Norman Jr. has shown a frightening ability to finish fights decisively. On June 19, 2025, in Tokyo, he knocked out Jin Sasaki in the fifth round to retain his WBO welterweight title. Sasaki had endured brutal punishment in the opening rounds, taking several punishing shots, before a perfectly timed left hook put him out cold.
He was later removed from the ring on a stretcher, a stark reminder of Norman Jr.’s raw power and precision. Observers have noted that Haney’s punch resistance may not match Sasaki’s, making Saturday’s clash a high-stakes gamble for the undefeated WBC lightweight champion.
The stakes are higher than just a title
Saturday’s fight at the ANB Arena in Riyadh is far more than a title defense for Norman Jr.; it could reshape the landscape of the welterweight division. For Norman Jr., a convincing victory over Haney would cement his rise and potentially open doors to unification bouts or other mega-fights.
For Haney, however, the risk is monumental. A loss, particularly by knockout, would significantly damage his standing in the sport and could make the business backers hesitant to finance a big-money Garcia rematch.
Coming off such a defeat, any chance of a second fight with Ryan would require a serious rebuild of Haney’s reputation and marketability.
With the world watching via DAZN PPV, the outcome of this fight will ripple far beyond a single championship. Norman Jr. could inadvertently put an end to Haney’s rematch aspirations, while Haney faces the daunting task of proving he can still compete at the highest level.
In boxing, as always, a single punch can change history and this weekend, it may very well decide the fate of Haney versus Garcia II.
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