Haney (32-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC), a former undisputed lightweight champion and junior welterweight titleholder, is looking to become a three-division champ by beating Norman (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC).
To prepare for his run in a new weight class, Haney had a 144-pound catchweight clash against former unified 140-pound champion
Jose Ramirez on May 2 in New York.
Haney won comfortably by unanimous decision, but the fight featured very little action and, by all accounts, was a dull dance.
During a media workout, Haney joked by making a self-deprecating assessment of his nightmarish performance.
“What do I remember about the last fight?” Haney told reporters with a laugh. “[Expletive] – I was just running the whole fight. That’s what y’all said, right? When y’all say it, it’s not playin’. When I say it's playin’.”
In a more serious tone, the 26-year-old Haney said he hasn’t been bothered by the boatload of backlash he has received for his performance.
Bob Arum, Norman’s promoter and Haney’s former promoter, said Haney looked terrible and labeled him a track star.
“Naw, [criticism doesn’t get to me],” Haney said. “They are going to say something regardless. I just want to keep beating whoever they put in front of me, the best fighters in the world.”
Haney also shed light on not having to drain himself anymore to make weight limits in lower classes.
“It’s the best I felt,” Haney said. “A lot of people didn’t know that I was killing myself to make that weight. A day before I was literally dying. But that was a sacrifice that I was willing to do to make the fights happen.
“In my past fights, you saw me more of a shell of myself because I was killing myself to make the weight. … I feel a lot better, I feel a lot stronger and I’m excited for it. Y’all see on November 22 that I am a big dude.”
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.