David Benavidez defended his WBC and WBA “regular” light heavyweight titles with a dominant performance against Anthony Yarde in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia,on Saturday. It was another unbelievable performance that solidified his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Will this victory lead too him replacing Canelo Alvarez as the face of Mexican boxing in the near future?
In the co-main event, Devin Haney, frequently enough criticized for his conservative style, showed a more aggressive side in his unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr. to win the WBO welterweight title. Haney dropped Norman in Round 2, but once again, he failed to finish his opponent when he had the chance. Whether by design or for lack of power, Haney hasn’t scored a KO win in six years. Could winning a title in a third division satisfy his skeptics?
Also on the card, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez unified three junior bantamweight world titles in another world-class performance against Fernando Martinez. And while he fights in the lower division and just turned 26, Rodriguez is a huge star and its time to treat him in this very way.
And Abdullah Mason became the current youngest champion in boxing in a hard-fought battle against Sam Noakes to win the vacant WBO lightweight title. mason still has defensive deficiencies and will need to fix that now that he’s a champ and becomes the hunted instead of the hunter.
Andreas Hale shares his thoughts on these performances.
Table of Contents
Devin Haney silences critics, but questions remain after win over Oscar Norman
Devin Haney entered saturday’s fight against Oscar Norman needing a statement. After a tumultuous 2024 that saw a controversial no-contest against Ryan Garcia and a lackluster showing against Jose Ramirez, questions swirled around his punch resistance and if he was “shell-shocked” after touching the canvas three times against Ryan Garcia in April 2024. Even though the fight was overturned from a Garcia win to a no contest after Garcia failed a drug test and was suspended, the lasting image of Haney going down three times from Garcia’s powerful left hooks was burned in the memory of fight fans. That follows a lackluster performance against Jose ramirez in May where he didn’t seem too eager to engage.
But against Norman, the hardest puncher in the division, Haney was the aggressor. Norman dared Haney to stand in the pocket and trade with him. Haney obliged and put Norman on the canvas with a hard right hand in the second round. Norman, not Haney, was shell-shocked from that point and needed multiple rounds before he could create some offense. By then,it was too late,and Haney took a unanimous decision and,most importantly,shut down his skeptics.
For now.
Haney didn’t finish Norman when he got him in trouble in Round 2. He allowed him to make it to the final bell and that is something the naysayers will almost certainly hang on to before he steps into a ring again. Haney routinely shows just enough vulnerability for people to question his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters and his win against Norman was no different. But for Haney, a win is a win.
“In 2024, I lost everything,” Haney said. “Everything came crashing down on me. In 2025, I came to get it back. In 2026, I’m coming for everything.”
Haney is risk-averse like the fighter he often draws comparisons to, Floyd Mayweather.He’s very calculated and does just enough to win fights. That approach may suggest that he’s beatable. However, what it also does is make it easier to land the fights he wants because everyone thinks they can beat them until they get in the ring with him.
Matchroom Boxing’s promoter,Eddie Hearn,is not a fan of Haney’s style.
“You’ve got to give Devin Haney credit and respect,” Hearn said during a postfight interview on DAZN. “I meen, he’s just become a three-division world champion, but no one’s going to want to watch him fight. I mean, he’s fighting scared.
“You can’t keep fighting like that because no one’s going to want to tune in and watch.And again, amazing achievement, but he doesn’t want to engage at all in the fight.”
It might very well be a calculated strategy or just the way he fights.Haney hasn’t stopped an opponent since September 2019, when he forced Zaur Abdullaev to quit on the stool. It’s not necessarily because he doesn’t have power, but maybe it’s because he doesn’t find it necessary to take risks when he’s already ahead in the fight.
Now that he has the WBO belt, other champions will have to face him if they want to unify the division. Whether that is the winner of WBC champ Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia, who are scheduled to fight next February, IBF champion Lewis Crocker or WBA titleholder Rolando “Rolly” Romero, all options are available for Haney’s next fight. And every last one of them will believe they can beat Haney.
The understated boxing brilliance of Jesse Rodriguez cannot be ignored
[Image of Jesse Rodriguez]
Boxing: Rodriguez’s Path to Undisputed Status and Mason’s Grit Highlight Weekend Action
November 24, 2025 – This weekend’s boxing action showcased both the burgeoning star power of Jesús Rodríguez and the valuable lessons learned by young champion Abdullah Mason. Both fighters secured victories, but their paths and the implications of those wins differ considerably.
Jesús Rodríguez: Building Towards Undisputed Championship and Mainstream Appeal
Jesús Rodríguez continues to impress, though his recent opponents haven’t necessarily elevated his profile. As reported by ESPN, Rodríguez is currently ranked No. 5 in their pound-for-pound list. Abdullah Mason: A Championship win Forged in Determination
Abdullah Mason, 21, demonstrated remarkable resilience in his unanimous decision victory over Sam Noakes in Riyadh, saudi Arabia, to claim the vacant WBO lightweight title. Worth a look