The Assassin, 25, was outboxed over 12 rounds as the undefeated Haney, 27, became a three-division world champion with a unanimous decision win in Saudia Arabia on Sunday (22.11.25), but Norman Jr. has vowed to “come back even harder”.
Speaking to The Ring, he said: “Haney was just another guy, and just another opponent. Of course, he was the better man.
“But he's going to see me again real soon. This isn't stopping anything. As a matter of fact, I am coming back even harder.”
The bout swung early when Haney dropped Norman Jr. in the second round with a sharp double left hook and a straight right, establishing a pace and rhythm that shaped the rest of the fight.
Even so, The Assassin insisted The Dream “really do anything that really surprised” him in the bout.
He explained: “It was all on my end. I got caught with something, and it was mostly a flash knockdown, but I got right back up and into the action.”
He added: “I learned a lot about myself, and that’s all that matters. It’s a part of the game. This is what I signed up for. Y’all best believe that you are going to see me again real soon.”
Despite Norman Jr. rallying through the middle and later sessions, Haney’s precision proved decisive as he outlanded his opponent 70–59 according to CompuBox, while The Assassin threw significantly more punches in an aggressive but less accurate display.
Haney, meanwhile, has reflected on the victory and the road back to elite form following his chaotic Ryan Garcia episode, which resulted in a no contest.
Speaking with The Guardian, the new WBO champion outlined his mindset before facing Norman Jr.
He said: “I feel great: strong, sharp, happy. At 135 [lbs], I was fighting the scale more than the guy in front of me. Now I can eat. I can train for skills, not survival.”
The Dream also dismissed the idea that Norman Jr. represented an unknown danger to him.
Haney said: “He’s good, but it’s hard to say how good.
“They put him in with guys who made him look the way they wanted him to look. We’ll see what happens when he’s in there with somebody who can think.”
As he continues moving through the divisions, Haney’s motivation remains clear.
He said: “We set a goal as a kid. I want my name to be mentioned with the greats when it’s all said and done. I won’t stop until I get there.”
