The clinching proved to be his biggest obstacle.
Coming forward with one punch at a time, Norman often dove in from too far out. Haney would grab him, shut down the attack, and wait for the referee to separate them. Norman allowed that pattern to continue instead of finding a way to punish Haney for holding.
Norman had to cut off the ring, throw combinations instead of committing to one big shot, and fight through Haney’s clinches. When Haney grabbed, Norman needed to keep a hand free and hammer him with hard shots to the head. Making Haney pay every time he initiated a clinch would have given him a reason to think twice about repeatedly using the tactic to neutralize Norman’s offense.
Norman’s failure to even attempt meaningful adjustments also brings his corner into question. Haney repeatedly clinched when Norman lunged forward with single shots, yet Norman kept returning to the same approach. That suggests he may not have been getting the instructions he needed between rounds. If his corner couldn’t provide an answer to a tactic Haney used throughout the fight, Norman should consider bringing in a second trainer who can help identify problems and make tactical changes while a fight is still being decided.
An aggressive second-round stoppage against Josh Wagner on May 16 showed a welcome sense of urgency after that passive showing against Haney.
Wagner, however, was nowhere near Haney’s level and could not reproduce his movement, timing, defense or smothering ability. A two-round blowout did not prove Norman had solved those tactical flaws.
Norman is already back in prime position. Ranked No. 1 by the WBO at 147 pounds, Norman is Haney’s top contender.
A complete reinvention is not necessary. His 23 knockouts show the damage he can do when given clean openings.
If Norman gets a second crack at Haney, throwing one shot, diving forward and getting tied up cannot happen again. The power is there to win the belt back. This time, Norman has to recognize when an approach isn’t working and change tactics during the fight. Haney provided future opponents with a blueprint for neutralizing Norman, and they have every reason to use it until he proves it no longer works.
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