Dramatic Night in Riyadh: Haney Dominates, Rodriguez Shines, and Mason Claims Title
A night of high-stakes boxing unfolded at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, featuring four world title fights. The card, headlined by David Benavidez’s defense against Anthony Yarde, delivered a mix of dominant performances, thrilling knockouts, and strategic battles. Devin Haney showcased his boxing prowess, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez added another chapter to his burgeoning legacy, and Abdullah Mason secured a unanimous decision victory to claim the vacant WBO lightweight title.
Haney Outclasses Norman Jr. in Welterweight Title Defense
In the co-main event, Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) defended his WBO welterweight title against Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) in a compelling clash of styles. From the opening bell, Haney utilized his superior jab and footwork to control the distance and dictate the pace. “Haney is already on the back foot. It’s a chess match early,” one observer noted.
The fight took a dramatic turn in the first round when a perfectly timed right hand sent Norman crashing to the canvas. Haney immediately pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of punches, but Norman weathered the storm and survived the round.
Haney continued to build his lead throughout the middle rounds, landing crisp combinations and frustrating Norman’s attempts to impose his power. “I don’t think anybody expected Haney to be landing the more damaging punches in this fight and to be rocking Norman like that,” a ringside analyst commented. By the later rounds, Norman was visibly chasing the fight, needing a knockout to turn the tide.
The final rounds saw Haney maintain his composure and tactical discipline, securing a dominant victory. The judges’ scorecards reflected Haney’s control: 78-73, 69-63, and 49-45.
Rodriguez Stops Martinez in Thrilling Super Flyweight Unification
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) further cemented his status as one of boxing’s brightest stars with a tenth-round knockout victory over Fernando “Puma” Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) in a three-belt super flyweight unification bout. Rodriguez, Uncrowned’s No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer, showcased his exceptional boxing skills and relentless pressure.
The fight began with a fast pace, with both fighters exchanging punches. Rodriguez quickly established control, utilizing his angles and combinations to disrupt Martinez’s rhythm. “Rodriguez’s angles are brilliant. It’s confusing Puma massively,” a commentator observed.
As the fight progressed, Rodriguez’s relentless attack began to take its toll on Martinez. By the eighth round, Martinez was complaining of a damaged nose. Rodriguez continued to land with precision, and in the tenth round, a perfectly placed left hand sent Martinez crashing to the canvas, ending the fight.
Mason Claims WBO Lightweight Title with Unanimous Decision
Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) captured the vacant WBO lightweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs). The fight was a closely contested affair, with both fighters displaying skill and determination. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 115-113, and 115-113 in favor of Mason.
Full Results from Riyadh
Here are the results from the undercard bouts:
- Middleweight: Vito Mielnicki Jr. def. Samuel Nmomah via ninth-round TKO
- Super Featherweight: Mohammed Alakel def. Jiaming Li via unanimous decision (60-53, 60-53, 60-53)
- Super Middleweight: Julio Porras Ruiz and Pius Mpenda fought to a unanimous draw (57-57, 57-57, 57-57)
- Lightweight: Sultan Almohammed def. Umesh Chavan via first-round TKO. [Watch video](link to video placeholder)
- Bantamweight: Juan Carlos Guerito def. Barker Ssewanyana via unanimous decision (40-35, 40-35, 40-35)
The event in Riyadh delivered a compelling night of boxing, showcasing both established stars and rising talents. With dominant performances from Haney and Rodriguez, and a hard-fought victory for Mason, the card proved to be a resounding success for Uncrowned and DAZN.
