By The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS – Former heavyweight champion John Ruiz is retiring.
The 38-year-old boxer said in a statement Monday he's leaving after an 18-year career. He was the WBA champ two times and finished with a record of 44-9-1, including 30 knockouts.
Ruiz was knocked down four times in a loss to David Haye this month. He hit the canvas twice in the first round, and his trainer ended the fight in the ninth.
Ruiz defeated three world champions — Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker. He fought in 12 championship bouts and became the first Latino heavyweight champion.
He plans to move his family from Las Vegas to his home in the Boston area and open a boxing gym in the city.
Source: news.yahoo.com
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Senin, 26 April 2010
Jumat, 16 April 2010
Heavyweight Excitement: No longer an Oxymoron? -- Ringside Report
By Jeff Stoyanoff, RingsideReport.com
When David Haye stopped John Ruiz on April 3rd in Manchester it was both expected and an upset. Most observers expected Haye to win the fight, but quite a few also figured that the experienced and cagey Ruiz would make it a most competitive fight. That Haye won was expected. That Haye dominated Ruiz and became the first man in over a decade to earn a stoppage against him? That can accurately be characterized as somewhat of an upset.
Naturally, with the spectacular nature of Haye’s win there will be the all too predictable suggestion that Ruiz was old and shot or perhaps simply overrated as a top fighter. Ruiz has never been blessed with fantastic gifts in the ring. He is not extraordinarily fast nor does he have tremendous power. Yet, Ruiz is an intelligent fighter, an excellent tactician, and he knows how to use those qualities in the ring. If there is a legacy to the career of John Ruiz it is that he was possessed of a special ability to be competitive in fights; a level of competitiveness that belied his natural gifts. For one of the rarest and most glaring times in a long and distinguished career, John Ruiz was overmatched in a fight and David Haye deserves all the credit in the world for that.
Yet, now the conversation will turn to David Haye and the brothers Klitschko. Haye has already made no bones about the fact that he can’t wait to get either (and eventually both) of them in the ring. And, for their part, the Klitschkos seem pretty keen on the idea as well. While it may be wrong to dismiss Haye’s win over Ruiz as merely what should have taken place, it would also be wrong to overlook the fact that either Klitschko is anything less than a giant step up for Haye. And speaking of giants…
Images of Valuev
We certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous it can be to follow David Haye around in the ring. In fact, we got that glimpse about fifteen seconds into the fight when John Ruiz was caught flat footed by a lightning fast right hand from Haye and was promptly deposited on the canvas. It was a shocking display of just how talented Haye can be. From that point on, Haye demonstrated repeated flashes of brilliance as he methodically, yet inexorably dismantled Ruiz over nine one sided rounds. Ruiz gamely continued to take the fight to Haye and was not without some offensive success, but ultimately the speed mismatch was too much to overcome. However, one must wonder if the same active and utterly destructive Haye that decimated Ruiz would be the one that shows up for either Klitschko. The genesis of this question lay not in the conjecture of a potential matchup, but in the certitude of history. Haye often looked befuddled in his fight with former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev.
In the first six rounds of the Haye-Valuev fight, Haye threw only 84 punches. The fact of the matter is, Haye was clearly unsure of how to proceed against the taller and longer Valuev. Both Klitschko brothers are far more in line with Valuev than Ruiz in terms of a matchup of styles. It is undoubtedly true that Haye won against Valuev and even staggered him badly in the twelfth and final round. On the other hand, it is also true that both Klitschkos are better fighters than Valuev and present a much greater challenge both offensively and defensively as potential opponents for Haye.
So, David Haye will probably be considered a rightful underdog when he eventually squares off with Wlad or Vitali. The ring records and fighting styles will dictate that. However, this is still a hugely exciting and intriguing potential matchup. There is something in this potential bout that differs greatly from the previous fights involving either Kltischko. David Haye is not just good, he is live; he has something. He has speed, he has power, and he has a big mouth…
The Talking Game
The Klitschko’s are avid chess players; and it shows. They are both cerebral tacticians in and out of the ring. In the ring, both are remarkably disciplined as they patiently set up their opponent before often brutally taking them out sometime in the mid to later stages of a fight. Quite often, the end comes quite awhile after the competitive aspects of the fight have long since been decided. In other words, they don’t feel any urgency to finish a guy as soon as they sense their advantage. Why rush in and run into a checkmate? Or, in boxing parlance, run into a huge shot that can turn a fight. Recently, nobody has been able to avoid their inevitable doom in a match with the Klitschko’s as both of them seem to come out set up their shots and eventually destroy their often beleaguered opponent; the disciplined attack wreaking havoc on overmatched fighters.
But, David Haye is going about things in a different way. Haye has already angered both Klitschkos. The talking seems to be a ploy designed to enrage them and throw them off their deliberate yet devastating game. In a recent interview, Freddie Roach said that the feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t simply hype and that Pacquiao really does hate Mayweather. However, Roach quickly cautioned that he needed to steer Manny away from that because fighting angry would severely undermine his chances for success in that fight. Pacquiao being angry would be exactly what Mayweather would want as it would greatly increase the chances that Pacquiao would make mistakes in the ring.
David Haye would no doubt love for the Klitschkos to be angry and make those same mistakes. Haye is the smaller man. He needs the Klitschkos to take chances. He needs them to want to fight not simply box. Haye can’t afford for them to be too disciplined. For all his talent, Haye struggled at times to get going against Valuev and that doesn’t bode well when a Klitschko is throwing punches at you. But, if that discipline slips; if the opponent reaches just a little; leans in and fights a little less tall; opens himself up too early, perhaps the explosive talent of Haye can produce the seismic upset.
The Valero Effect
Much is made of the loss David Haye suffered to Carl Thompson. While it is true that Haye was in fact knocked out in the fight, the loss nevertheless occurred nearly six years ago. Haye is a different fighter now; a decidedly better fighter. Similarly, much is made of perceived defensive lapses by Haye, specifically a tendency to have his hands down even while in the punching range of his opponents. Admittedly, the lack of discipline can get him in some trouble. Haye has been down in two of his last five fights. However, fighters are certainly aware of who they are fighting in the ring on a given night.
A rudimentary search on youtube will yield several rounds against different opponents in the career of Edwin Valero. In the video, Valero is often wild on his punches, his hands are often down, he is regularly squared up to his opponent, and he is routinely off balance. In short, based on those rounds, Valero’s vaunted record to that point looked like a strong case of padding; a case of a talented, but thoroughly undisciplined fighter feasting on inferior opposition. Then, Valero took on Antonio Demarco. Demarco, another rising star, presented a more formidable challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, Valero fought extraordinarily well demonstrating an as yet unseen level of fundamental discipline as he systematically took apart a solid young fighter in Demarco. Valero undoubtedly knew of Demarco’s acumen in the ring and he had an innate understanding of what he could not afford to do in the ring that night. Valero had it in him all along. He just brought it out when he needed it. Despite Haye’s bluster, it seems inconceivable that he would not recognize the abilities of the Klitschkos. Haye will be sharp; he can’t afford not to be. Unfortunately for either brother, they will almost certainly be getting the best version of David Haye they could possibly meet.
Beyond the Wins and Losses
In the end, it really doesn’t matter what happens in a fight between one of the Klitschkos and Haye. The result is secondary because the significance of this fight lay not in the result so much as in the perception of the fans. People are going to wonder just how Haye might fare. They will wonder if the movement will be problematic. There will be a curiosity about how the brothers will deal with the speed and power. And, curiosity will abound about just how much damage Haye can do with his awkward, darting style.
Much has been made of the lack of talent in the heavyweight division. Last year, most of the writers on this site for instance couldn’t even nominate a heavyweight fight of the year. Are the Klitschko’s overrated because they fight in such a weak division? Or, is it that the Klitschko’s are underrated in an all time sense as they have the misfortune of dominating what is only apparently a weak division? Those are hard questions to answer definitively, but, beyond the questions of talent and the dearth of quality fights, what is missing most of all in the heavyweight division in recent years, is wonder.
Haye’s scintillating performance may not prove to be the opening salvo in an ascent that will eventually take him passed the Kltischko’s and to the top of the division, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. The most exciting thing about Haye’s performance is that any boxing fan has to be just a little bit curious. Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Kevin Johnson, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, Sam Peter, and really every Klitschko opponent in the past several years, they all have had a similar feel. They have all been good, solid fighters who earned their chance and deserve our respect. But, none of them made us wonder. The reality is, one way or another they were simply not capable of beating the Klitschko’s and we all knew it. But, Haye is a little bit different. Maybe it’s the speed, or maybe it’s just the brash talking, but the energy he brings is different. There remains ample reason to think he may be in over his head when he steps in against either Wlad or Vitali. But, with the speed and the style and the ego, he does bring one more thing that none of the others could, excitement. One can’t help but wonder and it’s been awhile since we could say that.
Source: ringsidereport.com
When David Haye stopped John Ruiz on April 3rd in Manchester it was both expected and an upset. Most observers expected Haye to win the fight, but quite a few also figured that the experienced and cagey Ruiz would make it a most competitive fight. That Haye won was expected. That Haye dominated Ruiz and became the first man in over a decade to earn a stoppage against him? That can accurately be characterized as somewhat of an upset.
Naturally, with the spectacular nature of Haye’s win there will be the all too predictable suggestion that Ruiz was old and shot or perhaps simply overrated as a top fighter. Ruiz has never been blessed with fantastic gifts in the ring. He is not extraordinarily fast nor does he have tremendous power. Yet, Ruiz is an intelligent fighter, an excellent tactician, and he knows how to use those qualities in the ring. If there is a legacy to the career of John Ruiz it is that he was possessed of a special ability to be competitive in fights; a level of competitiveness that belied his natural gifts. For one of the rarest and most glaring times in a long and distinguished career, John Ruiz was overmatched in a fight and David Haye deserves all the credit in the world for that.
Yet, now the conversation will turn to David Haye and the brothers Klitschko. Haye has already made no bones about the fact that he can’t wait to get either (and eventually both) of them in the ring. And, for their part, the Klitschkos seem pretty keen on the idea as well. While it may be wrong to dismiss Haye’s win over Ruiz as merely what should have taken place, it would also be wrong to overlook the fact that either Klitschko is anything less than a giant step up for Haye. And speaking of giants…Images of Valuev
We certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous it can be to follow David Haye around in the ring. In fact, we got that glimpse about fifteen seconds into the fight when John Ruiz was caught flat footed by a lightning fast right hand from Haye and was promptly deposited on the canvas. It was a shocking display of just how talented Haye can be. From that point on, Haye demonstrated repeated flashes of brilliance as he methodically, yet inexorably dismantled Ruiz over nine one sided rounds. Ruiz gamely continued to take the fight to Haye and was not without some offensive success, but ultimately the speed mismatch was too much to overcome. However, one must wonder if the same active and utterly destructive Haye that decimated Ruiz would be the one that shows up for either Klitschko. The genesis of this question lay not in the conjecture of a potential matchup, but in the certitude of history. Haye often looked befuddled in his fight with former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev.
In the first six rounds of the Haye-Valuev fight, Haye threw only 84 punches. The fact of the matter is, Haye was clearly unsure of how to proceed against the taller and longer Valuev. Both Klitschko brothers are far more in line with Valuev than Ruiz in terms of a matchup of styles. It is undoubtedly true that Haye won against Valuev and even staggered him badly in the twelfth and final round. On the other hand, it is also true that both Klitschkos are better fighters than Valuev and present a much greater challenge both offensively and defensively as potential opponents for Haye.
So, David Haye will probably be considered a rightful underdog when he eventually squares off with Wlad or Vitali. The ring records and fighting styles will dictate that. However, this is still a hugely exciting and intriguing potential matchup. There is something in this potential bout that differs greatly from the previous fights involving either Kltischko. David Haye is not just good, he is live; he has something. He has speed, he has power, and he has a big mouth…
The Talking Game
The Klitschko’s are avid chess players; and it shows. They are both cerebral tacticians in and out of the ring. In the ring, both are remarkably disciplined as they patiently set up their opponent before often brutally taking them out sometime in the mid to later stages of a fight. Quite often, the end comes quite awhile after the competitive aspects of the fight have long since been decided. In other words, they don’t feel any urgency to finish a guy as soon as they sense their advantage. Why rush in and run into a checkmate? Or, in boxing parlance, run into a huge shot that can turn a fight. Recently, nobody has been able to avoid their inevitable doom in a match with the Klitschko’s as both of them seem to come out set up their shots and eventually destroy their often beleaguered opponent; the disciplined attack wreaking havoc on overmatched fighters.
But, David Haye is going about things in a different way. Haye has already angered both Klitschkos. The talking seems to be a ploy designed to enrage them and throw them off their deliberate yet devastating game. In a recent interview, Freddie Roach said that the feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t simply hype and that Pacquiao really does hate Mayweather. However, Roach quickly cautioned that he needed to steer Manny away from that because fighting angry would severely undermine his chances for success in that fight. Pacquiao being angry would be exactly what Mayweather would want as it would greatly increase the chances that Pacquiao would make mistakes in the ring.
David Haye would no doubt love for the Klitschkos to be angry and make those same mistakes. Haye is the smaller man. He needs the Klitschkos to take chances. He needs them to want to fight not simply box. Haye can’t afford for them to be too disciplined. For all his talent, Haye struggled at times to get going against Valuev and that doesn’t bode well when a Klitschko is throwing punches at you. But, if that discipline slips; if the opponent reaches just a little; leans in and fights a little less tall; opens himself up too early, perhaps the explosive talent of Haye can produce the seismic upset.
The Valero Effect
Much is made of the loss David Haye suffered to Carl Thompson. While it is true that Haye was in fact knocked out in the fight, the loss nevertheless occurred nearly six years ago. Haye is a different fighter now; a decidedly better fighter. Similarly, much is made of perceived defensive lapses by Haye, specifically a tendency to have his hands down even while in the punching range of his opponents. Admittedly, the lack of discipline can get him in some trouble. Haye has been down in two of his last five fights. However, fighters are certainly aware of who they are fighting in the ring on a given night.
A rudimentary search on youtube will yield several rounds against different opponents in the career of Edwin Valero. In the video, Valero is often wild on his punches, his hands are often down, he is regularly squared up to his opponent, and he is routinely off balance. In short, based on those rounds, Valero’s vaunted record to that point looked like a strong case of padding; a case of a talented, but thoroughly undisciplined fighter feasting on inferior opposition. Then, Valero took on Antonio Demarco. Demarco, another rising star, presented a more formidable challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, Valero fought extraordinarily well demonstrating an as yet unseen level of fundamental discipline as he systematically took apart a solid young fighter in Demarco. Valero undoubtedly knew of Demarco’s acumen in the ring and he had an innate understanding of what he could not afford to do in the ring that night. Valero had it in him all along. He just brought it out when he needed it. Despite Haye’s bluster, it seems inconceivable that he would not recognize the abilities of the Klitschkos. Haye will be sharp; he can’t afford not to be. Unfortunately for either brother, they will almost certainly be getting the best version of David Haye they could possibly meet.
Beyond the Wins and Losses
In the end, it really doesn’t matter what happens in a fight between one of the Klitschkos and Haye. The result is secondary because the significance of this fight lay not in the result so much as in the perception of the fans. People are going to wonder just how Haye might fare. They will wonder if the movement will be problematic. There will be a curiosity about how the brothers will deal with the speed and power. And, curiosity will abound about just how much damage Haye can do with his awkward, darting style.
Much has been made of the lack of talent in the heavyweight division. Last year, most of the writers on this site for instance couldn’t even nominate a heavyweight fight of the year. Are the Klitschko’s overrated because they fight in such a weak division? Or, is it that the Klitschko’s are underrated in an all time sense as they have the misfortune of dominating what is only apparently a weak division? Those are hard questions to answer definitively, but, beyond the questions of talent and the dearth of quality fights, what is missing most of all in the heavyweight division in recent years, is wonder.
Haye’s scintillating performance may not prove to be the opening salvo in an ascent that will eventually take him passed the Kltischko’s and to the top of the division, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. The most exciting thing about Haye’s performance is that any boxing fan has to be just a little bit curious. Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Kevin Johnson, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, Sam Peter, and really every Klitschko opponent in the past several years, they all have had a similar feel. They have all been good, solid fighters who earned their chance and deserve our respect. But, none of them made us wonder. The reality is, one way or another they were simply not capable of beating the Klitschko’s and we all knew it. But, Haye is a little bit different. Maybe it’s the speed, or maybe it’s just the brash talking, but the energy he brings is different. There remains ample reason to think he may be in over his head when he steps in against either Wlad or Vitali. But, with the speed and the style and the ego, he does bring one more thing that none of the others could, excitement. One can’t help but wonder and it’s been awhile since we could say that.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Jumat, 09 April 2010
The jury’s still out on Haye -- The Sun
By FRANK WARREN, The Sun
DAVID HAYE stopped John Ruiz last week to remain WBA heavyweight champ.
But until I see him in with a 'live heavyweight', the jury is still out.
Haye did as expected - you can only defeat what's put in front of you.
But let's not get carried away - Ruiz had effectively lost four of his previous seven fights and, at 38, had seen better days.
Haye has been in the right place at the right time in fighting Nikolay Valuev and Ruiz, because the pair are probably the worst two heavyweight world champions of all time.
After the fight, Haye, 29, said he was glad he had won because he didn't want to be like Frank Bruno and lose his title in his first defence.
That is unfair on Bruno. Other than the Klitschkos, the heavyweights of his generation were far superior to today's.
Haye says the Klitschko brothers are next on the agenda but Vitali and Wladimir are very different prospects to Ruiz.
On Saturday, Haye took more shots than he needed to. If either of the Klitschkos connect, they are going to have Haye in big trouble.
Bernard can't Hop to heavy
BERNARD HOPKINS finally avenged his loss to Roy Jones at the weekend, defeating his nemesis on points.
Hopkins immediately called out David Haye - but there's no way he's going to heavyweight.
The most likely scenario is a showdown with light-heavyweight No 1 Chad Dawson - or retirement.
I expected Hopkins to stop Jones but he opted for a safety-first approach to get the win.
Despite being 45, Hopkins has managed to fight on because he knows how to look after himself.
Jones, on the other hand, has now lost six of his last 11 fights and has ruined what was once an impressive legacy. He should call it a day. To me he just about won a round.
Hopkins hit the canvas a couple of times after being caught with rabbit punches, which led to one observer saying: "Hopkins has a glass back of the head."
That's kids' stuff
SCHOOLS from the North-West took part in a competition last week.
Hundreds of spectators watched the kids' boxing skills in 22 contests. Points were awarded in a new form of boxing for skills, self-discipline and scoring on the target area.
Pupils with disabilities acted as officials - good to see boxing having a positive impact on kids and communities.
Ali film is all gold
FACING ALI is the latest US documentary on Muhammad Ali.
There are interviews with Joe Frazier, George Chuvalo, Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Ken Norton. It also touches on Ali's connection with Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan including tapes of Farrakhan's death threats against Washington Post writer Milton Coleman.
Can't wait to see it.
Calzaghe comeback?
THE only man to have beaten both Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins was at a Press conference held by Golden Boy last week.
Could Joe Calzaghe really come out of retirement for a rematch with Hopkins?
He shouldn't come back but it's not impossible.
Source: thesun.co.uk
DAVID HAYE stopped John Ruiz last week to remain WBA heavyweight champ.
But until I see him in with a 'live heavyweight', the jury is still out.
Haye did as expected - you can only defeat what's put in front of you.
But let's not get carried away - Ruiz had effectively lost four of his previous seven fights and, at 38, had seen better days.
Haye has been in the right place at the right time in fighting Nikolay Valuev and Ruiz, because the pair are probably the worst two heavyweight world champions of all time. After the fight, Haye, 29, said he was glad he had won because he didn't want to be like Frank Bruno and lose his title in his first defence.
That is unfair on Bruno. Other than the Klitschkos, the heavyweights of his generation were far superior to today's.
Haye says the Klitschko brothers are next on the agenda but Vitali and Wladimir are very different prospects to Ruiz.
On Saturday, Haye took more shots than he needed to. If either of the Klitschkos connect, they are going to have Haye in big trouble.
Bernard can't Hop to heavy
BERNARD HOPKINS finally avenged his loss to Roy Jones at the weekend, defeating his nemesis on points.
Hopkins immediately called out David Haye - but there's no way he's going to heavyweight.
The most likely scenario is a showdown with light-heavyweight No 1 Chad Dawson - or retirement.
I expected Hopkins to stop Jones but he opted for a safety-first approach to get the win.
Despite being 45, Hopkins has managed to fight on because he knows how to look after himself.
Jones, on the other hand, has now lost six of his last 11 fights and has ruined what was once an impressive legacy. He should call it a day. To me he just about won a round.
Hopkins hit the canvas a couple of times after being caught with rabbit punches, which led to one observer saying: "Hopkins has a glass back of the head."
That's kids' stuff
SCHOOLS from the North-West took part in a competition last week.
Hundreds of spectators watched the kids' boxing skills in 22 contests. Points were awarded in a new form of boxing for skills, self-discipline and scoring on the target area.
Pupils with disabilities acted as officials - good to see boxing having a positive impact on kids and communities.
Ali film is all gold
FACING ALI is the latest US documentary on Muhammad Ali.
There are interviews with Joe Frazier, George Chuvalo, Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Ken Norton. It also touches on Ali's connection with Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan including tapes of Farrakhan's death threats against Washington Post writer Milton Coleman.
Can't wait to see it.
Calzaghe comeback?
THE only man to have beaten both Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins was at a Press conference held by Golden Boy last week.
Could Joe Calzaghe really come out of retirement for a rematch with Hopkins?
He shouldn't come back but it's not impossible.
Source: thesun.co.uk
Kamis, 08 April 2010
Haye plans four more fights -- Sky Sports
Sky Sports
The British heavyweight was in the Sky Sports News studios to look back on his stunning defence of his WBA world title against John Ruiz.
However, in between eating chips and chocolate for the first time in three months, the 29-year-old is already looking ahead to possible bouts against either Vitaly or Wladimir Klitschko.
Ideal world
"We're just relaxing at the moment but in the next couple of weeks Adam (Booth, Haye's trainer and manager) and I will sit down and really start breaking down what is the best manoeuvre out there," he told Sky Sports News.
"The best one for me, in an ideal world, would be either of the Klitschko brothers. Whichever one is available.
"I know Wladimir has a very effective jab and a good work-rate. But he's very gun-shy - he doesn't like to commit himself. He's shown in many fights when things get hard he finds a way to lose the fight.
"The same thing applies with Vitaly. When things get tough he pulls out with injuries during a fight. I will find a way to make them boys quit.
"They are a league above John Ruiz, and that's not being disrespectful to him (Ruiz). They don't have styles where they take a lot of shots and they are very calculated.
"I believe they are a step above (what I've faced), but I will raise my game to whoever I'm fighting."
He added: "I want to fight (the Klitschkos) and I know they both want to fight. Nobody is running from anybody, it's just all about getting it down on paper and making it happen."
With his intention to hang up his gloves in two years, a decision he made back when he was just 10, Haye intends to keep himself busy.
While he is hopeful of facing both Klitschkos before quitting, the Londoner insists he does not have to fight the Ukrainian siblings to secure his "legacy".
"I'm going to squeeze four fights in, at least two of them against the Klitschko brothers," Haye announced.
"I said when I was 10 years old that I would retire when I was 30-31. I've achieved my goals that I set out to do as a kid; it's now about that extra legacy.
"To unify the titles against Wladimir or Vitaly would be absolutely huge for my legacy. If it doesn't happen in two years, then it doesn't happen. However I will find someone to secure my legacy with.
"I could keep going on for another seven years. I eat healthy, so I could probably go on longer than that if I wanted to.
"But I've seen good friends and fighters where their speech has deteriorated over the years. I'd hate to fall in that category when I'm 38 or 39, where you lose you faculties.
"I'm healthy at the moment and I want to make sure I achieve all my goals and then get out of it (the sport of boxing) the same way I got into it."
Valuev rematch
If a bout with either Wladimir or Vitaly does not come off in the near future, another possible option for Haye could be a rematch with Nikolay Valuev - the man he beat to be crowned world champion.
"It's a possibility," the former cruiserweight admitted. "If the Vitaly and Wladimir fights don't materialise then there is an option where that could potentially happen."
Asked if he'd like to face Valuev again, he replied: "In an ideal world no, because I've already beaten him.
"But if it has to happen, then it has to happen. I believe if I fought him again I'd knock him out this time around. I know I can hurt him and I'd make sure I got to him earlier (than in their first fight)."
Source: skysports.com
David Haye has reaffirmed his intention to retire from boxing at the age of 31 - even if he hasn't faced either of the Klitschko brothers 
by then.
by then. The British heavyweight was in the Sky Sports News studios to look back on his stunning defence of his WBA world title against John Ruiz.
Having become just the second man to stop the experienced American at the MEN Arena on Saturday, Haye is now enjoying a well-earned break.
However, in between eating chips and chocolate for the first time in three months, the 29-year-old is already looking ahead to possible bouts against either Vitaly or Wladimir Klitschko.
Ideal world
"We're just relaxing at the moment but in the next couple of weeks Adam (Booth, Haye's trainer and manager) and I will sit down and really start breaking down what is the best manoeuvre out there," he told Sky Sports News.
"The best one for me, in an ideal world, would be either of the Klitschko brothers. Whichever one is available.
"I know Wladimir has a very effective jab and a good work-rate. But he's very gun-shy - he doesn't like to commit himself. He's shown in many fights when things get hard he finds a way to lose the fight.
"The same thing applies with Vitaly. When things get tough he pulls out with injuries during a fight. I will find a way to make them boys quit.
"They are a league above John Ruiz, and that's not being disrespectful to him (Ruiz). They don't have styles where they take a lot of shots and they are very calculated.
"I believe they are a step above (what I've faced), but I will raise my game to whoever I'm fighting."
He added: "I want to fight (the Klitschkos) and I know they both want to fight. Nobody is running from anybody, it's just all about getting it down on paper and making it happen."
With his intention to hang up his gloves in two years, a decision he made back when he was just 10, Haye intends to keep himself busy.
While he is hopeful of facing both Klitschkos before quitting, the Londoner insists he does not have to fight the Ukrainian siblings to secure his "legacy".
"I'm going to squeeze four fights in, at least two of them against the Klitschko brothers," Haye announced.
"I said when I was 10 years old that I would retire when I was 30-31. I've achieved my goals that I set out to do as a kid; it's now about that extra legacy.
"To unify the titles against Wladimir or Vitaly would be absolutely huge for my legacy. If it doesn't happen in two years, then it doesn't happen. However I will find someone to secure my legacy with.
"I could keep going on for another seven years. I eat healthy, so I could probably go on longer than that if I wanted to.
"But I've seen good friends and fighters where their speech has deteriorated over the years. I'd hate to fall in that category when I'm 38 or 39, where you lose you faculties.
"I'm healthy at the moment and I want to make sure I achieve all my goals and then get out of it (the sport of boxing) the same way I got into it."
Valuev rematch
If a bout with either Wladimir or Vitaly does not come off in the near future, another possible option for Haye could be a rematch with Nikolay Valuev - the man he beat to be crowned world champion.
"It's a possibility," the former cruiserweight admitted. "If the Vitaly and Wladimir fights don't materialise then there is an option where that could potentially happen."
Asked if he'd like to face Valuev again, he replied: "In an ideal world no, because I've already beaten him.
"But if it has to happen, then it has to happen. I believe if I fought him again I'd knock him out this time around. I know I can hurt him and I'd make sure I got to him earlier (than in their first fight)."
Source: skysports.com
Selasa, 06 April 2010
David Haye Makes Things Clearer -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
If there were any questions about whether David Haye was a legitimate player in the heavyweight division or about whether he’d made a stupid mistake counting on a sensational win over the dangerous John Ruiz to increase demand for a fight between himself and either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko, those questions were answered about thirty seconds into round one of Haye's title defense against Ruiz on Saturday.
And although David Haye didn’t get his first round knockout, he did what he’d set out to do: established himself as the hottest property in the heavyweight division. As he put it after the fight, “I’m the most exciting heavyweight in the world. Even against John Ruiz, my fights are exciting.”
Does anyone doubt that a unification bout with either Klitschko would bring the fighters buckets of money? Staged in England or Germany, in any size arena, the fights would be immediate sellouts. It’d do huge business in Vegas or at the new Cowboys Stadium too.
At the MEN Arena in Manchester England, Haye defended his WBA heavyweight title over nine mostly one-sided rounds, punching Ruiz nearly at will, and using his legs to effortlessly avoid Ruiz’s totally predictable aggression. The difference in the fighters’ hand speeds was immediately apparent, and Haye had no difficulty in occasionally quitting his backward movement, planting himself, and delivering lighting quick, jarringly hard shots to Ruiz’s head.
Ruiz abandoned the mauling, clinching, wrestling, and grabbing style that has made life so tough for so many heavyweights, replacing it with a double jab that was too slow to get to the retreating Haye. By the seventh round, John was taking a sustained beating. Miguel Diaz, his trainer, thought about stopping the fight at the end of the round and again at the end of the eighth.
He could have done that. Ruiz is starting to look like an old fighter. He’s still tough, still well conditioned, and still gives you everything he’s got, but against Haye he simply marched forward into gunfire all night. He’s been a good representative of the sport for a long time; it would be unfortunate to see him carry on much longer if this fight is the best he can do.
But let’s give Haye lots of credit where credit is due. In Ruiz, he knocked out a guy who, aside from one highlight reel exception against David Tua, has gone the distance in each of his losses, all of them to good fighters. He established for anyone who doubted him (myself among them) that he has genuine heavyweight power. Throughout the fight, he showed great intuitive sense of where he was in the ring. His legs not only held up, he exhibited terrific balance and movement, proving that the Valuev fight wasn’t simply a matter of his moving from necessity; he doesn’t only move when he has to, he moves to give himself punching range.
Haye is not without liabilities: He seldom throws body punches. He doesn’t put combinations together in order to set up opportunities for himself, instead trusting exclusively in his own one punch power, and potshotting when he sees an opening. He also carries his left dangerously low.
On the other hand, two of the things he’s most criticized for didn’t turn up against Ruiz. His stamina was fine. Although the British broadcast team made mention of Haye breathing heavily in his corner after the fourth round, whatever fatigue there may have been didn’t show itself in the ring. Against a guy notorious for wearing out opponents, Haye was as fresh in the ninth round as in the first. And on the few occasions Ruiz caught him, in the second and fourth rounds, Haye took the punches without wavering. If Ruiz isn’t anywhere near the puncher that either Klitschko is, he’s solid enough to be able to rock good heavyweights. It may be too soon to give Haye a complete green light in the chin department, but he doesn’t crumble at the first sign of disaster. Earlier, he’d mentioned that he wasn’t the same guy who’d been stopped by Carl Thompson and dropped by a number of others. Maybe he was telling the truth.
Later on Saturday night, Bernard Hopkins beat Roy Jones in an ugly street fight between two old men, one of them who's very crafty. At one point, before their Saturday fights, I thought it would a smart move for Hopkins to challenge Haye. Bernard would have no chance to beat him, he doesn’t need the money; and he’d get knocked out trying.
David Haye has energized a division that seems to be going through a minor revitalization. He can bring in mainstream fans. He can talk. He has a marketable look. And he now seems eager to get into the ring for unification bouts. I wouldn’t favor him to beat either Klitschko at this point, but I know longer see him as a pure hustler who talked his way into a big money fight.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted At GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
If there were any questions about whether David Haye was a legitimate player in the heavyweight division or about whether he’d made a stupid mistake counting on a sensational win over the dangerous John Ruiz to increase demand for a fight between himself and either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko, those questions were answered about thirty seconds into round one of Haye's title defense against Ruiz on Saturday.
That’s how long it took before Ruiz was on the deck, compliments of a beautiful one-two that caught him squarely. Before the round had ended, he was draped over the ropes and dropped again, this time by a rabbit punch. Referee Guillermo Perez appeared to both credit the knockdown while deducting a point for the foul (Haye later admitted to throwing rabbit punches, apologizing for having done it and chalking it up to “adrenaline.”)
And although David Haye didn’t get his first round knockout, he did what he’d set out to do: established himself as the hottest property in the heavyweight division. As he put it after the fight, “I’m the most exciting heavyweight in the world. Even against John Ruiz, my fights are exciting.”Does anyone doubt that a unification bout with either Klitschko would bring the fighters buckets of money? Staged in England or Germany, in any size arena, the fights would be immediate sellouts. It’d do huge business in Vegas or at the new Cowboys Stadium too.
At the MEN Arena in Manchester England, Haye defended his WBA heavyweight title over nine mostly one-sided rounds, punching Ruiz nearly at will, and using his legs to effortlessly avoid Ruiz’s totally predictable aggression. The difference in the fighters’ hand speeds was immediately apparent, and Haye had no difficulty in occasionally quitting his backward movement, planting himself, and delivering lighting quick, jarringly hard shots to Ruiz’s head.
Ruiz abandoned the mauling, clinching, wrestling, and grabbing style that has made life so tough for so many heavyweights, replacing it with a double jab that was too slow to get to the retreating Haye. By the seventh round, John was taking a sustained beating. Miguel Diaz, his trainer, thought about stopping the fight at the end of the round and again at the end of the eighth.
He could have done that. Ruiz is starting to look like an old fighter. He’s still tough, still well conditioned, and still gives you everything he’s got, but against Haye he simply marched forward into gunfire all night. He’s been a good representative of the sport for a long time; it would be unfortunate to see him carry on much longer if this fight is the best he can do.
But let’s give Haye lots of credit where credit is due. In Ruiz, he knocked out a guy who, aside from one highlight reel exception against David Tua, has gone the distance in each of his losses, all of them to good fighters. He established for anyone who doubted him (myself among them) that he has genuine heavyweight power. Throughout the fight, he showed great intuitive sense of where he was in the ring. His legs not only held up, he exhibited terrific balance and movement, proving that the Valuev fight wasn’t simply a matter of his moving from necessity; he doesn’t only move when he has to, he moves to give himself punching range.
Haye is not without liabilities: He seldom throws body punches. He doesn’t put combinations together in order to set up opportunities for himself, instead trusting exclusively in his own one punch power, and potshotting when he sees an opening. He also carries his left dangerously low.
On the other hand, two of the things he’s most criticized for didn’t turn up against Ruiz. His stamina was fine. Although the British broadcast team made mention of Haye breathing heavily in his corner after the fourth round, whatever fatigue there may have been didn’t show itself in the ring. Against a guy notorious for wearing out opponents, Haye was as fresh in the ninth round as in the first. And on the few occasions Ruiz caught him, in the second and fourth rounds, Haye took the punches without wavering. If Ruiz isn’t anywhere near the puncher that either Klitschko is, he’s solid enough to be able to rock good heavyweights. It may be too soon to give Haye a complete green light in the chin department, but he doesn’t crumble at the first sign of disaster. Earlier, he’d mentioned that he wasn’t the same guy who’d been stopped by Carl Thompson and dropped by a number of others. Maybe he was telling the truth.
Later on Saturday night, Bernard Hopkins beat Roy Jones in an ugly street fight between two old men, one of them who's very crafty. At one point, before their Saturday fights, I thought it would a smart move for Hopkins to challenge Haye. Bernard would have no chance to beat him, he doesn’t need the money; and he’d get knocked out trying.
David Haye has energized a division that seems to be going through a minor revitalization. He can bring in mainstream fans. He can talk. He has a marketable look. And he now seems eager to get into the ring for unification bouts. I wouldn’t favor him to beat either Klitschko at this point, but I know longer see him as a pure hustler who talked his way into a big money fight.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted At GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Klitschkos only fight overweights and trainer comments are off kilter, says David Haye -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
“The problem for Wladimir [the WBO and IBF champion] is that he has no defining fight in this era. For him, it is his brother Vitali [the WBC champion], but they would never fight each other. There is no one out there big enough to challenge them. I don't think David Haye really wants to fight either of the brothers anyway,” Steward told Telegraph Sport.
Conventional wisdom suggests that Steward may be right about the two brothers yet Haye vehemently disagrees about the proposition, and chuckles at the assertion that he does not want to meet them in a ring.
After Haye took to Ruiz like a blank canvas and painted him with the full pallet of fistic colours, why wouldn’t he? They said Ruiz, stopped only once in 54 fights would be awkward, and yet Haye brutalised the American into submission. According to trainer Adam Booth, the pair have already plotted a game plan for the brothers Klitschko, and they know they are beatable.
Haye explained: "Corrie Sanders was the same size as me. He knocked Wladimir out. Chris Byrd beat Vitali. Ross Purity knocked Wladimir out. Lamon Brewster knocked out Wladimir. So the guys who beat them have been small heavyweights. They're both very beatable.”
There is not a chink of light creating shadows on Haye’s ironclad self-belief as he seeks his ultimate goal of unifying the belts and following in the tradition of Lennox Lewis. Haye will need that unshakeable self-assurance to unify the belts. Haye eschews Steward’s view: "All their careers the Klitschkos have fought guys who are clearly overweight, out of shape, happy to keep getting a payday.”
“This Albert Sosnowski guy [whom Vitali Klitschko fights on May 29 in Germany], Audley was favourite to beat him, then he gets a title shot [against Vitali]. You can understand him. He's in it for the business, but Vitali was talking about Valuev, then that never materialised.”
“Now he's fighting this Sosnowski guy. His career is littered with guys like that, who he's clearly going to beat very easily. So I don't really pay him that much attention. Valuev wouldn't be as easy as Vitali thinks.”
The negotiations for Haye’s unification contests will be long and protracted, and will involve the help of Golden Boy Promotions after a breakdown in communication between Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer and manager, and Bernd Bonte, business manager to the Klitschko brothers. It is conceivable that one of the contests would be in Germany, the other in London, with Haye expressing a wish to fight at Wembley.
“Wembley would be a really big event, and would make sense financially, but we’ll see how it progresses,” added Haye.
One thing is certain, if Haye emulates former undisputed champion Lewis, he will not be hanging about. Haye explained: "I don't think I could squeeze in half a dozen [defences], to be honest. My whole plan is just to become the No 1, undisputed heavyweight in the world. Having defences against the [Albert] Sosnowskis or [Eddie] Chambers or anyone like that – who are the only other guys really out there at the moment – is not going to add to my legacy.”
Have also ruled out a meeting with light-heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, 45, the American ring legend, who had avenged a 17-year-old defeat by Roy Jones Jr, only hours after Haye had beaten Ruiz, in Las Vegas. Hopkins had then immediately called out Haye.
Hopkins had insisted for several months that Haye was on his radar. Curiously, Jones Jr defeated John Ruiz, Haye’s beaten opponent, in a heavyweight title fight in 2003. Former middleweight champion Hopkins defeated Jones by unanimous decision in an ill-tempered bout.
The non-title fight became a brawl after the bell in the sixth round after Hopkins took a blow to the back of the head. In the aftermath of the fight, Hopkins said: "People will think the punch in the back of my head made me a little crazy, but I want Haye."
Hale said on Monday: “Hopkins is 45 and is one of my heroes. I think he wants a payday but I won’t be fighting him. It’s not the challenge I want.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
“The problem for Wladimir [the WBO and IBF champion] is that he has no defining fight in this era. For him, it is his brother Vitali [the WBC champion], but they would never fight each other. There is no one out there big enough to challenge them. I don't think David Haye really wants to fight either of the brothers anyway,” Steward told Telegraph Sport.
Conventional wisdom suggests that Steward may be right about the two brothers yet Haye vehemently disagrees about the proposition, and chuckles at the assertion that he does not want to meet them in a ring.
After Haye took to Ruiz like a blank canvas and painted him with the full pallet of fistic colours, why wouldn’t he? They said Ruiz, stopped only once in 54 fights would be awkward, and yet Haye brutalised the American into submission. According to trainer Adam Booth, the pair have already plotted a game plan for the brothers Klitschko, and they know they are beatable.
Haye explained: "Corrie Sanders was the same size as me. He knocked Wladimir out. Chris Byrd beat Vitali. Ross Purity knocked Wladimir out. Lamon Brewster knocked out Wladimir. So the guys who beat them have been small heavyweights. They're both very beatable.” There is not a chink of light creating shadows on Haye’s ironclad self-belief as he seeks his ultimate goal of unifying the belts and following in the tradition of Lennox Lewis. Haye will need that unshakeable self-assurance to unify the belts. Haye eschews Steward’s view: "All their careers the Klitschkos have fought guys who are clearly overweight, out of shape, happy to keep getting a payday.”
“This Albert Sosnowski guy [whom Vitali Klitschko fights on May 29 in Germany], Audley was favourite to beat him, then he gets a title shot [against Vitali]. You can understand him. He's in it for the business, but Vitali was talking about Valuev, then that never materialised.”
“Now he's fighting this Sosnowski guy. His career is littered with guys like that, who he's clearly going to beat very easily. So I don't really pay him that much attention. Valuev wouldn't be as easy as Vitali thinks.”
The negotiations for Haye’s unification contests will be long and protracted, and will involve the help of Golden Boy Promotions after a breakdown in communication between Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer and manager, and Bernd Bonte, business manager to the Klitschko brothers. It is conceivable that one of the contests would be in Germany, the other in London, with Haye expressing a wish to fight at Wembley.
“Wembley would be a really big event, and would make sense financially, but we’ll see how it progresses,” added Haye.
One thing is certain, if Haye emulates former undisputed champion Lewis, he will not be hanging about. Haye explained: "I don't think I could squeeze in half a dozen [defences], to be honest. My whole plan is just to become the No 1, undisputed heavyweight in the world. Having defences against the [Albert] Sosnowskis or [Eddie] Chambers or anyone like that – who are the only other guys really out there at the moment – is not going to add to my legacy.”
Have also ruled out a meeting with light-heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, 45, the American ring legend, who had avenged a 17-year-old defeat by Roy Jones Jr, only hours after Haye had beaten Ruiz, in Las Vegas. Hopkins had then immediately called out Haye.
Hopkins had insisted for several months that Haye was on his radar. Curiously, Jones Jr defeated John Ruiz, Haye’s beaten opponent, in a heavyweight title fight in 2003. Former middleweight champion Hopkins defeated Jones by unanimous decision in an ill-tempered bout.
The non-title fight became a brawl after the bell in the sixth round after Hopkins took a blow to the back of the head. In the aftermath of the fight, Hopkins said: "People will think the punch in the back of my head made me a little crazy, but I want Haye."
Hale said on Monday: “Hopkins is 45 and is one of my heroes. I think he wants a payday but I won’t be fighting him. It’s not the challenge I want.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Senin, 05 April 2010
Jean Marc Mormeck Says Haye Not Yet Ready For Klitschkos; Wants Another Go At The WBA Heavyweight Champ Himself -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Amongst the interested observers of Saturday night's WBA heavyweight title fight battle between David Haye and challenger John Ruiz, was Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck; the man who was stopped inside seven-rounds by "The Hayemaker" down at cruiserweight in 2007. The 37-year-old "Marksman," now 1-0 in his own campaign up at heavyweight, is still intent on getting the opportunity to gain revenge over Haye, and he has also told French newspaper L'Equipe how he doesn't think Haye is yet ready for either Klitschko brother..
Mormeck, 34-4(22) defeated tough guy Vinny Maddalone in his heavyweight debut back in December, and next up for the former cruiserweight champ is a scheduled May 6th fight with fringe contender Fres Oquendo. Mormeck says that if he does as he thinks he will and defeats "Fast Fres," he and his team will then put an offer on the table for Haye to face him in a rematch of what the Frenchman calls their "dirty" fight.
Mormeck first gave his take on Haye's showing against Ruiz.
"I'm convinced if he'd [Haye] fought either of the Klitschko brothers instead of Ruiz he would have lost the fight inside the distance," Mormeck told L'Equipe. "He's not yet ready to fight either of them. One day he will be, but it's still too early for him."
No doubt a number of fans will agree with what Mormeck has had to say. However, ready or not, there is a good chance Haye will face either Wladimir or Vitali - possibly at Wembley, London - later this year. Mormeck, though, hopes it will be he who gets in the ring with the exciting power-puncher next.
"I'm up for it," Mormeck said of a second go at Haye. "First of all I have to convince people that I'm deserving of my place in the heavyweight division. I think I'll come through it. Haye is beatable and I think I can swing a fight against him in my favour.
"In Levallois (in France, the scene of the Haye-Mormeck fight in November 2007) when he beat me he hit me with a lot of dirty punches. And against Valuev, he didn't necessarily deserve to win. But it [the verdict] was swayed by business interests. He's English, elegant and a lot more attractive option in the heavyweight division than a Russian giant.
"If I come through the Oquendo fight, as I believe I can, we'll be putting an offer [to Haye] on the table."
What chances are there of a Haye-Mormeck II? Slim and none, as the saying goes. Mormeck - who in my opinion faces a tough night against solid heavyweight Oquendo - is clearly still angry at losing to Haye in Paris, but with all the other, bigger fights out there for the current WBA heavyweight champ, the Frenchman's chances of even being looked at by Team-Haye appear to be remote at best.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Amongst the interested observers of Saturday night's WBA heavyweight title fight battle between David Haye and challenger John Ruiz, was Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck; the man who was stopped inside seven-rounds by "The Hayemaker" down at cruiserweight in 2007. The 37-year-old "Marksman," now 1-0 in his own campaign up at heavyweight, is still intent on getting the opportunity to gain revenge over Haye, and he has also told French newspaper L'Equipe how he doesn't think Haye is yet ready for either Klitschko brother..
Mormeck, 34-4(22) defeated tough guy Vinny Maddalone in his heavyweight debut back in December, and next up for the former cruiserweight champ is a scheduled May 6th fight with fringe contender Fres Oquendo. Mormeck says that if he does as he thinks he will and defeats "Fast Fres," he and his team will then put an offer on the table for Haye to face him in a rematch of what the Frenchman calls their "dirty" fight.
Mormeck first gave his take on Haye's showing against Ruiz.
"I'm convinced if he'd [Haye] fought either of the Klitschko brothers instead of Ruiz he would have lost the fight inside the distance," Mormeck told L'Equipe. "He's not yet ready to fight either of them. One day he will be, but it's still too early for him."No doubt a number of fans will agree with what Mormeck has had to say. However, ready or not, there is a good chance Haye will face either Wladimir or Vitali - possibly at Wembley, London - later this year. Mormeck, though, hopes it will be he who gets in the ring with the exciting power-puncher next."I'm up for it," Mormeck said of a second go at Haye. "First of all I have to convince people that I'm deserving of my place in the heavyweight division. I think I'll come through it. Haye is beatable and I think I can swing a fight against him in my favour.
"In Levallois (in France, the scene of the Haye-Mormeck fight in November 2007) when he beat me he hit me with a lot of dirty punches. And against Valuev, he didn't necessarily deserve to win. But it [the verdict] was swayed by business interests. He's English, elegant and a lot more attractive option in the heavyweight division than a Russian giant.
"If I come through the Oquendo fight, as I believe I can, we'll be putting an offer [to Haye] on the table."
What chances are there of a Haye-Mormeck II? Slim and none, as the saying goes. Mormeck - who in my opinion faces a tough night against solid heavyweight Oquendo - is clearly still angry at losing to Haye in Paris, but with all the other, bigger fights out there for the current WBA heavyweight champ, the Frenchman's chances of even being looked at by Team-Haye appear to be remote at best.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Minggu, 04 April 2010
Blistering Haye Ruins Ruiz -- SecondsOut
By Andrew Wake, SecondsOut.com
“Bring on the Klitschkos
” was the message sent out by WBA heavyweight champion David Haye after he pulverised two-time belt holder John Ruiz at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester on Saturday night (April 3).
The first round started with Ruiz stalking but he walked on to Haye’s rapid fire one-two and crashed to the mat. The Chelsea, Massachusetts-native was up at the count of eight but his legs were like jelly.
At this stage it seemed like it was going to be an early night for David and the vociferous crowd at the sold out arena chanted “easy, easy!”.
Bravely Ruiz, dubbed “The Quiet Man”, trudged out for the second round but continued to miss with his lunging jab while Haye, working calmly off the back foot, picked his shots carefully before stepping in with a booming right that rocked Ruiz’s head back.
Ruiz, who said that he would consider his future in the sport if he lost tonight, had his best spell in the fourth round when he continually clipped Haye with his jab but never used any footwork to force the champion in the corner and make it the kind of up close brawl he is famous for.
And Haye made Ruiz suffer again in the fifth and sixth sessions, dropping him with two more solid rights. Once more Ruiz complained that he’d been fooled but the reality was he was being outclassed and just looking for sympathy from the referee.
At this stage the challenger’s corner were telling him that they were considering pulling him out but Ruiz tried his hardest to keep going in the seventh and eighth rounds despite not being able to live with Haye’s blurring hand speed.
But when the fusillade continued in the ninth, and with Ruiz’s face a mask of blood, Miguel Diaz indicated he had seen enough by waving the white towel of surrender.
With a record 24 wins against only one defeat, a boisterous personality and good looks, Haye is set to become the poster boy of an otherwise drab heavyweight division. But in order for him to establish himself as the best fighter he has to beat the best and that means beating one of, if not both, Klitschko brothers.
“Everyone said that John Ruiz wasn’t an exciting fighter but I believe I’m the most exciting heavyweight in the world and even against John Ruiz I made it exciting,” said Haye afterwards.
“All you gotta do is look at their (The Klitschkos) last couple of performances, they we’re pretty boring. Eddie Chambers came in looking grossly out of shape and so did Chris Arreola and that’s a disgrace to boxing. You need to come in like an athlete like myself.
“I’ve got agility, punch variety, I think I’ve got it all and I can prove it against the best guys. If hit them two (Vitali and Wladimir) with the same shots I hit John Ruiz they’d both go over.
Source: secondsout.com
“Bring on the Klitschkos” was the message sent out by WBA heavyweight champion David Haye after he pulverised two-time belt holder John Ruiz at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester on Saturday night (April 3).The exciting Englishman was due to face IBF/WBO king Wladimir Klitschko in June of last year but the bout was scrapped after he suffered a back injury in training but with another impressive performance to add to his 12 round decision over Nikolay Valuev the big Ukrainian brothers will have to sit up and take notice.
Ruiz had only over been stopped once in a career spanning 55 fights and almost 18 years, that came when David Tua flatterned him in one round back in 1996, but a blistering Haye dropped the American four times before trainer Miguel Diaz threw in the towel at 2.01 of round nine.
The first round started with Ruiz stalking but he walked on to Haye’s rapid fire one-two and crashed to the mat. The Chelsea, Massachusetts-native was up at the count of eight but his legs were like jelly.Within seconds Ruiz was down again. A right hand had him reeling and two clubbing shots behind the back of the head forced him to take a knee. The knock down was still counted by referee Guillermo Perez Pineda but he also chalked a point off Haye’s slate for rabbit punching.
At this stage it seemed like it was going to be an early night for David and the vociferous crowd at the sold out arena chanted “easy, easy!”.
Bravely Ruiz, dubbed “The Quiet Man”, trudged out for the second round but continued to miss with his lunging jab while Haye, working calmly off the back foot, picked his shots carefully before stepping in with a booming right that rocked Ruiz’s head back.
Ruiz, who said that he would consider his future in the sport if he lost tonight, had his best spell in the fourth round when he continually clipped Haye with his jab but never used any footwork to force the champion in the corner and make it the kind of up close brawl he is famous for.
And Haye made Ruiz suffer again in the fifth and sixth sessions, dropping him with two more solid rights. Once more Ruiz complained that he’d been fooled but the reality was he was being outclassed and just looking for sympathy from the referee.
At this stage the challenger’s corner were telling him that they were considering pulling him out but Ruiz tried his hardest to keep going in the seventh and eighth rounds despite not being able to live with Haye’s blurring hand speed.
But when the fusillade continued in the ninth, and with Ruiz’s face a mask of blood, Miguel Diaz indicated he had seen enough by waving the white towel of surrender.
With a record 24 wins against only one defeat, a boisterous personality and good looks, Haye is set to become the poster boy of an otherwise drab heavyweight division. But in order for him to establish himself as the best fighter he has to beat the best and that means beating one of, if not both, Klitschko brothers.
“Everyone said that John Ruiz wasn’t an exciting fighter but I believe I’m the most exciting heavyweight in the world and even against John Ruiz I made it exciting,” said Haye afterwards.
“All you gotta do is look at their (The Klitschkos) last couple of performances, they we’re pretty boring. Eddie Chambers came in looking grossly out of shape and so did Chris Arreola and that’s a disgrace to boxing. You need to come in like an athlete like myself.
“I’ve got agility, punch variety, I think I’ve got it all and I can prove it against the best guys. If hit them two (Vitali and Wladimir) with the same shots I hit John Ruiz they’d both go over.
Source: secondsout.com
David Haye gives hope to heavys -- Boston Herald
By Ron Borges, Boston Herald
MANCHESTER, England - David Haye gave boxing’s heavyweight division a blessing on Easter weekend. He gave it the blessing of hope.
The 29-year-old WBA champion may not prove to be the solution to the sorry state of that bankrupt division, but his dominating destruction of two-time champion John Ruiz on Saturday night at soldout MEN Arena at least provided the division something to look forward to.
Despite the rising tide for prize fighting around the world after a long period of decline and then dormancy, the heavyweight division has lagged in the doldrums since the retirement of Lennox Lewis
, the sporting equivalent of endlessly sagging real-estate prices. While the smaller weight classes are again flourishing, the heavyweights have been lightweights for so long one had to wonder if a savior would ever arrive.
The latter comes not only from the justifiable threat of what he can do to another man but also from his somewhat suspect chin. His ability to stay upright when assaulted by boxing’s biggest men remains a question, and with chin questions comes the edge of danger fans salivate over.
Saturday, he sent Ruiz crashing to the canvas twice in the first round with massive right hands, and it seemed unlikely the 38-year-old former champion would survive. Somehow he not only did, but to Haye’s utter amazement, pressured his way back into the fight.
Then - BOOM! - Ruiz was down in the fifth round from another right hand and then - BOOM! - he was down again in the sixth, delivered to the canvas in the same manner. Each time he got up slower than the previous time, his nose bent and bleeding, his face turning a blotchy purple even as he steadfastly continued to come forward trying to make a fight of it.
Haye’s confidence restored, Ruiz had no chance, a fact that began to be dawn on his corner after a bloody seventh round. Ruiz asked for one more chance and his resume said he deserved it. When he survived well enough, they gave him another round and this time Haye finished him off with a fusillade of blows that bent him over the ropes and ended his challenge at 2:01 of the ninth round.
With that concussive ending the heavyweight division was lifted up by a new personality. Former HBO Sports president Seth Abraham always used to say there were two sports of boxing. There was boxing and there was heavyweight boxing, an entity and a business unto itself.
That business has been in a recession bordering on depression since its last glorious days of Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Lewis. It has been more than a decade since they were in their heyday and the division has been ceded to a parade of Eastern European-born goliaths like the Klitschko brothers, Nikolai Valuev, Oleg Maskaev, Ruslan Chagaev and a group of American imposters.
The Klitschkos - Vitali and Wladimir - remain the best of what is a sorry lot, two brothers with technical skills and punching power, but little appeal in the U.S. market and an apparent aversion to facing anyone they think might be a danger to them.
Haye appears to be such a man. He is 24-1 with 22 knockouts, and was the former undisputed cruiserweight champ before moving up to heavyweight four fights ago.
Haye has repeatedly challenged the Klitschkos, but they argue he also backed out of agreements to fight them.
Haye admitted his next fight might have to be a Valuev rematch because he had to agree to that to get his title shot, but he quickly added, “Do I prefer that? No. I would like to fight who the people want me to fight.”
rborges@bostonherald.com
Source: news.bostonherald.com
MANCHESTER, England - David Haye gave boxing’s heavyweight division a blessing on Easter weekend. He gave it the blessing of hope.
The 29-year-old WBA champion may not prove to be the solution to the sorry state of that bankrupt division, but his dominating destruction of two-time champion John Ruiz on Saturday night at soldout MEN Arena at least provided the division something to look forward to.
Despite the rising tide for prize fighting around the world after a long period of decline and then dormancy, the heavyweight division has lagged in the doldrums since the retirement of Lennox Lewis, the sporting equivalent of endlessly sagging real-estate prices. While the smaller weight classes are again flourishing, the heavyweights have been lightweights for so long one had to wonder if a savior would ever arrive.Haye may be that guy. If he is, then it will be not only because he possesses tremendous knockout power in his right hand and a willingness to throw it, but that he also has charisma, charm, bombast, unusual athleticism for a big man, a desire to be tested by the heavy metal of the division and an air of calamity that wafts around him.
The latter comes not only from the justifiable threat of what he can do to another man but also from his somewhat suspect chin. His ability to stay upright when assaulted by boxing’s biggest men remains a question, and with chin questions comes the edge of danger fans salivate over.
Saturday, he sent Ruiz crashing to the canvas twice in the first round with massive right hands, and it seemed unlikely the 38-year-old former champion would survive. Somehow he not only did, but to Haye’s utter amazement, pressured his way back into the fight.
Then - BOOM! - Ruiz was down in the fifth round from another right hand and then - BOOM! - he was down again in the sixth, delivered to the canvas in the same manner. Each time he got up slower than the previous time, his nose bent and bleeding, his face turning a blotchy purple even as he steadfastly continued to come forward trying to make a fight of it.
Haye’s confidence restored, Ruiz had no chance, a fact that began to be dawn on his corner after a bloody seventh round. Ruiz asked for one more chance and his resume said he deserved it. When he survived well enough, they gave him another round and this time Haye finished him off with a fusillade of blows that bent him over the ropes and ended his challenge at 2:01 of the ninth round.
With that concussive ending the heavyweight division was lifted up by a new personality. Former HBO Sports president Seth Abraham always used to say there were two sports of boxing. There was boxing and there was heavyweight boxing, an entity and a business unto itself.
That business has been in a recession bordering on depression since its last glorious days of Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Lewis. It has been more than a decade since they were in their heyday and the division has been ceded to a parade of Eastern European-born goliaths like the Klitschko brothers, Nikolai Valuev, Oleg Maskaev, Ruslan Chagaev and a group of American imposters.
The Klitschkos - Vitali and Wladimir - remain the best of what is a sorry lot, two brothers with technical skills and punching power, but little appeal in the U.S. market and an apparent aversion to facing anyone they think might be a danger to them.
Haye appears to be such a man. He is 24-1 with 22 knockouts, and was the former undisputed cruiserweight champ before moving up to heavyweight four fights ago.
Haye has repeatedly challenged the Klitschkos, but they argue he also backed out of agreements to fight them.
Haye admitted his next fight might have to be a Valuev rematch because he had to agree to that to get his title shot, but he quickly added, “Do I prefer that? No. I would like to fight who the people want me to fight.”
rborges@bostonherald.com
Source: news.bostonherald.com
David Haye's dazzling power has the Klitschkos ducking for cover -- Daily Mail
By Jeff Powell, DailyMail.co.uk
David Haye put the old-time razzle-dazzle back into heavyweight boxing, electrified a sell-out crowd in Manchester and captivated millions watching on television.
That he could deliver on his promise of such pyrotechnical brilliance and heart-stopping drama after being deprived of his final month of sparring by an eye cut in training made this performance all the more astonishing.
The one problem is that his blitzkrieg of an heroic John Ruiz may startle the fighting daylights out of the two big brothers based in Germany, whose collection of belts Haye needs to complete his crusade for world domination.
Those talks threaten to become yet more protracted after a wild, bloodsplattered night in the MEN Arena ended in revelations that the Klitschkos are likely now to switch their attentions to Nikolai Valuev, the Russian goliath who Haye defeated to win his WBA championship.
A re-match clause in the contract with Valuev already presented one obstacle to Haye's ambition of unifying the heavyweight titles in time to retire before his 31st birthday, 18 months hence. Another potential brake to that schedule was applied as German promoter Chris Meyer identified Valuev as an opponent-in-waiting for Vitali Klitschko, who has signed already for one other fight this year.
Does Haye want to box Valuev again? 'No, not unless I have to.' Does he want to be kept waiting another 12 months for a tilt at one or other of the Ukrainians who were monopolising the heavyweight scene until he came along? 'No, not if I can help it.'
Do we want to see our charismatic Londoner chance his powerful arm against the regimented Klitschkos as soon as possible? A thousand times yes. Make that 90,000 times if either of those fights takes place at Wembley Stadium.
Is Haye ready for those challenges, as the pundits keep asking? Too right, he is. This is Haye's time in the bright lights. However, if the Klitschkos take a detour through Valuev it will be in keeping with their pattern of making megamoney against minor opponents.
Not that it would be that easy to blame them. Haye's power and, above all, speed of punching reduced Ruiz to a crimson pulp and would present a painful problem to any boxer on the planet. Factor in the intelligence he applies to changing his strategy to deal with differing opponents and he becomes a nightmare to face.
The hit-and-run athleticism which bemused the 7ft 2in Valuev was followed against the 6ft 2in Ruiz by the assertion of a piston-like jab, damaging combinations and a neck-snapping introduction of upper-cuts from both hands. He is more than capable of varying his tactics again - changing angles and working to the body, for example - against the 6ft 7in Klitschkos.
The brothers may want to punish Haye for his insults - and it would be impudent to suggest that two such fighting specimens are running scared - but nobody in their right mind would really look forward to sharing a ring with him in this form.
Haye, meanwhile, 'thoroughly enjoyed' making his contribution to a big sporting Saturday in Manchester. So did 20,000 fight fans, much more so than the majority of the 75,000 who joined Haye at Old Trafford around lunchtime.
Haye stands at the pinnacle of a crop of his exciting countrymen who are taking British boxing to another level.
The gang of Chelsea players who went on to the MEN in the evening saw Haye make a mockery of their claims, as the new favourites for the title they crave, that their 'high intensity' football won the important day.
Real intensity was the pressure appl ied on Rui z and only hi s extraordinary courage carried him as far as the ninth round.
The Hispanic-American charged from the first bell in an attempt to nip in the bud Haye's predictable opening onslaught. For his pains, he was sat straight on his backside by a straight left followed by a straight right.
Ruiz overcame his surprise to regain his feet by the count of eight. Soon after rising, he was on his way down again. This time a flurry of blows ended with a rabbit punch to the back of his neck and although the referee went ahead with that count, he then deducted two points from Haye for a 'deliberate foul'.
So we had the curiosity of an 8-7 score in Haye's favour that round.
The second and third were more orthodox. Haye dominated with that stiff jab setting up the big hits, busting Ruiz's nose in the process.
Blood was flying everywhere in the fourth as Ruiz mounted his version of the Charge of the Light Brigade, running into the guns to fire enough shots of his own to win his only round of the fight.
Even that modest success served mostly to answer a couple of our last, lingering questions about Haye. A Ruiz left hook re-opened the eye cut as a reminder of the training problems which brought him to the ring a few pounds too heavy and gulping for air at times. A Ruiz right hook wobbled Haye but he maintained his equilibrium. If that chin is made of crystal then the glass has become tempered with age.
Ruiz went down for the third and fourth time in rounds five and six as Haye pounded him with viciously accurate punches. Never before in his 45-fight career had this former two-time world champion taken a beating like this. How he kept coming forward in the seventh and eighth, through the fog in his brain and the red mist which filled the air every time he was hit, only this proud man and his maker can possibly know.
It was his courage which enabled Haye to put on his spectacle, just as a matador needs a brave bull.
Mercifully, a recent change of management put a wise trainer in the Ruiz corner. As Haye let fly again in the ninth, the experienced Miguel Diaz waved a white towel and referee Guillermo Perez called a halt.
Ruiz, as he turned towards probable retirement at 38, doffed his trademark cloth cap to Haye. The champion saluted the size of his opponent's heart.
The home fans hailed a genuine star. The X Factor? Forget un-reality television. In the very real world of prizefighting, Haye has the Wow Factor.
He would have to pay more attention to defence against the the long-jabbing Klitschkos but although he was occasionally caught too easily by Ruiz he is what he claims to be: 'The most exciting heavyweight in the world.'
He adds: 'If I can get one of them to Wembley I'll fill the place.' Fighting like this, he could fill it two or three times over.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
David Haye put the old-time razzle-dazzle back into heavyweight boxing, electrified a sell-out crowd in Manchester and captivated millions watching on television.
That he could deliver on his promise of such pyrotechnical brilliance and heart-stopping drama after being deprived of his final month of sparring by an eye cut in training made this performance all the more astonishing.
The one problem is that his blitzkrieg of an heroic John Ruiz may startle the fighting daylights out of the two big brothers based in Germany, whose collection of belts Haye needs to complete his crusade for world domination.Negotiations with Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have been fractious, to say the least, since the wielder of the Hayemaker came thundering up from cruiserweight to menace the giants of the prize-ring.
Those talks threaten to become yet more protracted after a wild, bloodsplattered night in the MEN Arena ended in revelations that the Klitschkos are likely now to switch their attentions to Nikolai Valuev, the Russian goliath who Haye defeated to win his WBA championship.A re-match clause in the contract with Valuev already presented one obstacle to Haye's ambition of unifying the heavyweight titles in time to retire before his 31st birthday, 18 months hence. Another potential brake to that schedule was applied as German promoter Chris Meyer identified Valuev as an opponent-in-waiting for Vitali Klitschko, who has signed already for one other fight this year.
Does Haye want to box Valuev again? 'No, not unless I have to.' Does he want to be kept waiting another 12 months for a tilt at one or other of the Ukrainians who were monopolising the heavyweight scene until he came along? 'No, not if I can help it.'
Do we want to see our charismatic Londoner chance his powerful arm against the regimented Klitschkos as soon as possible? A thousand times yes. Make that 90,000 times if either of those fights takes place at Wembley Stadium.
Is Haye ready for those challenges, as the pundits keep asking? Too right, he is. This is Haye's time in the bright lights. However, if the Klitschkos take a detour through Valuev it will be in keeping with their pattern of making megamoney against minor opponents.
Not that it would be that easy to blame them. Haye's power and, above all, speed of punching reduced Ruiz to a crimson pulp and would present a painful problem to any boxer on the planet. Factor in the intelligence he applies to changing his strategy to deal with differing opponents and he becomes a nightmare to face.
The hit-and-run athleticism which bemused the 7ft 2in Valuev was followed against the 6ft 2in Ruiz by the assertion of a piston-like jab, damaging combinations and a neck-snapping introduction of upper-cuts from both hands. He is more than capable of varying his tactics again - changing angles and working to the body, for example - against the 6ft 7in Klitschkos.
The brothers may want to punish Haye for his insults - and it would be impudent to suggest that two such fighting specimens are running scared - but nobody in their right mind would really look forward to sharing a ring with him in this form.
Haye, meanwhile, 'thoroughly enjoyed' making his contribution to a big sporting Saturday in Manchester. So did 20,000 fight fans, much more so than the majority of the 75,000 who joined Haye at Old Trafford around lunchtime.
Haye stands at the pinnacle of a crop of his exciting countrymen who are taking British boxing to another level.
The gang of Chelsea players who went on to the MEN in the evening saw Haye make a mockery of their claims, as the new favourites for the title they crave, that their 'high intensity' football won the important day.
Real intensity was the pressure appl ied on Rui z and only hi s extraordinary courage carried him as far as the ninth round.
The Hispanic-American charged from the first bell in an attempt to nip in the bud Haye's predictable opening onslaught. For his pains, he was sat straight on his backside by a straight left followed by a straight right.
Ruiz overcame his surprise to regain his feet by the count of eight. Soon after rising, he was on his way down again. This time a flurry of blows ended with a rabbit punch to the back of his neck and although the referee went ahead with that count, he then deducted two points from Haye for a 'deliberate foul'.
So we had the curiosity of an 8-7 score in Haye's favour that round.
The second and third were more orthodox. Haye dominated with that stiff jab setting up the big hits, busting Ruiz's nose in the process.
Blood was flying everywhere in the fourth as Ruiz mounted his version of the Charge of the Light Brigade, running into the guns to fire enough shots of his own to win his only round of the fight.
Even that modest success served mostly to answer a couple of our last, lingering questions about Haye. A Ruiz left hook re-opened the eye cut as a reminder of the training problems which brought him to the ring a few pounds too heavy and gulping for air at times. A Ruiz right hook wobbled Haye but he maintained his equilibrium. If that chin is made of crystal then the glass has become tempered with age.
Ruiz went down for the third and fourth time in rounds five and six as Haye pounded him with viciously accurate punches. Never before in his 45-fight career had this former two-time world champion taken a beating like this. How he kept coming forward in the seventh and eighth, through the fog in his brain and the red mist which filled the air every time he was hit, only this proud man and his maker can possibly know.
It was his courage which enabled Haye to put on his spectacle, just as a matador needs a brave bull.
Mercifully, a recent change of management put a wise trainer in the Ruiz corner. As Haye let fly again in the ninth, the experienced Miguel Diaz waved a white towel and referee Guillermo Perez called a halt.
Ruiz, as he turned towards probable retirement at 38, doffed his trademark cloth cap to Haye. The champion saluted the size of his opponent's heart.
The home fans hailed a genuine star. The X Factor? Forget un-reality television. In the very real world of prizefighting, Haye has the Wow Factor.
He would have to pay more attention to defence against the the long-jabbing Klitschkos but although he was occasionally caught too easily by Ruiz he is what he claims to be: 'The most exciting heavyweight in the world.'
He adds: 'If I can get one of them to Wembley I'll fill the place.' Fighting like this, he could fill it two or three times over.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Sabtu, 03 April 2010
David Haye v John Ruiz: Londoner stops gritty American in style -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
In a brutal dance, Haye had Ruiz down four times before the fight was stopped in the ninth by the referee Guillermo Perez , as Miguel Diaz in the American’s corner waved a white towel over the ropes. Haye won all but one of the rounds, slowly dismantling the challenger with power punches.
In a thrilling, extraordinary first round, barely 30 seconds into the contest, Ruiz was on the canvas pitched backwards from a powerful left-right from Haye, then down again on the ropes for a count of eight under a barrage of punches.
But the proud Ruiz was not finished, recovering to wobble Haye with a right hand. Haye went for the kill, but Ruiz showed how and why he has a reputation as a wily, experienced campaigner. He even threw a few punches after the bell.
Haye was cagier in the second quicker to the jab and landed with three uppercuts, and then in the third worked Ruiz, stiffening his legs with a three-punch combination. Early in the fourth stanza, and left-right, and outworked the champion. It was the challenger’s first success.
Ruiz came out with renewed vigour in the fifth but was under pressure immediately as two left-right combinations rocked the American’s head back. Ruiz, 38 was slowing. Only the bell saved Ruiz late in the round, as Ruiz landed as a huge scything right hand put him down.
Ruiz was almost finished after the sixth, but his corner allowed him to continue. The proud former two-time champion would not surrender. He needed his corner to do that for him after he had endured two more rounds of punishment.
Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer, swears that Haye feeds off the ambience to bring out the predator in him. Haye used the oxygen of publicity from outrageous stunts such as a t-shirt of the severed heads of fellow world title holders Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, to get himself noticed in the heavyweight division and around the world, and here, in front of 20,000 fans, packed into the MEN Arena, Haye was in his element.
Ruiz, the industrious yeoman of the heavyweight vision for a decade and a half, seemed to drawing on the reserves once too often. Haye was simply too fast, too strong, indeed too spiteful to allow the proud ‘Quiet Man’ of Puerto Rican extraction into the fight.
In retaining his WBA heavyweight title Haye remains on track for both retirement in two years' time – he has promised himself he will be out of the hurt game by the age of 31 - and lucrative super-fights with one of the Klitschko brothers in November, his end game he has been plottingfor more than two years.
Haye, the fifth British-born heavyweight champion make his first title defence, and a heavy favourite, As one might expect, Haye is the heavy favorite - 7-1 to win, 7-2 by knockout, even though Ruiz has been stopped only once in his career, when he was caught cold by a David Tua hook seconds after the opening bell.
Haye, 29, nine years younger than Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs), won his 24th victory, and became a national hero again, and this was his night once again. Great treasures lie in wait, along with hours of negotiation. Haye says this is his time. He might just be right. Haye will grow again from this, and the slaying of the Klitschko brothers in a boxing ring just that tiny bit more believable.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
In a brutal dance, Haye had Ruiz down four times before the fight was stopped in the ninth by the referee Guillermo Perez , as Miguel Diaz in the American’s corner waved a white towel over the ropes. Haye won all but one of the rounds, slowly dismantling the challenger with power punches.
In a thrilling, extraordinary first round, barely 30 seconds into the contest, Ruiz was on the canvas pitched backwards from a powerful left-right from Haye, then down again on the ropes for a count of eight under a barrage of punches.
But the proud Ruiz was not finished, recovering to wobble Haye with a right hand. Haye went for the kill, but Ruiz showed how and why he has a reputation as a wily, experienced campaigner. He even threw a few punches after the bell.
Haye was cagier in the second quicker to the jab and landed with three uppercuts, and then in the third worked Ruiz, stiffening his legs with a three-punch combination. Early in the fourth stanza, and left-right, and outworked the champion. It was the challenger’s first success.
Ruiz came out with renewed vigour in the fifth but was under pressure immediately as two left-right combinations rocked the American’s head back. Ruiz, 38 was slowing. Only the bell saved Ruiz late in the round, as Ruiz landed as a huge scything right hand put him down.
Ruiz was almost finished after the sixth, but his corner allowed him to continue. The proud former two-time champion would not surrender. He needed his corner to do that for him after he had endured two more rounds of punishment.
Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer, swears that Haye feeds off the ambience to bring out the predator in him. Haye used the oxygen of publicity from outrageous stunts such as a t-shirt of the severed heads of fellow world title holders Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, to get himself noticed in the heavyweight division and around the world, and here, in front of 20,000 fans, packed into the MEN Arena, Haye was in his element.
Ruiz, the industrious yeoman of the heavyweight vision for a decade and a half, seemed to drawing on the reserves once too often. Haye was simply too fast, too strong, indeed too spiteful to allow the proud ‘Quiet Man’ of Puerto Rican extraction into the fight.
In retaining his WBA heavyweight title Haye remains on track for both retirement in two years' time – he has promised himself he will be out of the hurt game by the age of 31 - and lucrative super-fights with one of the Klitschko brothers in November, his end game he has been plottingfor more than two years.
Haye, the fifth British-born heavyweight champion make his first title defence, and a heavy favourite, As one might expect, Haye is the heavy favorite - 7-1 to win, 7-2 by knockout, even though Ruiz has been stopped only once in his career, when he was caught cold by a David Tua hook seconds after the opening bell.
Haye, 29, nine years younger than Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs), won his 24th victory, and became a national hero again, and this was his night once again. Great treasures lie in wait, along with hours of negotiation. Haye says this is his time. He might just be right. Haye will grow again from this, and the slaying of the Klitschko brothers in a boxing ring just that tiny bit more believable.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
David Haye retains world title with ninth-round defeat of John Ruiz -- The Guardian
By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk
David Haye delivered the fight he promised, even if he flirted with defeat more than once on his way to forcing the preternaturally courageous American challenger, John Ruiz, to succumb in the ninth round of one of the best world title fights we have seen in these islands for many years.
Haye keeps his WBA heavyweight belt at the first time of asking and Ruiz goes home with the loud cheers of appreciation ringing in his ears for what many might consider foolhardy grit.
The American walked – or rather jogged– to the ring first under the ritual hail of catcalls from a well-refreshed gathering of 20,000 in this most atmospheric of venues, the majority of them rubber-necking to spot the Chelsea and Manchester United stars in the audience.
Rio Ferdinand, who grew up with Haye in south London, was there, along with Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Jamie Redknapp, Daniel Sturridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Haye, who brought more than 70 members of his extended family with him, had looked supremely relaxed when introduced to the crowd at Old Trafford earlier in the day. There was nothing laid-back about the way he started the fight, however.
He put Ruiz down with a corking right hand that went straight through the American's guard in the first 30 seconds. He had him down again almost straight away, this time with a blow to the back of the head. Curiously, the referee, Guillermo Perez Pineda, docked Haye a point yet gave Ruiz an eight-count.
It hardly bothered Haye, who had promised an explosive evening, as he continued to lay into the 38-year-old challenger who, despite carrying a little extra around the middle, looked in terrific shape. The second and third were more even as Haye waited for another opening, landing heavily time after time but taking a few in return as Ruiz regained his composure.
What had looked as if it would be a quick night's work turned into an enthralling contest as Ruiz got his jab working to take the fourth. Haye went back to this corner with a small cut near his right eye and received a stern lecture from his trainer Adam Booth, who urged him to up his work rate and look after his defence.
He responded the only way he knows how with a series of crushing head shots and missed Ruiz with an upper cut in centre ring that would have ripped a hole in a battle ship.
After what Lennox Lewis called his "punch-perfect performance' against Nikolai Valuev last November, Haye was letting his instincts take over and put Ruiz down in the fifth, again with a blow to the back of the head. He was treading a fine line and Booth was not happy as the fight entered the middle stages.
The sixth was another unruly affair and Ruiz was taking an awful battering but was still dangerous. Ruiz had not taken a sustained beating like this in 54 fights over 18 years and the crowd gave him due credit for his bravery.
Haye's right hand, which had broken on Valuev's head, clearly was OK as he threw with enthusiasm from all angles at the pulped-up features of an ageing fighter who was slowly turning into a punch bag. Ruiz, as if on motorised rollerskates, was an almost willing target for Haye's health-threatening headshots as they continued their painful dance until the American's new trainer, Miguel Diaz, mercifully threw in the towel in the ninth round.
Earlier in the evening, George Groves announced himself as another genuine rising star of British boxing when he did to the Commonwealth super-middleweight champion, Charles Adamu, in six rounds what Carl Froch took 12 rounds to do in 2004.
That night, the Ghanaian, seven months after winning the title for the first time, was down once but finished only three points behind the Nottingham fighter. Froch went on to win the world title and is now vying for recognition as the best boxer at 12 stone in the world in Showtime's Super Six series.
Londoner Groves, who has never been past eight rounds, gave Adamu a beating from start to finish and took little in return.
He felled him with a short, chopping right in the first, then stunned him to the soles of his boots with heavy body shots in a neutral corner. But for the Ghanaian's resilience – this was his eighth championship contest – it might have ended right there.
The young challenger had him down twice in the fourth, almost over again towards the end of the fifth and the referee, Victor Laughlin, called it off when Adamu wobbled under another concussive right hand in the sixth round.
He protested but would not have reached the end without taking a lot more of the same. Groves's movement and ring craft bamboozled the 32-year-old, who swung wildly outside an oncoming barrage of stiff jabs, followed by a right hand clearly modelled on Haye's. He beat the Olympic gold medallist James DeGale in the amateurs. They must surely meet one day to make some serious money together.
In the other Commonwealth title fight, at light-welter, Colin Lynes of Hornchurch took a 10 count on one knee in his own corner in the eighth round against the London-based Nigerian, Ajose Olusegan.
Source: guardian.co.uk
David Haye delivered the fight he promised, even if he flirted with defeat more than once on his way to forcing the preternaturally courageous American challenger, John Ruiz, to succumb in the ninth round of one of the best world title fights we have seen in these islands for many years.
Haye keeps his WBA heavyweight belt at the first time of asking and Ruiz goes home with the loud cheers of appreciation ringing in his ears for what many might consider foolhardy grit.
The American walked – or rather jogged– to the ring first under the ritual hail of catcalls from a well-refreshed gathering of 20,000 in this most atmospheric of venues, the majority of them rubber-necking to spot the Chelsea and Manchester United stars in the audience.
Rio Ferdinand, who grew up with Haye in south London, was there, along with Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Jamie Redknapp, Daniel Sturridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Haye, who brought more than 70 members of his extended family with him, had looked supremely relaxed when introduced to the crowd at Old Trafford earlier in the day. There was nothing laid-back about the way he started the fight, however.
He put Ruiz down with a corking right hand that went straight through the American's guard in the first 30 seconds. He had him down again almost straight away, this time with a blow to the back of the head. Curiously, the referee, Guillermo Perez Pineda, docked Haye a point yet gave Ruiz an eight-count.
It hardly bothered Haye, who had promised an explosive evening, as he continued to lay into the 38-year-old challenger who, despite carrying a little extra around the middle, looked in terrific shape. The second and third were more even as Haye waited for another opening, landing heavily time after time but taking a few in return as Ruiz regained his composure.
What had looked as if it would be a quick night's work turned into an enthralling contest as Ruiz got his jab working to take the fourth. Haye went back to this corner with a small cut near his right eye and received a stern lecture from his trainer Adam Booth, who urged him to up his work rate and look after his defence.
He responded the only way he knows how with a series of crushing head shots and missed Ruiz with an upper cut in centre ring that would have ripped a hole in a battle ship.
After what Lennox Lewis called his "punch-perfect performance' against Nikolai Valuev last November, Haye was letting his instincts take over and put Ruiz down in the fifth, again with a blow to the back of the head. He was treading a fine line and Booth was not happy as the fight entered the middle stages.
The sixth was another unruly affair and Ruiz was taking an awful battering but was still dangerous. Ruiz had not taken a sustained beating like this in 54 fights over 18 years and the crowd gave him due credit for his bravery.
Haye's right hand, which had broken on Valuev's head, clearly was OK as he threw with enthusiasm from all angles at the pulped-up features of an ageing fighter who was slowly turning into a punch bag. Ruiz, as if on motorised rollerskates, was an almost willing target for Haye's health-threatening headshots as they continued their painful dance until the American's new trainer, Miguel Diaz, mercifully threw in the towel in the ninth round.
Earlier in the evening, George Groves announced himself as another genuine rising star of British boxing when he did to the Commonwealth super-middleweight champion, Charles Adamu, in six rounds what Carl Froch took 12 rounds to do in 2004.
That night, the Ghanaian, seven months after winning the title for the first time, was down once but finished only three points behind the Nottingham fighter. Froch went on to win the world title and is now vying for recognition as the best boxer at 12 stone in the world in Showtime's Super Six series.
Londoner Groves, who has never been past eight rounds, gave Adamu a beating from start to finish and took little in return.
He felled him with a short, chopping right in the first, then stunned him to the soles of his boots with heavy body shots in a neutral corner. But for the Ghanaian's resilience – this was his eighth championship contest – it might have ended right there.
The young challenger had him down twice in the fourth, almost over again towards the end of the fifth and the referee, Victor Laughlin, called it off when Adamu wobbled under another concussive right hand in the sixth round.
He protested but would not have reached the end without taking a lot more of the same. Groves's movement and ring craft bamboozled the 32-year-old, who swung wildly outside an oncoming barrage of stiff jabs, followed by a right hand clearly modelled on Haye's. He beat the Olympic gold medallist James DeGale in the amateurs. They must surely meet one day to make some serious money together.
In the other Commonwealth title fight, at light-welter, Colin Lynes of Hornchurch took a 10 count on one knee in his own corner in the eighth round against the London-based Nigerian, Ajose Olusegan.
Source: guardian.co.uk
David Haye Stops Rugged John Ruiz In Ninth Round -- The Sweet Science
By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science
It may well be time to switch up the scouting report on David Haye. Best not to concentrate too much on his power, and that nickname, "Hayemaker." The Brit is in fact a clever boxer, and he showed it all night long against John Ruiz at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday evening. Haye had Ruiz down in the first, fifth and sixth, moved adroitly, never lost his obsessive focus, and was never in a hint of trouble. The Ruiz corner threw in the towel at 2:01 of the ninth, having seen their man absorb one too many right hands from Haye, in his first title defense.
WBA champion Haye (from London; 23-1, 21 KOs coming in; former unified cruiserweight champion) weighed 221 pounds, while Ruiz (residing in Las Vegas; 44-8-1 with 1 NC, 30 KOs entering; No. 1 in WBA; two time WBA heavyweight champion) was 231 pounds at the weigh in. We could well have seen the last of Ruiz, who wasn't able to slip Haye's launches as well as he used to be able to. At 38, it may be time to hang on to this final payday, and proudly call it a career.
Ruiz came out hard, but hit the deck fifteen seconds in, off a right hand, after a jab. He shook off the buzz, and Haye banged him with a rabbit punch, and had a point taken away right after. In the second, Ruiz had his legs under him. He stalked the Brit, who backed up, and picked his spots. Haye looked comfortable and loose. He stayed in motion, and made Ruiz follow him, two steps behind. Haye's hard jab got Ruiz' nose bloody in the third. Jawny didn't clinch, I'm happy to report, and did manage to fire off multiple jabs and right follows a few times. Ruiz ate a couple flush rights on the kisser, but stayed erect. In the fourth, Haye took it easy. He shuffled left, steering clear of Ruiz' right. The challenger didn't cut off the ring as perhaps he should've, and for too much of the time, Haye was dictating tempo.
In the fifth, a one-two hurt Ruiz, and a rabbit punch finished the hurting, sending him to the mat at the tail end of the round. More rabbit punches sent Ruiz down in the next round as well. Ruiz may have been looking to get a point deduction. At the end of the round, Haye hit Ruiz behind the head again. Why wasn't Ruiz fighting fire with fire? Analyst Jim Watt, the ex fighter, dismissed the fouls, saying "they aren't heavy anyway." Ruiz' cornerman Miguel Diaz threatened to pull the plug if Jawny didn't pick it up. In the seventh, Ruiz at least stayed on his feet. He didn't inflict any damage, as Haye stayed smart and focused all the way through. In the eighth, Ruiz hung in but didn't do much. Same in the ninth, and after Ruiz got backed into the ropes, his corner tossed in the towel.
Source: thesweetscience.com
It may well be time to switch up the scouting report on David Haye. Best not to concentrate too much on his power, and that nickname, "Hayemaker." The Brit is in fact a clever boxer, and he showed it all night long against John Ruiz at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday evening. Haye had Ruiz down in the first, fifth and sixth, moved adroitly, never lost his obsessive focus, and was never in a hint of trouble. The Ruiz corner threw in the towel at 2:01 of the ninth, having seen their man absorb one too many right hands from Haye, in his first title defense.
WBA champion Haye (from London; 23-1, 21 KOs coming in; former unified cruiserweight champion) weighed 221 pounds, while Ruiz (residing in Las Vegas; 44-8-1 with 1 NC, 30 KOs entering; No. 1 in WBA; two time WBA heavyweight champion) was 231 pounds at the weigh in. We could well have seen the last of Ruiz, who wasn't able to slip Haye's launches as well as he used to be able to. At 38, it may be time to hang on to this final payday, and proudly call it a career.
Ruiz came out hard, but hit the deck fifteen seconds in, off a right hand, after a jab. He shook off the buzz, and Haye banged him with a rabbit punch, and had a point taken away right after. In the second, Ruiz had his legs under him. He stalked the Brit, who backed up, and picked his spots. Haye looked comfortable and loose. He stayed in motion, and made Ruiz follow him, two steps behind. Haye's hard jab got Ruiz' nose bloody in the third. Jawny didn't clinch, I'm happy to report, and did manage to fire off multiple jabs and right follows a few times. Ruiz ate a couple flush rights on the kisser, but stayed erect. In the fourth, Haye took it easy. He shuffled left, steering clear of Ruiz' right. The challenger didn't cut off the ring as perhaps he should've, and for too much of the time, Haye was dictating tempo.
In the fifth, a one-two hurt Ruiz, and a rabbit punch finished the hurting, sending him to the mat at the tail end of the round. More rabbit punches sent Ruiz down in the next round as well. Ruiz may have been looking to get a point deduction. At the end of the round, Haye hit Ruiz behind the head again. Why wasn't Ruiz fighting fire with fire? Analyst Jim Watt, the ex fighter, dismissed the fouls, saying "they aren't heavy anyway." Ruiz' cornerman Miguel Diaz threatened to pull the plug if Jawny didn't pick it up. In the seventh, Ruiz at least stayed on his feet. He didn't inflict any damage, as Haye stayed smart and focused all the way through. In the eighth, Ruiz hung in but didn't do much. Same in the ninth, and after Ruiz got backed into the ropes, his corner tossed in the towel.
Source: thesweetscience.com
David Haye Scores Ninth Round TKO Over John Ruiz -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
England's 29-year-old David Haye scored a ninth round knockout of John Ruiz in the first defense of his WBA heavyweight title on Saturday before his partisan, British fans at M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England,
In victory over the 38-year-old Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 knockouts), of Chelsea, Mass., Haye stopped the former two-time titlist for only the second time in Ruiz's career, rising to 24-1, with his 22nd career knockout.
Haye dropped Ruiz twice in the first round, once in the fifth, and, yet again in the sixth.
Haye also badly battered Ruiz, who was cut on the head and bleeding from his nose, thorughout the seventh and eighth round before referee, Guillermo Perez Pineda, came to the rescue to prevent Haye from inflicting further damage as Ruiz covered up and leaned over the ropes to protect himself in the ninth.
Ruiz was stopped for the first time in his career in March of 1996, when David Tua scored a 19-second knockout in Ruiz's 28th professional fight.
Haye, who weighed in at a career-high 222 pounds to 231 for Ruiz, scored his 14th straight victory, and his 12th by knockout in that stretch.
Haye's lone loss was in September of 2004, when he was stopped in five rounds by a then-40-year-old, Carl Thompson, who entered their match up with a record of 32-6 that included being knocked out five times.
Haye was was coming off of a November, 12-round, majority decision in Nuremberg, Germany, over 7-foot, 316-pound, Nikolay Valuev, whom he dethroned for the WBA crown.
The 6-3, Haye, who tipped the scales at 218-pounds against Valuev, overcame a broken right hand in the second round to win that fight.
Haye is only the sixth Englishman ever to earn a heavyweight crown, and only the second-ever former cruiserweight (200 pounds) to do so.
Bob Fitzimmons, Herbie Hide, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and Henry Akinwande also were English champions, and Evander Holyfield, a former cruiserweight, dethroned Buster Douglas for that honor.
In attempting to win a crown for the third time, Ruiz was trying to join men such as Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali., and, Evander Holyfield , with the latter being the sport's only four-time heavyweight titlist.
A man of Puerto Rican decent, Ruiz is the only Latino to have won a heavyweight title, doing so when he held a version of the belt after defeating Holyfield in 2005.
Haye won the WBA cruiserweight crown with a seventh-round knockout of Jean Marc Mormeck in November of 2007, but then dropped it to dethrone WBC and WBO king Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds in March of 2008, handing him only his second loss in 30 bouts and stopping him for the first time in his career.
Haye has gone 12 rounds only one other time during a lopsided decision over Ismail Abdoul in July of 2006, and been eight rounds and nine rounds (once each) in stoppages of previously unbeaten fighters, Lasse Johansen and Giacobbe Fragomeni, respectively, in March and July of 2006.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
England's 29-year-old David Haye scored a ninth round knockout of John Ruiz in the first defense of his WBA heavyweight title on Saturday before his partisan, British fans at M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England,
In victory over the 38-year-old Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 knockouts), of Chelsea, Mass., Haye stopped the former two-time titlist for only the second time in Ruiz's career, rising to 24-1, with his 22nd career knockout.
Haye dropped Ruiz twice in the first round, once in the fifth, and, yet again in the sixth.
Haye also badly battered Ruiz, who was cut on the head and bleeding from his nose, thorughout the seventh and eighth round before referee, Guillermo Perez Pineda, came to the rescue to prevent Haye from inflicting further damage as Ruiz covered up and leaned over the ropes to protect himself in the ninth.
Ruiz was stopped for the first time in his career in March of 1996, when David Tua scored a 19-second knockout in Ruiz's 28th professional fight.
Haye, who weighed in at a career-high 222 pounds to 231 for Ruiz, scored his 14th straight victory, and his 12th by knockout in that stretch.
Haye's lone loss was in September of 2004, when he was stopped in five rounds by a then-40-year-old, Carl Thompson, who entered their match up with a record of 32-6 that included being knocked out five times.
Haye was was coming off of a November, 12-round, majority decision in Nuremberg, Germany, over 7-foot, 316-pound, Nikolay Valuev, whom he dethroned for the WBA crown.
The 6-3, Haye, who tipped the scales at 218-pounds against Valuev, overcame a broken right hand in the second round to win that fight.
Haye is only the sixth Englishman ever to earn a heavyweight crown, and only the second-ever former cruiserweight (200 pounds) to do so.
Bob Fitzimmons, Herbie Hide, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and Henry Akinwande also were English champions, and Evander Holyfield, a former cruiserweight, dethroned Buster Douglas for that honor.
In attempting to win a crown for the third time, Ruiz was trying to join men such as Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali., and, Evander Holyfield , with the latter being the sport's only four-time heavyweight titlist.
A man of Puerto Rican decent, Ruiz is the only Latino to have won a heavyweight title, doing so when he held a version of the belt after defeating Holyfield in 2005.
Haye won the WBA cruiserweight crown with a seventh-round knockout of Jean Marc Mormeck in November of 2007, but then dropped it to dethrone WBC and WBO king Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds in March of 2008, handing him only his second loss in 30 bouts and stopping him for the first time in his career.
Haye has gone 12 rounds only one other time during a lopsided decision over Ismail Abdoul in July of 2006, and been eight rounds and nine rounds (once each) in stoppages of previously unbeaten fighters, Lasse Johansen and Giacobbe Fragomeni, respectively, in March and July of 2006.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Impressive Haye destroys Ruiz -- ESPN
ESPN.co.uk
David Haye fired out a warning to the Klitschko brothers with a hugely impressive defence of his WBA heavyweight belt against John Ruiz.
Haye has signalled his intention to unify the division, with the belts of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko in his sights, and he made a statement of intent by taking Ruiz apart. The Londoner put his 38-year-old rival down in the first round and his speed dictated the fight until the Ruiz camp threw in the towel in the ninth.
Haye kept Ruiz waiting in the ring for an age before making his entrance, which was greeted with a roar of approval from the MEN Arena crowd.
Ruiz marched out confidently and caught Haye with a couple of shots, but was sent on to the seat of his pants with a straight right hand. Ruiz took a count and looked unsteady when he got to his feet and was put down again, but the referee deemed it a rabbit punch and docked Haye a point.
The American is a durable fighter and got through the round and the break gave him the chance to clear his head. He was caught again in the second by a solid right, but Ruiz took it well and came forward for the remainder of the round.
Haye was happy to allow Ruiz to come forward, the Londoner's superior speed enabled him to stick and then move out of range. Haye tagged Ruiz at the start of the fifth and it seemed to knock the pace out of Ruiz and right on the bell, the Brit put his opponent on to the canvas.
A short right from Haye tagged Ruiz at the start of the sixth and he was felled shortly afterwards. Haye sensed victory and unloaded some huge shots, but Ruiz once again showed his durability by getting through the round.
Haye continued to catch his rival and a couple of powerful shots in the ninth disorientated Ruiz and the American's camp threw in the towel to prevent their man from taking any further punishment.
On the undercard, George Groves stopped Charles Adamu in the sixth round to claim the commonwealth super-middleweight belt. It was pretty much one-way traffic as Groves had his rival down twice in the fourth round and the referee stepped in to end the fight in the sixth. After his win, Groves set his sights on Paul Smith. "My next fight needs to be Paul Smith," he said. "I need to knock that man out and take the British title off him. I should be next in line, I can't see anyone in front of me, I'm commonwealth champion and I want that British belt."
Colin Lynes failed in his bid to take Ajose Olusegan's light welterweight crown, as his corner threw in the towel with their fighter struggling for breath.
Source: espn.co.uk
David Haye fired out a warning to the Klitschko brothers with a hugely impressive defence of his WBA heavyweight belt against John Ruiz.
Haye has signalled his intention to unify the division, with the belts of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko in his sights, and he made a statement of intent by taking Ruiz apart. The Londoner put his 38-year-old rival down in the first round and his speed dictated the fight until the Ruiz camp threw in the towel in the ninth.
Haye kept Ruiz waiting in the ring for an age before making his entrance, which was greeted with a roar of approval from the MEN Arena crowd.
Ruiz marched out confidently and caught Haye with a couple of shots, but was sent on to the seat of his pants with a straight right hand. Ruiz took a count and looked unsteady when he got to his feet and was put down again, but the referee deemed it a rabbit punch and docked Haye a point.
The American is a durable fighter and got through the round and the break gave him the chance to clear his head. He was caught again in the second by a solid right, but Ruiz took it well and came forward for the remainder of the round.
Haye was happy to allow Ruiz to come forward, the Londoner's superior speed enabled him to stick and then move out of range. Haye tagged Ruiz at the start of the fifth and it seemed to knock the pace out of Ruiz and right on the bell, the Brit put his opponent on to the canvas.
A short right from Haye tagged Ruiz at the start of the sixth and he was felled shortly afterwards. Haye sensed victory and unloaded some huge shots, but Ruiz once again showed his durability by getting through the round.
Haye continued to catch his rival and a couple of powerful shots in the ninth disorientated Ruiz and the American's camp threw in the towel to prevent their man from taking any further punishment.
On the undercard, George Groves stopped Charles Adamu in the sixth round to claim the commonwealth super-middleweight belt. It was pretty much one-way traffic as Groves had his rival down twice in the fourth round and the referee stepped in to end the fight in the sixth. After his win, Groves set his sights on Paul Smith. "My next fight needs to be Paul Smith," he said. "I need to knock that man out and take the British title off him. I should be next in line, I can't see anyone in front of me, I'm commonwealth champion and I want that British belt."
Colin Lynes failed in his bid to take Ajose Olusegan's light welterweight crown, as his corner threw in the towel with their fighter struggling for breath.
Source: espn.co.uk
David Haye stops John Ruiz to retain heavyweight title -- BBC Sport
BBC Sport
Britain's David Haye made a convincing first title defence as he stopped American John Ruiz in the ninth round to retain the WBA heavyweight crown.
The Londoner floored Ruiz with a right hand after 25 seconds and the American took a second count in the opening round at Manchester's MEN Arena.
Ruiz proved his durability by fighting on but was put down twice more in a torrid sixth round.
And Haye finished the job in the ninth when Ruiz's corner threw in the towel.
It was Haye's first defence since beating Nikolay Valuev for the title in November and the victory came in only his fourth fight in the heavyweight division, taking his professional record to 25-1.
Ruiz, 38, had been hoping to join Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko as a three-time world heavyweight champion.
He had been stopped just once before in 18 years and 54 fights.
Earlier in the evening, Briton George Groves stopped Ghana's Charles Adamu in the sixth round to win the Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
Colin Lynes failed to make it a successful British double after being counted out in the eighth round of his Commonwealth light-welterweight title challenge against Ajose Olusegan of Nigeria.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Britain's David Haye made a convincing first title defence as he stopped American John Ruiz in the ninth round to retain the WBA heavyweight crown.
The Londoner floored Ruiz with a right hand after 25 seconds and the American took a second count in the opening round at Manchester's MEN Arena.
Ruiz proved his durability by fighting on but was put down twice more in a torrid sixth round.
And Haye finished the job in the ninth when Ruiz's corner threw in the towel.
It was Haye's first defence since beating Nikolay Valuev for the title in November and the victory came in only his fourth fight in the heavyweight division, taking his professional record to 25-1.
Ruiz, 38, had been hoping to join Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko as a three-time world heavyweight champion.
He had been stopped just once before in 18 years and 54 fights.
Earlier in the evening, Briton George Groves stopped Ghana's Charles Adamu in the sixth round to win the Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
Colin Lynes failed to make it a successful British double after being counted out in the eighth round of his Commonwealth light-welterweight title challenge against Ajose Olusegan of Nigeria.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
David Haye is an accident waiting to happen in the heavyweight division -- Mirror
By Derek McGovern, Mirror.co.uk
John Ruiz reckons he was robbed twice when he lost on points to 7ft tall Nikolai Valuev. Unfortunately he couldn't pick him out in the identity parade afterwards.
David Haye took all the plaudits for seeing off Valuev after 12 inactive rounds last time out. The Jolly Green Giant would have put up a better fight.
When Ruiz, nicknamed The Quiet Man, was asked if he thought he would beat Haye he nodded before mumbling something inaudible.
Haye is an accident waiting to happen in the heavyweight division.
He has been ko'd by a 40-year-old cruiserweight. There's no disgrace in that for most blokes - it's happened to me with the wife - but Haye is the heavyweight champion of the world, or at least one of them.
Whether Ruiz, a 38-year-old ring-worn veteran, is the man to cause that accident is open to debate. Ruiz has neither speed nor an explosive punch, and someone really ought to tell him these attributes are rather handy when your chosen profession is boxing.
He does have a certain measure of durability, though and that might be enough. Haye will either blast Ruiz out early or get nailed himself late on.
Haye went the distance against Valuev without expending too much energy, mainly because it's relatively easy to get out of the way of plodding giants, except in B movies.
Value-seekers should look closely at the groupround betting. I wouldn't put anyone off backing Ruiz to win between rounds 9-12, a 25-1 poke with Stan James.
Source: mirror.co.uk
John Ruiz reckons he was robbed twice when he lost on points to 7ft tall Nikolai Valuev. Unfortunately he couldn't pick him out in the identity parade afterwards.
David Haye took all the plaudits for seeing off Valuev after 12 inactive rounds last time out. The Jolly Green Giant would have put up a better fight.
When Ruiz, nicknamed The Quiet Man, was asked if he thought he would beat Haye he nodded before mumbling something inaudible.Haye is an accident waiting to happen in the heavyweight division.
He has been ko'd by a 40-year-old cruiserweight. There's no disgrace in that for most blokes - it's happened to me with the wife - but Haye is the heavyweight champion of the world, or at least one of them.He has a knockout punch, yes, but there are serious question marks about his stamina, chin and hairstyle.
Whether Ruiz, a 38-year-old ring-worn veteran, is the man to cause that accident is open to debate. Ruiz has neither speed nor an explosive punch, and someone really ought to tell him these attributes are rather handy when your chosen profession is boxing.
He does have a certain measure of durability, though and that might be enough. Haye will either blast Ruiz out early or get nailed himself late on.
Haye went the distance against Valuev without expending too much energy, mainly because it's relatively easy to get out of the way of plodding giants, except in B movies.
Value-seekers should look closely at the groupround betting. I wouldn't put anyone off backing Ruiz to win between rounds 9-12, a 25-1 poke with Stan James.
Source: mirror.co.uk
Haye on a one-man crusade to jazz up Heavies -- Mirror
By Barry Mcguigan, Mirror.co.uk
John Ruiz is David Haye's ticket to the stars, a perfect opportunity to electrify the heavyweight division.
Ruiz is one of the good guys in boxing. He appreciates what boxing has given him and treats the game with respect.
Given the limited history of Puerto Rican heavyweights, Ruiz has had a remarkable career, twice winning the world title.
But any idea he would be mentioned in the same breath as Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield were he to beat David Haye tonight is ridiculous.
As much as I like Ruiz he has never impressed me as a fighter. He is underpowered and ponderous.
His principal strength has been to make others look awful. And that was when he was at his peak. Now, with his famed durability waning, he looks ready to go.
He has been stopped only once in his career, a crushing 19-second KO 14 years back by David Tua.
Haye does not have Tua's outright power but he has enough and he is a million times quicker. I can see this ending early. Haye needs an early check-out to enhance his box-office standing.
Haye is engaged in a one-man crusade to jazz up boxing's shop window. The trash talk he rattles off at the Klitschko brothers is calculated to spike interest.
Every Ali needs a Joe Frazier, every George Foreman a Ken Norton. Haye knows he needs the Klitschkos to make his name and his fortune.
The brothers also know they need Haye. The idea both might fight him is a gift for the big American broadcasters desperate for a new story to tell. The division is as flat as a pancake, or in the case of Eddie Chambers, as fat as a pat-a-cake. There is no future in world title bouts featuring the likes of him.
Wladimir Klitschko finally put him away in the last round with a terrific shot. That the fight lasted that long says more about Klitschko than Chambers.
Haye is a throwback to the old tradition of the 220lbs heavyweight. At 15st 10lbs he would have been perfect for the Seventies golden era.
Ali, Frazier, Mike Tyson and even George Foreman in his early days campaigned around that weight, allowing them to combine speed and power to best effect.
The super heavy period begun by Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis ran aground in the shape of Nikolai Valuev.
Don King knew what he was doing praising Haye to the skies after his victory over the big Russian.
He saw the future there and then, the East v West shootout. The looming battle with the Klitschkos can be seen as a battle for the future of the sport; the 21st Century super tanker heavy versus the traditional heavy of the division's Seventies heyday.
Haye seems well suited to the heavier weight since moving up from cruiser.
He does not look as ripped but the extra pounds have enhanced the resistance lacking when having to make weight.
Manny Pacquiao was dropped plenty at super bantam and featherweight, but none can budge him at welterweight.
Haye has yet to answer all the questions about his stamina, but rocking Valuev late on will have given him a lot of confidence.
I'm taking Haye to get after Ruiz early and look great doing so. Watch out for that big KO and with it take-off for the next British boxing superstar.
Source: mirror.co.uk
John Ruiz is David Haye's ticket to the stars, a perfect opportunity to electrify the heavyweight division.
Ruiz is one of the good guys in boxing. He appreciates what boxing has given him and treats the game with respect.
Given the limited history of Puerto Rican heavyweights, Ruiz has had a remarkable career, twice winning the world title.
But any idea he would be mentioned in the same breath as Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield were he to beat David Haye tonight is ridiculous.As much as I like Ruiz he has never impressed me as a fighter. He is underpowered and ponderous.
His principal strength has been to make others look awful. And that was when he was at his peak. Now, with his famed durability waning, he looks ready to go.
He has been stopped only once in his career, a crushing 19-second KO 14 years back by David Tua.Haye does not have Tua's outright power but he has enough and he is a million times quicker. I can see this ending early. Haye needs an early check-out to enhance his box-office standing.
Haye is engaged in a one-man crusade to jazz up boxing's shop window. The trash talk he rattles off at the Klitschko brothers is calculated to spike interest.
Every Ali needs a Joe Frazier, every George Foreman a Ken Norton. Haye knows he needs the Klitschkos to make his name and his fortune.
The brothers also know they need Haye. The idea both might fight him is a gift for the big American broadcasters desperate for a new story to tell. The division is as flat as a pancake, or in the case of Eddie Chambers, as fat as a pat-a-cake. There is no future in world title bouts featuring the likes of him.
Wladimir Klitschko finally put him away in the last round with a terrific shot. That the fight lasted that long says more about Klitschko than Chambers.
Haye is a throwback to the old tradition of the 220lbs heavyweight. At 15st 10lbs he would have been perfect for the Seventies golden era.
Ali, Frazier, Mike Tyson and even George Foreman in his early days campaigned around that weight, allowing them to combine speed and power to best effect.
The super heavy period begun by Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis ran aground in the shape of Nikolai Valuev.
Don King knew what he was doing praising Haye to the skies after his victory over the big Russian.
He saw the future there and then, the East v West shootout. The looming battle with the Klitschkos can be seen as a battle for the future of the sport; the 21st Century super tanker heavy versus the traditional heavy of the division's Seventies heyday.
Haye seems well suited to the heavier weight since moving up from cruiser.
He does not look as ripped but the extra pounds have enhanced the resistance lacking when having to make weight.
Manny Pacquiao was dropped plenty at super bantam and featherweight, but none can budge him at welterweight.
Haye has yet to answer all the questions about his stamina, but rocking Valuev late on will have given him a lot of confidence.
I'm taking Haye to get after Ruiz early and look great doing so. Watch out for that big KO and with it take-off for the next British boxing superstar.
Source: mirror.co.uk
Jumat, 02 April 2010
John Ruiz fit for heavyweight history -- Boston Herald
By Ron Borges, Boston Herald
MANCHESTER, England - The curiously respectful love fest that has gone on all week between bombastic WBA heavyweight champion David Haye and his Calvin Coolidge-like challenger, John Ruiz, continued at the weigh-in yesterday in The Great Hall of Manchester’s 123-year-old Victorian Town Hall building, whose spire towers 283 feet above Albert Square.
What added to the oddness of the moment was, by the time both men got off the scales, there were more questions to be asked than answers given.
The 38-year-old Ruiz weighed in at 231 pounds with a T-shirt, sweatpants and sneakers on, meaning he was actually more like 228-229. That is the lightest he’s been for a title fight in seven years, and only 4-5 pounds above what he weighed when he beat Evander Holyfield for his WBA title 10 years ago.
All one can conclude from that is Ruiz is taking quite seriously what could be either his final moment as a factor in the heavyweight division, or his breakthrough moment.
In contrast, Haye came in at 222 pounds (or “15 stone, 12” as they say here), the heaviest of his career and five pounds above his weight when he won the title just four months ago. He remains an impressive physical specimen, but several British journalists familiar with him wondered aloud whether the extra tonnage was an effort to improve his power - which would seem ridiculous considering the knockout punch he carries in his right hand - or a case of not working as hard as he claims he has.
Whatever the case, the MEN Arena is expected to be packed with more than 20,000 British fight fans that have come to watch only the fifth British-born heavyweight champion make his first title defense. As one might expect, Haye is the heavy favorite - 7-1 to win, 7-2 by knockout, even though Ruiz has been stopped only once in his career, when he was caught cold by a David Tua hook seconds after the opening bell.
At 29, Haye is nine years younger than Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs) and carries with him what promoter Don King would term “double shock power.” He has knocked out 21 of his 23 victims with only one defeat. To say he can punch is an understatement, which is something young Haye is not prone to. Yet this week, he admitted unhinging Ruiz from his senses will be a daunting task.
“He’s only been stopped once and that was 14 years ago,” Haye said. “If I stop him, it will be a great indicator of how hard I punch.”
Until Ruiz showed up, “if” was never in Haye’s vocabulary. He has threatened to end the lives of both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who hold the other three heavyweight titles, and promised decapitation to nearly everyone he’s ever faced. Haye may still feel that way, but his commentary has been tempered this time by the realization Ruiz has survived 322 rounds of heavyweight boxing, including 162 in championship fights.
Meanwhile, Haye has boxed only 18 rounds in the division, and during that brief time been dropped by Monte Barrett, who is the very definition of a trial horse, as well as by both Jean-Marc Mormeck and Carl Thompson (his only loss) during his time as cruiserweight champion.
Even Haye’s trainer/manager Adam Booth conceded, “(David) admits he’s not the most durable heavyweight in the world, but he says ‘I’m one of the quickest and most dangerous, and I’m going to get you before you get me.’ His ability to take a shot has improved dramatically but, listen, anything can happen. One punch and it could all be over.”
Booth was speaking a generalized truth not specific to facing Ruiz. But when you box in the hardest hitting division in the sport, a suspect mandible is clearly not an asset. Perhaps that is part of the reason Haye and Booth have threatened to jump on Ruiz from the opening bell, seeking to bring a quick end to the first heavyweight title fight in England in nearly a decade.
Ruiz claims to favor that approach under the theory if a brawl breaks out, it enhances his chances of leaving England with one more belt.
“We both have our little agendas,” said Ruiz. “He likes to toot his own horn. Now he has to back it up. People think I’m over the hill. I don’t think so, actually. If I did, I wouldn’t be here. Now I have to prove I’m not. We’ll see.”
When the two of them are left standing alone and half naked in the loneliest place in sports tonight, indeed we will.
rborges@bostonherald.com
Source: bostonherald.com
MANCHESTER, England - The curiously respectful love fest that has gone on all week between bombastic WBA heavyweight champion David Haye and his Calvin Coolidge-like challenger, John Ruiz, continued at the weigh-in yesterday in The Great Hall of Manchester’s 123-year-old Victorian Town Hall building, whose spire towers 283 feet above Albert Square.
What added to the oddness of the moment was, by the time both men got off the scales, there were more questions to be asked than answers given.
The 38-year-old Ruiz weighed in at 231 pounds with a T-shirt, sweatpants and sneakers on, meaning he was actually more like 228-229. That is the lightest he’s been for a title fight in seven years, and only 4-5 pounds above what he weighed when he beat Evander Holyfield for his WBA title 10 years ago.
All one can conclude from that is Ruiz is taking quite seriously what could be either his final moment as a factor in the heavyweight division, or his breakthrough moment.The Chelsea native has trained for three months, importing strength and conditioning coach Keith McGrath from Boston to work with him throughout his camp alongside his boxing overseer, veteran Las Vegas trainer Miguel Diaz. Whether that converts into a victory tonight no one can know, but his fitness indicates a level of preparedness absent in Ruiz’ recent throw-downs.
In contrast, Haye came in at 222 pounds (or “15 stone, 12” as they say here), the heaviest of his career and five pounds above his weight when he won the title just four months ago. He remains an impressive physical specimen, but several British journalists familiar with him wondered aloud whether the extra tonnage was an effort to improve his power - which would seem ridiculous considering the knockout punch he carries in his right hand - or a case of not working as hard as he claims he has.
Whatever the case, the MEN Arena is expected to be packed with more than 20,000 British fight fans that have come to watch only the fifth British-born heavyweight champion make his first title defense. As one might expect, Haye is the heavy favorite - 7-1 to win, 7-2 by knockout, even though Ruiz has been stopped only once in his career, when he was caught cold by a David Tua hook seconds after the opening bell.
At 29, Haye is nine years younger than Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs) and carries with him what promoter Don King would term “double shock power.” He has knocked out 21 of his 23 victims with only one defeat. To say he can punch is an understatement, which is something young Haye is not prone to. Yet this week, he admitted unhinging Ruiz from his senses will be a daunting task.
“He’s only been stopped once and that was 14 years ago,” Haye said. “If I stop him, it will be a great indicator of how hard I punch.”
Until Ruiz showed up, “if” was never in Haye’s vocabulary. He has threatened to end the lives of both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who hold the other three heavyweight titles, and promised decapitation to nearly everyone he’s ever faced. Haye may still feel that way, but his commentary has been tempered this time by the realization Ruiz has survived 322 rounds of heavyweight boxing, including 162 in championship fights.
Meanwhile, Haye has boxed only 18 rounds in the division, and during that brief time been dropped by Monte Barrett, who is the very definition of a trial horse, as well as by both Jean-Marc Mormeck and Carl Thompson (his only loss) during his time as cruiserweight champion.
Even Haye’s trainer/manager Adam Booth conceded, “(David) admits he’s not the most durable heavyweight in the world, but he says ‘I’m one of the quickest and most dangerous, and I’m going to get you before you get me.’ His ability to take a shot has improved dramatically but, listen, anything can happen. One punch and it could all be over.”
Booth was speaking a generalized truth not specific to facing Ruiz. But when you box in the hardest hitting division in the sport, a suspect mandible is clearly not an asset. Perhaps that is part of the reason Haye and Booth have threatened to jump on Ruiz from the opening bell, seeking to bring a quick end to the first heavyweight title fight in England in nearly a decade.
Ruiz claims to favor that approach under the theory if a brawl breaks out, it enhances his chances of leaving England with one more belt.
“We both have our little agendas,” said Ruiz. “He likes to toot his own horn. Now he has to back it up. People think I’m over the hill. I don’t think so, actually. If I did, I wouldn’t be here. Now I have to prove I’m not. We’ll see.”
When the two of them are left standing alone and half naked in the loneliest place in sports tonight, indeed we will.
rborges@bostonherald.com
Source: bostonherald.com
If Haye Tries To Make A Statement, Ruiz Might Make Off With His Belt -- The Sweet Science
By Ron Borges, The Sweet Science
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Haye Fever is in the air despite gloomy skies and rain-spattered streets in England’s second largest city this weekend. The reason is that the first British heavyweight champion to fight in the British Isles in nearly 10 years is coming to the MEN Arena Saturday night to do more than defend the WBA title he won four months ago. He’s here to make a statement about himself and about British boxing.
The trajectory of British heavyweights prior to Lennox Lewis
was far more horizontal than vertical. Once they ventured from their island home the majority of them quickly found themselves outgunned and out cold. Lewis changed that during his time as one of the two dominant heavyweights of his era but he’s been retired for seven years and since then there has been a thirst here to find a British successor.
Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison was not that man. Neither was Danny Williams, who faded into oblivion not long after he conquered a faded Mike Tyson. Whether David Haye is remains to be seen, but he won the WBA version of the title four months ago by taking a decidedly careful approach to seven-foot champion Nikolai Valuev and now will make his first defense against two-time WBA title holder John Ruiz.
Many would argue it is Haye’s first real exposure to a true heavyweight, Valuev being more of a circus act than a boxer and Haye’s previous two heavyweight opponents since abandoning the undisputed cruiserweight title (Monte Barrett and Tomasz Bonin) were one step below journeyman status.
Ruiz, on the other hand, has fought 322 rounds as a heavyweight, including 162 championship rounds. He’s twice won the WBA title and this will be his 11th title fight (5-4-1, 1 no contest). To say he is Joe Louis would be wrong. To say he knows his way around heavyweight boxing would be correct. Whether Haye does remains a mystery unsolved.
Haye is nine years younger than the 38-year-old former champion. He is faster of hand and foot and a more powerful puncher, having knocked out 21 of his 23 victims. But whether or not he’s truly a heavyweight remains a point open to discussion because his chin is suspect and his stamina debatable.
Haye (23-1, 21 KO) was dropped by Barrett but got up and stopped him. He was dropped by Jean-Marc Mormeck and Carl Thompson and wobbled by Giacobbe Fragomeni during his time as a cruiserweight as well. He rose to knock out Mormeck and Giacobbe but was stopped by Thompson and so, when taken in totality, those fights raise a question about his fitness to survive for long among the redwoods of boxing. That is why Haye is looking at the Ruiz fight as more than a way to get at the Klitschko brothers on an even promotional plain.
“I’m looking to make a statement in this fight,’’ Haye said this week. “I’m looking to do something dramatic. Ruiz looks good. He looks as good as I’ve ever seen him but I am prepared for that.
“I’m expecting a hard fight. He was stopped 14 years ago (by David Tua) when he got caught cold early but since then he’s never shown any signs of a weak punch defense so if I stop him it will be a great indication of how hard I can punch.’’
The British press have called Haye “the flag-bearer of British boxing’’ and claimed he needs to do more than simply win, insisting this needs to be a spectacular declaration of divisional domination. Although he has tried to downplay all that, which is not his normal way of handling such matters, in the end he conceded wining is not enough if he is to make the kind of statement about himself he believes needs to be made.
“Nothing matters unless I win this fight,’’ Haye said. “I feel like the challenger, not the champion. I feel like I have to take something from Ruiz.
“He’ll be rendered unconscious at some point. Maybe late. I don’t believe he can take my power for 12 rounds. I know he’ll try to smother my punches but the longer the fight goes the better the chance I’ve got (of stopping Ruiz).
“By the end of the fight he will have taken a lot of punishment. He’ll have to take a hell of a shellacking to get there (the 12th round).’’
Haye is a 7-1 betting favorite for a reason. He has superior quickness, athleticism and hand speed. Even Ruiz conceded, “My talent is just so-so. I make up for what I don’t have in determination,’’ which is far from a ringing endorsement of himself.
Yet nothing could be worse for a young champion with a sometimes disloyal chin than to seek a spectacular victory. Haye’s obligation is not to produce drama, for if he pursues that he could produce disaster instead, a moment he experienced six years ago in a similar situation with Thompson.
At that time Haye was considered the future of the cruiserweight division while the 40-year-old Thompson was yesterday’s news. The issue was not whether Haye would defeat him but rather how fashionably he would do it. Five rounds into his night’s work, Haye was a beaten young man, knocked into submission by a fighter who understood his craft and, more importantly, understood that the boxing ring is a place where a script can be re-written with one fist.
Haye’s problem in this regard is that he already took the conservative approach when he won the title by staying away from the hulking Valuev and pot-shotting his way to a championship. It worked beautifully but it seemed to raise the hackles of British fight fans, who this time are demanding much more of him.
Perhaps Haye will be wise enough to screen out their demands and focus on his job by using his quickness to create the right punching distance, winning the territorial battle first with judicious use of pressure, wearing Ruiz down with a relentless pounding before trying anything bolder. That would be the wise course but young fighters are often unwise.
“I have half his experience,’’ Haye said. “He is a seasoned, successful heavyweight. I have to respect him. But I have the skill set to deal with him. I believe I’m the hardest puncher, pound-for-pound, in the world. I look to make a statement, to do something dramatic with him.
“Others didn’t study and they underestimated him. I won’t fall into that trap. I don’t underestimate John Ruiz. A few people think he’ll come over here and upset me. I can’t allow that.’’
To avoid it, David Haye will have to avoid being sucked into the kind of mauling wrestling match Ruiz sometimes looks to create. He does it to use his 230 pounds as a battering ram that wears you down, breaking your spirit and unsettling your plans. Once done, he then forces you to submit, which is what he did particularly to Hasim Rahman, Kirk Johnson and Andrew Golota.
To avoid their fate, David Haye has to avoid the trap of trying to make a statement instead of trying to win a fight.
Source: thesweetscience.com
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Haye Fever is in the air despite gloomy skies and rain-spattered streets in England’s second largest city this weekend. The reason is that the first British heavyweight champion to fight in the British Isles in nearly 10 years is coming to the MEN Arena Saturday night to do more than defend the WBA title he won four months ago. He’s here to make a statement about himself and about British boxing.
The trajectory of British heavyweights prior to Lennox Lewis was far more horizontal than vertical. Once they ventured from their island home the majority of them quickly found themselves outgunned and out cold. Lewis changed that during his time as one of the two dominant heavyweights of his era but he’s been retired for seven years and since then there has been a thirst here to find a British successor.Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison was not that man. Neither was Danny Williams, who faded into oblivion not long after he conquered a faded Mike Tyson. Whether David Haye is remains to be seen, but he won the WBA version of the title four months ago by taking a decidedly careful approach to seven-foot champion Nikolai Valuev and now will make his first defense against two-time WBA title holder John Ruiz.
Many would argue it is Haye’s first real exposure to a true heavyweight, Valuev being more of a circus act than a boxer and Haye’s previous two heavyweight opponents since abandoning the undisputed cruiserweight title (Monte Barrett and Tomasz Bonin) were one step below journeyman status.
Ruiz, on the other hand, has fought 322 rounds as a heavyweight, including 162 championship rounds. He’s twice won the WBA title and this will be his 11th title fight (5-4-1, 1 no contest). To say he is Joe Louis would be wrong. To say he knows his way around heavyweight boxing would be correct. Whether Haye does remains a mystery unsolved.
Haye is nine years younger than the 38-year-old former champion. He is faster of hand and foot and a more powerful puncher, having knocked out 21 of his 23 victims. But whether or not he’s truly a heavyweight remains a point open to discussion because his chin is suspect and his stamina debatable.
Haye (23-1, 21 KO) was dropped by Barrett but got up and stopped him. He was dropped by Jean-Marc Mormeck and Carl Thompson and wobbled by Giacobbe Fragomeni during his time as a cruiserweight as well. He rose to knock out Mormeck and Giacobbe but was stopped by Thompson and so, when taken in totality, those fights raise a question about his fitness to survive for long among the redwoods of boxing. That is why Haye is looking at the Ruiz fight as more than a way to get at the Klitschko brothers on an even promotional plain.
“I’m looking to make a statement in this fight,’’ Haye said this week. “I’m looking to do something dramatic. Ruiz looks good. He looks as good as I’ve ever seen him but I am prepared for that.
“I’m expecting a hard fight. He was stopped 14 years ago (by David Tua) when he got caught cold early but since then he’s never shown any signs of a weak punch defense so if I stop him it will be a great indication of how hard I can punch.’’
The British press have called Haye “the flag-bearer of British boxing’’ and claimed he needs to do more than simply win, insisting this needs to be a spectacular declaration of divisional domination. Although he has tried to downplay all that, which is not his normal way of handling such matters, in the end he conceded wining is not enough if he is to make the kind of statement about himself he believes needs to be made.
“Nothing matters unless I win this fight,’’ Haye said. “I feel like the challenger, not the champion. I feel like I have to take something from Ruiz.
“He’ll be rendered unconscious at some point. Maybe late. I don’t believe he can take my power for 12 rounds. I know he’ll try to smother my punches but the longer the fight goes the better the chance I’ve got (of stopping Ruiz).
“By the end of the fight he will have taken a lot of punishment. He’ll have to take a hell of a shellacking to get there (the 12th round).’’
Haye is a 7-1 betting favorite for a reason. He has superior quickness, athleticism and hand speed. Even Ruiz conceded, “My talent is just so-so. I make up for what I don’t have in determination,’’ which is far from a ringing endorsement of himself.
Yet nothing could be worse for a young champion with a sometimes disloyal chin than to seek a spectacular victory. Haye’s obligation is not to produce drama, for if he pursues that he could produce disaster instead, a moment he experienced six years ago in a similar situation with Thompson.
At that time Haye was considered the future of the cruiserweight division while the 40-year-old Thompson was yesterday’s news. The issue was not whether Haye would defeat him but rather how fashionably he would do it. Five rounds into his night’s work, Haye was a beaten young man, knocked into submission by a fighter who understood his craft and, more importantly, understood that the boxing ring is a place where a script can be re-written with one fist.
Haye’s problem in this regard is that he already took the conservative approach when he won the title by staying away from the hulking Valuev and pot-shotting his way to a championship. It worked beautifully but it seemed to raise the hackles of British fight fans, who this time are demanding much more of him.
Perhaps Haye will be wise enough to screen out their demands and focus on his job by using his quickness to create the right punching distance, winning the territorial battle first with judicious use of pressure, wearing Ruiz down with a relentless pounding before trying anything bolder. That would be the wise course but young fighters are often unwise.
“I have half his experience,’’ Haye said. “He is a seasoned, successful heavyweight. I have to respect him. But I have the skill set to deal with him. I believe I’m the hardest puncher, pound-for-pound, in the world. I look to make a statement, to do something dramatic with him.
“Others didn’t study and they underestimated him. I won’t fall into that trap. I don’t underestimate John Ruiz. A few people think he’ll come over here and upset me. I can’t allow that.’’
To avoid it, David Haye will have to avoid being sucked into the kind of mauling wrestling match Ruiz sometimes looks to create. He does it to use his 230 pounds as a battering ram that wears you down, breaking your spirit and unsettling your plans. Once done, he then forces you to submit, which is what he did particularly to Hasim Rahman, Kirk Johnson and Andrew Golota.
To avoid their fate, David Haye has to avoid the trap of trying to make a statement instead of trying to win a fight.
Source: thesweetscience.com
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