By Keith Idec

David Haye is a lot like most of the heavyweights who’ve fought John Ruiz in WBA title fights over the past decade.

Haye will box Ruiz tonight at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England, because he was forced to do so.

Ruiz, a two-time WBA heavyweight champion, is the Venezuelan sanctioning organization’s mandatory challenger. So if Haye’s heavyweight dreams are to come true, he’ll have to first defeat an awkward, underrated opponent he just as soon would’ve avoided.

The rugged Ruiz’s slug-and-hug style has made him one of the most maligned fighters of this era, despite that he is a respectful, decent man. Haye hasn’t confused Ruiz’s failure to entertain fans for a lack of ability, though.

The flamboyant champion from London understands that he’ll have his heavy hands full with Ruiz, nearly a 6-1 underdog largely because this high-risk, low-reward fight will take place in Haye’s homeland.

“I don’t underestimate John Ruiz,” Haye (23-1, 21 KOs) said. “When we signed to fight John Ruiz, I knew it was going to be a tough fight.”

Ruiz’s resume and Haye’s dreadfully dull performance in his last fight against Nikolai Valuev indicate that it might be a tough fight to watch, too. Haye hardly threw any punches against the perpetually unimpressive Valuev, but the former cruiserweight champion beat the 7-foot, 316-pound Russian by majority decision Nov. 7 in Nuremberg, Germany, to win the WBA crown.

“I was surprised he got a decision in Germany,” Ruiz said. “Luck was on his side. I congratulate him. He did what he had to do and got the win.”

Ruiz was surprised because he twice thought he did enough to out-point Valuev there, yet lost both bouts.

The 38-year-old Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs, 1 NC), a Las Vegas resident raised in Chelsea, Mass., lost the WBA title to Valuev by majority decision in December 2005 in Berlin (116-114, 116-113, 114-114). “The Quiet Man” returned to Berlin for another shot at Valuev in August 2008, when they fought for the then-vacant WBA crown, but he lost a unanimous decision in a fight that was closer than two of the scorecards suggested (116-111, 116-113, 114-113).

Other than his seventh-round technical knockout win against German journeyman Adnan Serin (19-11-1, 7 KOs, 1 NC) in his last fight, Ruiz hasn’t had much success overseas in recent years. In addition to his two debatable defeats to Valuev, Ruiz also lost a split decision to former WBA champ Ruslan Chagaev (25-1-1, 17 KOs) in a WBA elimination match in November 2006 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

He has said publicly that he isn’t worried about the Haye fight going the distance, but Ruiz must be concerned about judges determining the outcome of another important fight on foreign soil.

Haye has been stopped once, by retired British cruiserweight Carl Thompson, but Ruiz has won only one of his 11 WBA title fights since 2000 by knockout. He stopped Fres Oquendo in the 11th round of their April 2004 fight at Madison Square Garden., and Oquendo was on his feet when referee Wayne Kelly halted that bout.

A knockout win against an experienced, physical opponent would help Haye’s cause, but Ruiz has been knocked out only once in 54 professional fights since August 1992. He has fought plenty of capable punchers since David Tua viciously knocked him out in the first round 14 years ago in Atlantic City, but none have been able to take him out.

“I’ve always punched hard,” Haye, 29, said. “I believe I’m the hardest puncher, pound-for-pound, in the world. He has been stopped only once, 14 years ago by one of the toughest punchers. I look to make a statement, do something dramatic.”

Ruiz doesn’t expect to encounter an aggressive Haye, no matter what Haye has said.

“I’ve heard it all before,” Ruiz said. “They’re going to knock me out or put me six feet under. I’ve heard it all. Boxing is a sport where you go out and fight.

“He’s fast, moves around a lot and gives different angles. I have to be prepared for that, like corralling an animal. He’s quick. It’s going to be a tough fight.”

Ruiz has changed trainers, from Manny Siaca to Miguel Diaz, for this fight. He has acknowledged that he needs to do more punching and less holding against Haye, but boxers usually don’t dramatically change their styles two decades into their careers.

Haye anticipates opposing the same fighter who has given numerous former champions and contenders trouble throughout his heavyweight run.

“He’s very good at everything, not excellent in any area,” Haye said. “He has all of the punches in the book and is very effective. Others didn’t study and underestimated him. I won’t fall into that trap.”

Diaz believes that Ruiz can win if he can limit Haye’s movement and make it a rough inside battle.

“I watched tapes of David and the one against [Giacobbe] Fragomeni is the one I watched the most,” Diaz said. “[Haye] was beating him for the first five rounds and then [Fragomeni] put the pressure on him. I don’t know if he can take the heat of the kitchen. He must prove it in this fight.”

Haye stopped Fragomeni, who was 37 when they fought in November 2006, in the ninth round. Ruiz faces a comparable age disadvantage, but he’s hardly ready to retire and doesn’t think Haye’s youth will be a factor tonight.

Beyond securing at least one more big payday, Ruiz has historical incentive tonight. If he upsets Haye, he’ll join Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as three-time heavyweight champions.

“Age is just a number,” said Ruiz, who went 6-0 (5 KOs) against pedestrian opposition in England during the 1990s. “It all depends on how you feel, [how you] trained and determination to keep winning. I’ve always said that I don’t have the greatest talent. I take pride in my determination to fight and win. I have the support of my team and my life is as beautiful as ever. I’m complete – personal life and business. I’m on top of the world and here to prove it.” 

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com.