By Lee Collier
David Haye and Adam Booth visited Manchester today to announce details of the recently crowned WBA heavyweight champion’s first defence. Haye, 23-1 (21 early), will face former WBA world heavyweight champion John Ruiz, 44-8 (30), on the 3rd of April at the MEN Arena, Manchester.
The 27-year-old Londoner won the belt back in November by beating the giant Nikolai Valuev over 12 rounds. Haye will face a heavyweight who is more his size in the experienced Ruiz, who has shared the ring with the likes of Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr and Hasim Rahman [Don’t forget James Toney, the best of the lot! – Ed].
Whilst Haye thinks that Ruiz is the toughest opponent he will have faced, the Londoner is confident in his own ability to put himself down as the toughest opponent for 38-year-old Ruiz. Haye also believes that the man who faced Roy Jones Jr’s speed in the American legend’s only heavyweight fight will be shocked by the speed he comes up against in Manchester.
“Ruiz has boxed some pretty good boxers over the years so he won’t think that I am [the best he’s fought] but I believe I am the best [Ruiz has faced]. He’s had over 50 fights, is very durable, very tough, very strong and he’ll be looking at me as a pumped up cruiserweight whose just come up in weight. One thing he will be shocked by is how fast I am.”
Whilst Ruiz has had some big defeats, such as the first round stoppage at the hands of David Tua, it is Ruiz’s best performances that Haye will be looking at, as the Londoner expects Ruiz to 100% prepared.
“I am going to look at John Ruiz’s best performances, you don’t look at him getting knocked out or losing, you look at him at his best doing what he does best, smothering people, getting close and trying to break them down. That’s what I’ll be studying,” stated Haye.
“Ruiz has a new trainer, he has cleaned up himself promotionally so he’ll have a clear head. He will go into training camp without too many worries and I expect the best John Ruiz to turn up on the 3rd of April.”
Haye broke his hand early in the Valuev fight but is adamant that the injury has cleared up and he feels that once Ruiz tastes his power there can only be one outcome. “I have hit the bags, hit the pads and the hands fine. It [the hand] doesn’t look the same but that’s a small price to pay. I am going to be looking at testing my hand on John Ruiz’s face,” boasted Haye.
“I expect Ruiz to come with a solid game plan but whatever he brings to the table I will find a way to counteract that and I’ll not only beat him but knock him out spectacularly.”
Haye’s trainer, Adam Booth, understands what Ruiz brings to the table and knows that his fighter’s preparations and tactics on the night have to be spot on for Haye to retain his title.
“John Ruiz has been at world level and is a master at making talented fighters look less than ordinary,” claimed Booth. “He has done it through his career. I know that this is a massive banana skin in David’s plans of becoming the long-term heavyweight champion and unifying the titles. Looking beyond John Ruiz would be probably be the biggest mistake we could make and is certainly one we won’t make,” concluded Booth.
