Haye vs. Ruiz: Will David run from the Quiet Man?
January 4th, 2010
By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s) has a title defense coming up in the next couple of months against mandatory challenger John Ruiz (44-8-2, 30 KO’s). This will be the first defense of Haye’s title after defeating big seven foot Russian Nikolay Valuev by a 12 round majority decision in November 2009. Haye hardly looked dominating in the fight, fighting a strictly defensive-oriented bout and doing just enough to get the win over Valuev.
Haye will have to fight much better than that if he wants to beat the 38-year-old Ruiz, and get a shot at a unification bout against one of the Klitschko brothers. Ruiz has good offensive skills, a frustrating punch & grab technique, and a solid chin. Haye will be tested in a big way in this fight, and he won’t be able to win it by knockout. Haye is saying that he’s going to destroy Ruiz without any problems.
However, I see that as empty boasting on Haye’s part. He just doesn’t seem to have same aggression at heavyweight compared to the way he fought as a cruiserweight. Thus far, in two of Haye’s three fights, he’s not looked like a phenom in beating Monte Barrett and Valuev. He’s winning, but I haven’t seen anything from Haye’s performances that would suggest that he’s capable of competing against either of the Klitschko brothers. In my estimation, I see Haye as blow top contenders Alexander Povetkin, Odlanier Solis and Eddie Chambers in ability. He’s missing the aggression and the work rate needed to compete with the better heavyweights in the division in my view.
I think Ruiz fight is going to be a very tough life and death bout for Haye. I see him running for his life after tasting some of Ruiz’s power early on, and looking to pot shot his way to a victory. That kind of thing will work against a bigger slower heavyweight like Valuev, but Ruiz will keep enough pressure on Haye to make this fight very close and ugly. I can see this fight being hard to pick the winner.
Haye will likely win, because he’s the champion and the fight will be no doubt held in England, but it will probably be controversial. I think Haye will stink up the joint by running nonstop for the entire 12 rounds. It would be much better for Haye to stand his ground and swing for the fences against Ruiz, and maybe catch him with something big. However, I think Haye, a small heavyweight at only 217, doesn’t feel comfortable brawling with the bigger, stronger heavyweights.
Tags: 30 Responses to “Haye vs. Ruiz: Will David run from the Quiet Man?”
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smashed im
Good and young – full of strength thats Haye- he will mop the heavyweight division.
I think you severly underestimate haye’s power and his fight with valuev was only like that because if you slug it out with valuev you will eat the canvas, also ruiz’s age is a major factor in this, hes just not fast enough
how many heaviweight boxing champions have you had in the history of boxing. give me a number. we love to come over to brit and kick you asses
If you saw Valuev as the winner, there´s two options: You´re blind, or you have something personal against Haye.
Can you explain which one is your case, Mr Gilfoid?
Come on, even Valuev admited he lost the fight! Go and check his post-fight press statements.
Mr Gilfoid,
I think you underestimate haye and border on anti British fighters, judging from you previous articles. I think Haye clearly won against the giant Valuev and although it was defensive and rather disappointing to watch, he clearly landed more frequently and with more accuracy than Valuev, who hardly touched Haye all night. When the likes of Haye and Mitchell box and move you call it running, but when Dirrell boxed and moved and held like a scared little puppy you hail it as a defensive master class. You are clearly biased towards any non Brit fighter
hey mr chicken you dont have a heavyweight world champion.
@shane i completely agree with u man i dont know how people say the Klitschko’s are boxing they you how to fight tactical vs heaps of diferent opponents and they mostly prevail in KO/TKO they show u how to beat heaps of dif style fighters they are perfect champions and american boxing is so jelous of them its so obvious they always critizise there boxing ability when they are better then every heavyweight with skill
wow you guys are acting like Ruiz is great if he beat Ruiz i still wont give him Credit untill David Haye fights someone like Eddie Chambers , Arreola , Povetkin or the Klitschko’s
ruiz is garbage! test would of been tua ,arreola maybe even james toney ?? the heavy weight division is a joke nowdays.. i used to be a huge heavyweight fan!! those are the good’oldays maybe adamek ??
they will need to blood test haye, he may be HIV positive. If he gets past Ruiz, meehan/chagaev winner will ko him.
Haye will size Ruiz up for three rounds and then explode on him. He demolisehd Barrett and Bonin and took care of Valuev with a broken hand.
Scott do your your homework and watch you tube. You are embarrassing.
“then in my eyes he easily outpointed valuev with a broken hand sufered in the 2nd round, he also almost kod valuev in the last round”
LOL! I find it very funny that Haye claims he broke his hand in the fight. Yet, I have not seen one article showing this is true. Not one doctor verification. What a load of garbage.
He doesn’t need to make execuses. He stayed away from the giant. He made a tactical decision to keep his distance and jump in and hammer the giant when the opportunity presented itself.
Thats boxing to me. Although I like a good KO like anyone else, I also enjoy a nice tactical fight. Thats why i enjoy watching the K brothers. Can’t wait to see a Haye & K fight.
I liked your article Scott G. These brits are a bunch of pencil necs, and break like one too. Haye is a little biach with a big mouth.
Still to see a decent prediction from you yet. Haye in 6!!!!!!
john ruiz the most boring fighter ever oh yh, valaev too, im glad these 2 pusiz dont has a belt they dont deserve it, i see another john ruiz with david tua preformace,
ruiz getting KTFO
david hayes style is 1 of a kind in the heavyweigts.
go haye, time for btitish boxer to break through,
You talk rubbish, when Haye smashes Ruiz you should apologise, I used to be a Haye Hater now I’m on the band wagon, he is the real deal with all the attributes.
bum of the month 70 years on .
No pressure on Haye for this fight, he will enjoy himself and show how dangerous he is.
time 5.25 pm monday january 4 201o david haye wouild lose to vitali or waldimir klitschko
haye will demolish ruiz inside 6 rounds if he doesnt i will eat my hat
Although i think ruiz is an underestimated fighter i believe the hayemaker will mop the floor with ruiz
How has haye not looked impresive as a heavy weight?he destroyed bonin in a round,he demolishet barrett knocking him down 5 times.then in my eyes he easily outpointed valuev with a broken hand sufered in the 2nd round,he also almost kod valuev in the last round,i find this very impresive as valuev has never even been hurt in over 50 fight,plus if tua can ko ruiz ad say haye has similar power,so i just cant see ruiz geten to the end without being kod.
Haye will win by 5th round stoppage.
YOU HAD VALUEV WINNING THE FIGHT? U MUST HAVE BEEN ASLEEP. VALUEV HARDLY TOUCHED HAYE ALL NIGHT.
Haye won’t ko Ruiz because he has an iron chin. Didn’t look like that when he fought Tua. I personaly think he should move a lot as Ruiz will have trouble keeping up. I predict Haye KOs him within 60 seconds.
Haye will run and box the bigger and stronger Ruiz….. Ruiz trains hard, but age is catching up to him…. Ruiz will fall short cuz of a lack of speed and finess…… Haye wins this fight……
MR.BILL
Haye did a tactical Job on Valuev.
Nothing wrong with fighting smart at all, in fact its the best way, make a gameplan to work against your opponent and execute it.
However the gameplan vs Ruiz will probably just been to lump him as hard as possible early on and send him packing, as he has no advantages over Haye at all (except more fights).
at 3.50 pm january4 2010 david haye john ruiz oh olease
It is gonna be a demolition imo
Haye Tko inside 10 rounds
Scott Gilfoid is a legend lol