By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s) has a realistic view on his April 3rd fight with former heavyweight champion John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KO’s), expecting to take a lot of punishment in that fight. I agree. I think Haye is going to take a lot of punishment from Ruiz, too.

Haye, 29, says in an article at Sport magazine, it’s going to be harder than the [Nikolay] Valuev fight. It’s going to be more of a slugfest, and I’m expecting to take some abuse in this one, so I’m just preparing my body for the worst. I know he’s [Ruiz] going to come out there, get close and try to rough me up. He comes in real heavy with his head, so I’m expecting to get cut at some stage in this fight. I know it’s going to be a real war, so that’s what I’m preparing for.”

I don’t see Haye getting cut from clashing heads with Ruiz, although it is a possibility. I think Haye is going to get cut up from Ruiz’s punches, not his head. Ruiz will work his way to the inside, where he will be able to land his big shots without worrying about Haye’s pot shots. Haye is pretty average on the inside, and Ruiz has probably noted what I’ve seen of Haye. He’ll get inside on Haye, batter him to the head and body, and beat him up a little. Haye is correct about this being a harder fight than his bout with Valuev.

Ruiz will be a much tougher opponent, mostly because at 6’2” 230, he’ll be fast enough to catch up to Haye when/if the British fighter starts running. Last time out, Haye promised big fireworks for his bout with the 7-foot Valuev last November, but we got instead was Haye running all around the ring trying to avoid the weak punches from Valuev. Ruiz, although not nearly as tall as the big Russian, hits harder than him.

I see Haye getting on his bike immediately in the 1st round after getting a small taste of Ruiz’s power. I don’t see this fight ending up as a slugfest at all. If anything, it will be another case of Haye running for the hills, playing keep away for 12 rounds. As long as Haye keeps moving, I think he’ll be able to stay in the fight. Haye doesn’t move that, though, so he’s going to have be much lighter on his feet than he showed against Valuev. Haye, with his huge upper body, looked sluggish and slow as he moved around laterally against Valuev. He’s going to have to be lighter on his feet than that to get a win against Ruiz.

Haye says “His [Ruiz] whole career has been boring up to now. I know he’s going to be there after 12 rounds, I know I’m going to be there for 12 rounds, so you’re going to get a really explosive fight. You’re going to get fireworks. That’s 100%.” Somehow I don’t believe Haye. I see Haye being what he was in the Valuev fight. His fireworks will be a big dud. I see him running for 12 rounds.

Ruiz hasn’t exactly had a boring career up until now. He’s fought Roy Jones Jr., Evander Holyfield, Andrew Golota, Ruslan Chagaev, Fres Oquendo, Jameel McCline, Hasim Rahman and Kirk Johnson. Those are respectable opponents. Haye has only fought Monte Barrett, Valuev and Tomasz Bonin at heavyweight. That doesn’t compare to Ruiz’s resume. It’s not even close. Haye’s bouts at cruiserweight have come against a mixed bunch of fighters, some good, and a lot of them bad. But even the good ones, I don’t as being in the league of the aforementioned heavyweights that Ruiz has fought.