By Scott Gilfoid: David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s) says might run away from everyone to hide for a year if he loses to John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KO’s) on Saturday night. Haye, 29, will be defending his World Boxing Association heavyweight title against perhaps the best heavyweight he’s faced thus far with the 38-year-old Ruiz. In an article at the Sun, Haye says “If I don’t beat Ruiz, it will be another [Carl] Thompson moment for me, and I’ll probably disappear for a year to get over it.” This would be the case of Haye effectively acting out the equivalent of a ostrich by hiding from people so he wouldn’t have to face the criticism, ridicule and questions if he was to lose to Ruiz on Saturday night.

Judging from Haye’s comments, it appears that he thinks it would be a terrible thing for him to lose to a fighter like Ruiz. This is the wrong way to think. Instead of being ashamed of losing to Ruiz, Haye should see it as a gift. At least Haye would recognize how his true talent and could work on improving himself. There’s nothing worse than a fighter that has overestimated how good they really are.

Haye hasn’t really fought anyone at heavyweight besides Nikolay Valuev, who Haye basically ran from for 12 rounds. Haye won that fight despite averaging only 10 punches thrown per round. Haye ended up winning the fight by a 12 round majority decision against the weakest of the three heavyweight champions. That performance by Haye should have given him a clue of how good is he is as a heavyweight.

I don’t know how it couldn’t have. That’s like taking a class in calculus, getting a C- on a test and thinking automatically that you’re going to get an A + on your next test even though you’ve not proven that you have grasp for the subject in prior tests. Haye doesn’t have any real experience at heavyweight other than fights against B level opponents Tomasz Bonin and Monte Barrett. Sadly, Haye was dropped by Barrett. That tells me that Haye, instead of running and hiding after he loses to Ruiz, should look at reality and considering moving back down to the cruiserweight division.

A fighter has to have good size, a good chin and be fundamentally sound if they want to be a success at heavyweight. Haye has taken the easy road since moving up against B level opposition and then facing the weakest of the heavyweight champions. Heck, there’s probably at least a dozen heavyweight contenders that could have beaten Valuev on the night that Haye beat him. Haye barely beating Valuev is no big deal.

Right off hand, I think Valuev would have been beaten easily by heavyweight contenders Alexander Povetkin, Odlanier Solis, Denis Boytsov, Eddie Chambers, Chris Arreola, Ruslan Chagaev, Sam Peter, Tomasz Adamek, Jonathan Banks, Tony Thompson, Denis Bakhtov, David Tua, Kali Meehan, Sam Sexton, Alexander Ustinov, Alexander Dimitrenko and Fres Oquendo. You can probably include Evander Holyfield in that list, because I think he should have gotten the decision when he fought Valuev in 2008.

Haye, speaking about his 5th round knockout loss to 40-year-old Carl Thompson in 2004, says “Carl taught me a lesson. After I lost I wouldn’t talk to anybody…I needed toughness in the Thompson fight – endurance, stamina – and I wasn’t physically or mentally prepared. But I am now.” So you see, Haye says he learned something from the loss.

I suspect Haye will learn something from losing to Ruiz on Saturday night. He could learn that he’s not as tough as he thinks he is, and that maybe he needs to think hard about moving back down in weight to the cruiserweight division where he could have a better chance at dominating. Of course, Haye would have to watch what he eats and get rid of all that excess fat that has accumulated around his jowls and belly. Haye is starting to look a little chubby compared to before. He won’t be able to keep that blubber if he moves back down in weight.

Haye says “If I lost it would be so much worse than my first defeat. I’d have to get away from everyone.” There you go again. Haye would run and hide to avoid people. That’s not the right way to deal with shame. Haye has to dive right in and submerge himself in, and learn what it’s telling him to do. My suggestion would be for him to move back down in weight rather than wasting his time at heavyweight. I can’t see the Klitschko brothers wanting to fight Haye if he loses to Ruiz. Why would they? Haye would have to redeem himself by beating some good top contenders rather than B level fighters and I’m not exactly sure right now whether Haye is capable of doing that.