By Scott Gilfoid: I don’t know if anyone has noticed but WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has been fighting pretty much old guys since moving up to the heavyweight division in 2008. Let’s look at who Haye has faced since moving up in weight: Monte Barrett, 38, Nikolay Valuev, 36, John Ruiz, 38, and Tomasz Bonin, 33. Okay, apart from Ruiz, who Haye had no choice but to fight because he was his mandatory, Haye still has gone after a lot of old guys. Why is Haye being steered towards older fighters? As another writer pointed out, this a lot like how Amir Khan has been steered towards old toothless lions rather than ones with teeth and claws like Marcos Maidana.
Haye-Ruiz
Ruiz would have stood a better chance against Haye if he used his old fighting style
By William Mackay: 38-year-old John Ruiz made a huge mistake in trying to slug with WBA heavyweight champion David Haye last Saturday night. It was a game plan that was doomed for failure from the very start, and it’s too bad that Ruiz and his trainer didn’t make adjustments after the 1st round. Ruiz was knocked down twice in the 1st when he went right at the faster, more powerful Haye trying to punch with him.
Haye not interested in fighting Hopkins
By Jim Dower: Former light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO’s) wants to fight WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s), even after Hopkins’ disappointing 12 round decision over 41-year-old Roy Jones Jr. last weekend. Hopkins said in article at the BBC “People will think the punch [Hopkins was hit in the back of the head by Jones and hurt in the 6th round of their fight] in the back of my head made me a little crazy, but I want Haye.”
Haye wants his next fight to take place in the UK – News
By Eric Thomas: Making his first defense of his title, World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s) was quite pleased at the sellout crowd of 20,000 fans that came to see his fight against John Ruiz (44-9-1, 30 KO’s) last Saturday night at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England. Haye, 29, fighting with a lot of motivation backed by the loud support of the crowd took the 38-year-old Ruiz apart, knocking him down four times before the fight was stopped by Ruiz’s corner throwing in the towel in the 9th round.
Haye shows porous defense in Ruiz win
By William Mackay: WBA heavyweight champion David Haye showed a leaky defense in taking out an old 38-year-old John Ruiz in the 9th round last night in front of 20,000 screaming British fans at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England. Haye knocked Ruiz down four times in the fight before it was eventually stopped in the 9th with Ruiz taking punishment along the ropes and unable to really defend himself. I’m no big fan of the Klitschko brothers, but I have to say I think they both would make easy work of the Haye that fought last night. Haye’s defense was simply atrocious.
Haye: “If I hit the Klitschkos with the same shots I was hitting Ruiz, both of them would go over” – News
By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s) was in fine form after last night’s 9th round technical knockout over the slow, short 38-year-old John Ruiz (44-9-1, 30 KO’s, as Haye tooted his own horn, saying “If I hit the Klitschkos with the same shots I was hitting Ruiz, both of them would go over.” I suppose Haye is correct about that. If both Klitschko brothers were stupid enough to just stand there in front of Haye all night long, crouching down to the same height as the 6’2” Ruiz, throwing mainly weak punches, then I could have seen Haye knocking both of the Klitschko brothers out.
Haye KO’s the doubters
By Shaun Campbell: David Haye knocked John Ruiz’s game plan out the window within the first minute of their bout last night. Ruiz was walking into stiff jabs from Haye, and then a combination landed with speed that most middleweights would be proud of. Those in MEN Arena rose to their feet as it looked like the fight was all but over. But credit must be given to the durable, tough, and ever so brave John Ruiz.
Observations on Haye vs. Ruiz bout
By Scott Gilfoid: First of all, I think WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s) should have been disqualified for the many rabbit punches he threw in the fight. I’m frankly shocked at how poorly the referee enforced the rules against throwing rabbit punches to the back of the head. Haye knocked John Ruiz down four times in the fight, but I saw three of them occurring from rabbit punches. And incredibly, the referee counted the 2nd knockdown against Ruiz as an actual knockdown, even though the referee took a point away from Haye for throwing a rabbit punch. What is that? What was the referee thinking?
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Haye-Klitschko
By William Mackay: If you’re hoping that World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s0 will be fighting one of the Klitschko brothers any time soon, think again. I don’t expect Haye to fighting both of the Klitschko any time soon, and probably not until 2011, if at all. Judging by how evasive Haye’s manager/trainer Adam Booth whenever the Klitschko’s names were brought up, I think it’s safe to assume that neither of the Klitschkos will be on the agenda for the next fight.
Analysis: Haye looks good, but there are still questions to answer
By Alan Ross: David Haye beats tough, durable, worthy challenger John Ruiz impressively – or does he just beat up an old man who never really had much chance? Let’s dive a bit deeper into what we’ve learnt about Haye from his performance against Ruiz.
First of all, let’s get one or two things clear: Haye had to fight Ruiz, or lose his title. This was no handpicked opponent; yes, Ruiz is 38, but he came into the contest in good shape, and he is known to be an awkward customer who can take a punch and keep going.