David Haye vs. John Ruiz explained

Fight Name:Lord Of The Ring
Fight Date:3 April 2010
Location:Manchester Arena, Manchester, United Kingdom
Titles:WBA Heavyweight Championship
Fighter1: David Haye
Nickname1:"The Hayemaker"
Hometown1:Bermondsey, London, UK
Purse1:£3,000,000
Record1:23–1 (21 KO)
Height1:6 ft 3 in
Weight1:222 lb
Style1:Orthodox
Recognition1:WBA
Heavyweight Champion
The Ring
No. 5 Ranked Heavyweight
Fighter2: John Ruiz
Nickname2:"The Quietman"
Hometown2:Chelsea, Massachusetts, US
Record2:44–8–1 (1) (30 KO)
Height2:6 ft 1 in
Weight2:231 lb
Style2:Orthodox
Recognition2:WBA
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
Result:Haye defeated Ruiz via 9th round TKO

David Haye vs. John Ruiz, billed as Lord Of The Ring, was a professional boxing match contested on 3 April 2010, for the WBA Heavyweight championship.[1]

Background

Before David Haye faced Nikolai Valuev for the WBA title in November 2009, it had been agreed that the winner of the bout would face mandatory challenger and former champion John Ruiz. Haye had hoped to stage the bout in his native London, with The O2 Arena and The New Den being considered but unavailable for the 3 April date, hence the Manchester Arena was chosen.[2] [3]

Ruiz claimed that he would change his usual jab and grab style saying that "You're going to see the old Ruiz, boxing and punching,"[4]

This was the first Heavyweight title bout in the UK for a decade since Lennox Lewis stopped Francois Botha in 2000 and the first ever in Manchester.

Ruiz was aiming to join Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis as the only boxers ever to win a heavyweight title on three or more occasions.

The fight

After only 25 seconds of the fight, Haye floored Ruiz with a left followed by a big right hand. Ruiz beat the count but was knocked down again later in the round with a punch to the back of the head. The referee, Guillermo Perez Pineda, docked Haye a point before giving Ruiz an eight-count. Ruiz had some success with his jab in the 4th round but Haye responded by rocking Ruiz with a pair of right crosses early in 5th before dropping the challenger again at the end of the round. A right hook had Ruiz down for a third time in the 6th. Haye continued to dominate before Ruiz's trainer Miguel Diaz threw in the towel with a minute left of the 9th round, giving Haye a TKO victory.[5] [6] [7] Haye became only the second person to stop Ruiz, the first since David Tua in 1996.

Aftermath

Following his win Haye was again linked with the Klitschko brothers,[8] [9] however he opted to face Audley Harrison,[10] after rejecting interest from Bernard Hopkins[11] and Evander Holyfield.[12]

Ruiz would retire after his defeat and would go on to open a Gym in Medford, Massachusetts.

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:[13]

Broadcasting

align=center Countryalign=center Broadcaster
Polsat
Sky Sports

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Haye vs. John Ruiz . boxrec.com/ . BoxRec . 6 March 2024.
  2. Web site: David Haye to face John Ruiz in Manchester on 3 April . bbc.co.uk . BBC . 6 March 2024 . 26 January 2010.
  3. Web site: Steve Bunce . Boxing: Haye braced for a fright night . independent.co.uk . The Independent . 6 March 2024 . 3 April 2010.
  4. Web site: Kevin Mitchell . John Ruiz ready to battle his instincts and brawl past David Haye . . 6 March 2024 . 2 April 2010.
  5. Web site: Harry Reekie . David Haye v John Ruiz world title fight as it happened . bbc.co.uk . BBC . 6 March 2024 . 3 April 2010.
  6. Web site: Ben Dirs . David Haye stops John Ruiz to retain heavyweight title . bbc.co.uk/ . BBC . 6 March 2024 . Manchester . 3 April 2010.
  7. Web site: Kevin Mitchell . David Haye retains world title with ninth-round defeat of John Ruiz . . 6 March 2024 . 3 April 2010.
  8. Web site: Kevin Mitchell . David Haye does his duty by pounding sense into gallant John Ruiz . . 7 March 2024 . 5 April 2010.
  9. Web site: Klitschko brothers line up autumn bouts to leave David Haye frustrated . The Guardian . 7 March 2024 . 31 July 2010.
  10. Web site: Jamie Jackson . David Haye close to setting date for WBA title defence against Audley Harrison . . 7 March 2024 . 3 September 2010.
  11. Web site: Associated Press . David Haye rules out Bernard Hopkins fight to focus on Klitschkos . . 7 March 2024 . 5 April 2010.
  12. Web site: Press Association . Veteran Evander Holyfield calls on David Haye to give him a title shot . . 7 March 2024 . 1 September 2010.
  13. Web site: BoxRec - event.