Who feels that Ruiz has a realistic chance of beating Haye ?

[FLINT ISLAND]

Listening to alot of people talking about the upcoming WBA World Heavyweight title fight. Alot of people seem to be taking for granted that Haye will win quite comfortably.

Even a big poll in Boxing Monthly had everyone picking Haye would win - most comfortably making the pick - and only Emanuel Steward picked Ruiz.

I am not saying Ruiz will win.

Put a gun to my head - and I would probaly go with the younger fresher more explosive champion to gain a late stoppage or a points decsion.

But I see this as the toughest fight of Hayes career.

John Ruiz - is a dirty - boring - clinching - ugly - mauling fighter.

But he is a tough man - and can make a tough fight for anyone.

The reasons why I give Ruiz a decent to good chance of beating Haye .......


Experience - he is far more experienced than Haye - he has been in there with Valuev and Holyfield and James Toney and Roy Jones and David Tua (very briefly ) and had many many fights in or around World level.

Haye in contrast is only having his 2nd ever World heavyweight title fight. And unlike the first "Lord of the Dance" performance against Valuev - I get the impression because Ruiz is a more normal sized man - Haye is gonna fight and try to take him out.

I can see Ruiz having the durabilty to get through the early rounds and hit and clinch and use his expereince to outbustle Haye.

Haye will be found a bit green compared to Ruiz.

Frogremeni put Haye on queer street - Ruiz can hurt him too.

Very interesting fight.

[Wales]

I think haye will win early, inside 4. But you're right, Ruiz is one touch fornicator, only ever stopped when caught cold by a monster of a puncher in Tua.

[carrotcruncher]

Ruiz is a tough guy and Haye has not got a chin.
But Ruiz was slow in his prime
If Haye bores the pants off us like he did against Valuev, and makes the most of the openings when they come as Ruiz gets tired, Haye wins.
But he isn't a proper world champ until he beats a Klitschko imo.

[Coco]

Anyone who can take Haye into the later stages of the fight has a chance, but they need to have kept a pace up

[lefthook82]

I'l be betting on it

[Wales]

on what ?

[lefthook82]

on ruiz to win. Not much. A sneaky £20 or something

[bigjack]

I do, that's why i'm going to see it as i think it has the potential to be a tough one for haye.Ruiz is good at what he does making anyone look bad.

[Spiker]

Ruiz is awfull and i think Haye will stop him early easily.

Mormeck was a harder fight than this. Says it all really

Oh and im still going to pay for it as its easter and im a sucker

[yiddo14]

Saying Mormeck was a harder fight doesn't really detract from Ruiz's capabilities though does it!

Mormeck was a very tough fight for Haye. It is probably Haye's hardest fought win so far.

I'm looking forward to this and to see how Haye deals with the problems Ruiz will bring.

[alexpaterson]

I think Haye will win, but it wouldnt really shock me if Ruiz could cause an upset. He is an under-rated fighter

[Spiker]

Saying Mormeck was a harder fight doesn't really detract from Ruiz's capabilities though does it!

Mormeck was a very tough fight for Haye. It is probably Haye's hardest fought win so far.

I'm looking forward to this and to see how Haye deals with the problems Ruiz will bring.

I am lost to what Ruiz's capabilities are though.
Apart from a load of mauling and holding.
Hes strong I can see that but i cant see much else.
I cant see Haye letting him close enough to Maul and spoil.

[hitman_hatton1]

i don't give ruiz no chance.

mainly cos haye is a touch vulnerable.

and ruiz is a sturdy sort.

but i just see haye's punches making a dent in ruiz.

i don't see ruiz liking it at all.

haye's got better skills even if ruiz takes the shots.

haye in 6 rds.

[Spud]

I think Ruiz has a definite chance - but really want David to win for him and more importantly the sport in this country.

David is a top man and it will be fantastic to see him do a number on Ruiz.

Just have a gut feeling - not everything will go smoothly.

[Matt W]

I think this has every possibility of being Haye's toughest fight. Ruiz knows how to make a fight difficult and Haye is still largely unproven at the weight. A stoppage for Haye would be a very impressive result.

[Deserter]

I think everyone is judging Ruiz as if he isn't subject to the same laws of time as the rest of us...
Absolutely no-one seems to be picking up on the fact that he hasn't had a win of any significance in the last six years and is a good seven years past his prime.
To me, he's potentially a textbook case of the fighter who will look old overnight in the ring, particularly given that Haye will be the youngest, freshest, most dynamic fighter he's faced in years and his speed will highlight Ruiz's plodding nature even more.
Yes, there's the danger that he will turn it into an ugly maul, but I wish everyone would stop writing about Ruiz as if he's exactly the same fighter he was when he was beating Oquendo and Holyfield back in the day.

[Spud]

I think everyone is judging Ruiz as if he isn't subject to the same laws of time as the rest of us...
Absolutely no-one seems to be picking up on the fact that he hasn't had a win of any significance in the last six years and is a good seven years past his prime.
To me, he's potentially a textbook case of the fighter who will look old overnight in the ring, particularly given that Haye will be the youngest, freshest, most dynamic fighter he's faced in years and his speed will highlight Ruiz's plodding nature even more.
Yes, there's the danger that he will turn it into an ugly maul, but I wish everyone would stop writing about Ruiz as if he's exactly the same fighter he was when he was beating Oquendo and Holyfield back in the day.

I would normally agree with you - but Haye needs to play safe for a tadge because Ruiz's chance is in the early rounds when he has some energy still in the tank - that is my fear for Haye!!!

[Finn]

Haye in 6 rounds, hayes only lost once and that was when he was green and hadnt bothered working on his stamina, he hasnt been on the floor for more than six seconds from a clean punch and he never looks hayzee when he gets back up.

Ruiz is going to get punished!

[Spiker]

Im going to place a bet on Haye in round 3.
I wouldnt be suprised if it was earlier though.
It sounds optimistic I know but i think this is an easy night for him.

[stujones]

Ruiz looked a bit shaken up in his last fight. Whilst it is refreshing to see a heavyweight fight, involving 2 heavyweights who "look" the part. I just feel Ruiz is too old, too slow, too open now.

It is a real test of Haye's power, but I think the wear and tear on Ruiz will make him look great.

[Spud]

It is a real test of Haye's power, but I think the wear and tear on Ruiz will make him look great.

Although as already mentioned I think there is going to be some scary moments - I hope it is you who is completely correct.

In my opinion British Boxing could do with David Haye smashing his way to the top of the Heavyweight rankings - it will be good for the sport.

[hurlock]

i kind of agreed with manny stewards comments in the boxing news.

ruiz did look poor in germany & haye has lightning speed & if he decides to pace himself he may come unstuck i feel, he's more then capable of doing a number on ruiz but you never know with haye, there's allway's drama there.

[whiskey]

Ruiz is just sooooo slow.

[ALI]

If Haye fights smart he'll win, i dont think many people would disagree with that. Its his fight to loose, and with that, Ruiz has more than a slim chance at pulling of the upset!

[Raff The Frenchman]

Ruiz is just sooooo slow.

Ruiz isn't slow, he is very deceiving. Just ugly to watch but certainly not slow. Very durable. I wouldn't bet on Haye if this goes past the 8th round.