Haye Vs Ruiz Betting Odds

In a much more quiter affair, compared with his last fight, David Haye will step into the ring this Saturday at Manchester’s MEN Arena and put his WBA Heavyweight belt on the line against 38 year old vetran boxer John Ruiz.

Speaking yesterday at a pre-fight press conference about his first title defence, Haye who has been much calmer in the lead-up to the Ruiz fight, than the trash-talking boxer we had become accustomed with prior to the Valuev fight, exploded into life. “I’m going to decapitate him” and “He’s (Ruiz) gonna get knocked out”.

Big talk at last from Haye. But even Haye is aware that twice WBA champion, Ruiz, has only ever suffered 1 KO in 54 professional fights.

American based Puerto Rican, Ruiz, is known as the “Quiet Man”, a hardworking journeyman with a somewhat lacklustre style of boxing that doesn’t quite adhere him to the hearts of many boxing betting fans.

However, Ruiz, knows that Haye suffered a broken hand in his points victory over Valuev. He also knows that this is Haye’s first defence and his first real test and you can be sure that Ruiz will be pulling from all that ring experience to see if the “new kid” Haye has what it takes.

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It is obvious that Haye is feeling the pressure to the build-up of this fight. He’ll also be worrying about his hand, although Haye and his team will never publicly state the fact. The sudden outburst from Haye yesterday was more vocal than threat, a promotional volley to stir interest in the PPV audience (not one American network has bought rights to show the fight, such is the interest) rather than a clear indication to Ruiz of how the fight will panel out.

At a time when boxing needs Haye to help reinvigorate the stagnant heavyweight division it is imperative that the “new kid” on the block doesn’t get the jitters and allows Ruiz to claim his 3rd WBA Heavyweight title. That would be a bitter blow to the sport. Haye needs to win this to help put British boxing firmly back at the top table.

I predict Haye will stop Ruiz in the 5th, sadly there will be no KO, but a victory is a victory and a confidence boosting title defence under Haye’s reign and perhaps America might just sit-up and take notice of this young Londoner at last.