Perhaps it was the sombre, gothic stone setting at Manchester Town Hall which deterred him, yet Haye and his team threw a curveball, talking up the challenger's impressive record and outlining the respect they had for him.
Ruiz has carved a career amongst the big men by grafting through 15 years to win the WBA title twice, almost as last man standing. There was no hubris. Just respect.
"Man, I was expecting some kind of trash talk from Haye today," a slightly bemused Ruiz said after the two men, of almost identical stature, went nose-to-nose. But they did have a long, hard stare into each other's eyes. "Yeah, I know the look. He's ready all right. So am I. I'm here, hungry and willing to win," said the 38-year-old American, who contests a world title bout for the 12th time. 
A low-key build-up to this contest suddenly gathered momentum yesterday as a phalanx of cameras and reporters followed the pair, both cagey, clearly attempting to size each other up. It is a weekend of heavyweight clashes here in Manchester this weekend, as Manchester United and Chelsea have their battle. Haye revealed most of the players will be ringside. Few tickets remain for what promises to be an intriguing contest pitting characters who are polar opposites. Ruiz openly admits he does not study the style of his opponents before he faces them, and boxes instinctively. Haye, conversely, leaves nothing to chance, always having prepared meticulous A, B & C game plans.
Ruiz is a stifling fighter, who says little. Haye is a knockout specialist, though he admits Ruiz will need to be broken down over time to unlock his defence. Haye is brash, loud and enjoys cock of the walk status, going back to his days as a swaggering playboy who once stepped out with Kylie Minogue.
Adam Booth, who acts as Haye's trainer and manager and prides himself on the fastidiousness of the team's preparations, put the contest in perspective.
"This was the hardest fight out there, [apart from the other belt holders brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko]. David has more respect for John Ruiz than for any opponent he has ever fought. He has to. Ruiz has been in with the best, including Evander Holyfield three times."
Haye addeded: "I have half his experience, and he is a seasoned, successful heavyweight. I have to respect him, but I have the skill set to deal with him. It will be dramatic and I will take him out." Booth added: "He will be quick, explosive and the best David Haye the world has ever seen." A tall order against a fighter who has built a career on smothering the work of multiple elite-level opponents, one of them being Hasim Rahman, the nemesis of Lennox Lewis. If Haye delivers in style, we will see the long-overdue awakening of the slumbering heavyweight division.
David Haye v John Ruiz is live in HD on Sky Box Office on Saturday.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
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