FORMER choirboy turned ‘Quiet Man’ John Ruiz is adamant David Haye will not have a prayer on Saturday in their world title showdown.
Britain’s new world champion haye might find comfort in the fact he will be facing a former choirboy in Manchester, but Ruiz insists he is no angel.
Ruiz, whose self-effacing demeanour has earned him heavyweight boxing’s least threatening sobriquet, ‘The Quiet Man’, admits he is not exactly eye of the tiger outside the ring, more sleeping pussy cat.
“I live my life properly and I am very respectful of my elders and everybody I ever meet,” he said. “Would I have put the Klitschko brothers decapitated on a T-shirt like David Haye did? No, I would not. That’s just not me. If Haye wants to do that, fine. But that isn’t me. It’s just hype. I was a choirboy when I was a kid and my mum, Gladys, brought me and my brothers up to be good kids, who watched their mouths and behaved themselves.
“My mum would fight with anybody. She is that kind of person. I am like her in the ring, but out of it I’m a dad and I want to set an example to my family.”Boston-raised Puerto Rican Ruiz is hoping to create a slice of boxing history by joining Evander Holyfield and Muhammad Ali in winning the world heavyweight title three times should he prevail over WBA champion Haye at the sold-out MEN Arena.
Ruiz might not belong in the same breath as those two legendary fighters, but the facts speak for themselves – Haye is in for a tough evening.
Ruiz has seen off plenty of high-class opponents, including Holyfield, Andrew Golota, James Toney and Jameel McCline. He put Holyfield on the seat of his pants, something Lennox Lewis could not do in 24 rounds.
But the suspicion remains that, at 38, and with three losses in his past six fights – two of which were against Nikolay Valuev, whom Haye beat last year – Ruiz is shop-worn. He counters this by pointing to his durability, the record showing that he was last sparked out 14 years ago when a peak-form David Tua finished him off inside a round. “I can take a shot all right, but can David Haye?” asked Ruiz.
“Anybody can go down in the heavyweight division. It only takes one punch. Look at Lennox Lewis. He was the best heavyweight of his era and he got finished early by Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. If I catch Haye right he will go down, believe me.”
That was about as threatening as Ruiz gets, but don’t be fooled. He hasn’t travelled over from Las Vegas to get a taste for the Manchester weather. “Of course I am here to win,” he said. “I have done it before. I have been there before. Haye hasn’t.”
Asked if he was impressed by Haye’s display against Russian Valuev, which left the 7ft Valuev punching fresh Nuremburg air all night six months ago, Ruiz admits he was. “David Haye fought a great fight against Valuev. He worked out a strategy and executed it perfectly. But would I rather be fighting Haye or Valuev? Haye every time.
“Haye has fast hands and he is good on his feet, but so am I. My hand speed has been enough to knock out a lot of good fighters.”
Ruiz’s CV points to one conclusion, that when he steps up to the higher level he is often found wanting. Not only have Tua and Valuev beaten him, but also Roy Jones jnr, Ruslan Chagaev and Holyfield.
That record of defeats looks set to be extended, and Haye should prevail. But the last thing a fighter loses is his dig, so Ruiz has a puncher’s chance. He said: “I have won when everyone said I would lose. My best is good enough.”
Haye against Ruiz is live and exclusive on Sky Box Office. Call 08442 410 888 to order. ‘Ruiz could match Ali’s third title’
Source: express.co.uk
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