David Haye vs. John Ruiz Results/Live Round-by-Round Scoring

#5 David Haye (23-1) vs. #59 John Ruiz (44-8-1) for the WBA world heavyweight title; fight starts at approximately 6:00 pm eastern time.

Recent bouts (vs. ranked HW fighters, w/current rankings): David Haye

04/2007: Win  by KO  over  #236 TOMASZ BONIN    
11/2008: Win  by KO  over  #190 MONTE BARRETT   
11/2009: Win  by MD  over  #6 NICOLAY VALUEV  

Recent bouts (vs. ranked HW fighters, w/current rankings): John Ruiz

12/2005: LOSS by MD   to   #6 NICOLAY VALUEV  
11/2006: LOSS by SD   to   #4 RUSLAN CHAGAEV  
03/2008: Win  by UD  over  #188 JAMEEL MCCLINE  
08/2008: LOSS by UD   to   #6 NICOLAY VALUEV

Haye weighed in at 222 lbs. and Ruiz at 231, the heaviest Haye has weighed since moving up.

• ROUND ONE: Ruiz comes out swinging, hunting down Haye. Haye KNOCKS RUIZ DOWN. Ruiz clinching. Ruiz down again after possible hit to back of head. 2 minutes left in round. Ruiz in bad shape but carrying on. Ruiz' experience is keeping him up, he gets in one good shot against the ropes. As the round ends, Ruiz doesn't hear the bell and continues to hit Haye after the bell. HAYE 10-8 (2nd knockdown was likely an illegal hit but no deduction was awarded, I don't think, unless they awarded it later. This round could be anywhere from 10-9 to 10-7 then)
• ROUND TWO:  Ruiz has recovered quite a bit, and is moving forward again. Haye with a good right hand, but Ruiz walks through it. Haye looks for opening, doesn't find it. Ruiz didn't connect much but the round was pretty close. Haye 10-9 (20-17)
• ROUND THREE: Both at close quarters. Ruiz taking advantage of Haye's lowered guard. Good combo from Haye. Ruiz backs Haye up to ropes, Haye escapes. Haye waiting to counterpunch off Ruiz's jabs. He's beating Quiz to the punch, several times. Haye winning the tactical battle, hanging back, picking his spots; goes for a "hayemaker" but misses, Ruiz counters. Haye 10-9 (30-26)
• ROUND FOUR: Ruiz following his gameplan, stalking down Haye. Decent right hand by Ruiz, great left jab-uppercut by Haye. Haye's speed is keeping Ruiz flat-footed. Ruiz tries to trap Haye in corner, Haye always escapes. Ruiz gets a few good shot in near the end of the round, jabs and crosses. Probably enough to give the close round to Ruiz. Ruiz 10-9 (Haye 39-36)
• ROUND FIVE: Ruiz comes out fast, emboldened by his success last round. Haye makes him pay with combo, then left and right. Ruiz against ropes but takes it, Haye can't follow up. Big shot by Haye but Ruiz was covered up. Jab by Haye knocks Ruiz' head back, but he keeps coming. Sloppy round, but much more action than most Ruiz fights. Ruiz knocked down at the end of the round. Haye 10-8 (Haye 49-44)
• ROUND SIX: Ruiz looking tired but still coming in, Haye dancing a bit. Haye knocks Ruiz down again, but Ruiz complains again about rabbit punches. Haye unloading. Fighters separated as Ruiz mouthpiece is retrieved. Haye waiting for another opportunity. Haye starting to punch more, to the body, then the head as the bell rings. Haye 10-8 (Haye 59-52)
• ROUND SEVEN: Haye punching accurately, jabbing. Ruiz stalking but not doing much. Haye counterpunching well. Ruiz gets some good body shots in with 1/2 minute left. We'll give Ruiz a lenient draw that round, 10-10 (Haye 69-62)
• ROUND EIGHT: Ruiz comes in, Haye hits Ruiz with four quick shots, backing him up to the post. Ruiz comes back, stalking again, Haye goes for big knockout and misses. Ruiz takes big right in stride. More big punches from Haye. Ruiz connects, Haye escapes. Haye slams Ruiz with another huge shot but Ruiz is stunned for only a moment. Clear Haye round, 10-9 (79-71)
• ROUND NINE: Ruiz just looking for a lucky shot, but not trying much. Haye fending him off, knowing the fight is well in hand. Haye being conservative, staying out of reach. Looking for opening himself, though. Haye connects with right hand that bloodies Ruiz' face, doesn't go down though. Ruiz' corner THROWS IN THE TOWEL, David Haye wins at 2:01.

David Haye definitely proved himself with this fight, becoming only the 2nd person to stop John Ruiz. The only thing he didn't prove is his ability to follow up when he has a fighter in trouble, at heavyweight. Even after several knockdowns, Ruiz walked through Haye's biggest punches. Haye's punches have speed but not necessarily a great amount of power, so their effect depends on the angle and location more than someone like Arreola. Still, like the Klitschkos have done recently, his cumulative punching damage took its toll on Ruiz, who will fall out of the SportsRatings Heavyweight Boxing Top 100 for the first time in over a decade. Haye, meanwhile will move up to #4 ahead of Ruslan Chagaev.

Comments

[childhood depression]

David Haye next fight must be one of the KLITSCHKO's..