David Haye v John Ruiz Round By Round
David Haye Result
Round Eight: No sign of Ruiz’s corner pulling their man out. He’s still there and swinging but a huge Haye right rocks him to the ropes. Another right from the champion who fancies stopping this with a single shot. Ruiz’s durability is amazing but Haye is picking him off without having to raise his workrate. A good left-hook catches Ruiz’s chin but he hardly blinks and lands a right of his own. Huge right from Haye and somehow Ruiz is still on his feet. He’s thrown at least a dozen punches which could have finished other fights. Huge applause as Haye returns to his stool after putting another round in the bank.
Round Seven: Haye has now landed 90 punches. Ruiz is still in there but he is now gambling – as he probably has been all night – on knocking the champion out. Haye dancing around, lands two clean jabs. The word coming out from the challenger’s corner is they’re giving him one more round. The crowd roar their approval as Haye lands with a right. Credit Ruiz though, still be tries to close him down. A left jab hits Haye’s gloves, he remains at arm’s length. A flurry of punches from Ruiz with Haye trapped in a corner comes to nothing. Haye is bossing this.
Round Six: Ruiz tries to start brightly and throws three left jabs. A right follows with Haye on the ropes. He’s trying to walk across the champion again and corner him. The crowd burst into song and Haye responds with a lovey right. Ruiz is down for a fourth time. Again he claims a rabbit punch but it wasn’t. The hand speed and power is beginning to tell. Three more big punches, Ruiz is on the ropes and on legs of jelly. However Haye needs his gum shield putting back in, breathing space for Ruiz. Somehow the challenger’s head seems to have cleared again, good body shot from Haye. Ruiz’s only hope is that he runs out of gas. Another shuddering right lands, then the jab. It’s all the champion and the bell sounds with the challenger trapped on the ropes.
Round Five: Haye has landed 54 punches to Ruiz’s 38 but will be looking to reassert his control. The challenger lands a good right hand early though. Haye hits Ruiz with a right, then a left upper-cut, the crowd roar him on. A body shot from the champion, his best spell for some time. A left jab rocks Ruiz but still he comes forward and unloads a good left. Haye has the right-hand cocked, looking for an angle in. The champion has found his rhythm again behind his jab, Ruiz can’t close him down as he did in the last round. Ruiz is down again and he is claiming another rabbit punch. He’s up at seven and it was a clean and legal shot. The bell sounds.
Round Four: Ruiz is getting more punches away now as he continues to try and work his opponent down. Haye has been urged to be patient and is doing just that, keeping the right amount of space between him and the challenger with his jab. Lovely left hand from Haye, flush on the chin. Haye is mixing it up but Ruiz lands with a right to the body as he tries to pin the champion down in the corner. Two more good jabs from the American-based figther. Haye does well to avoid the second of two right hands from Ruiz who is enjoying his best spell. The challenger has outworked Haye for the first time to take that round.
Round Three: And still Ruiz rumbles forward, throwing out good left jabs and catches Haye with a right. This is new for Haye – a man who has taken his best shots and is still there. Another great right from Haye and Ruiz is bleeding from the nose. More good work from the champion, in and out with a combination, Ruiz is unmoved and works behind his jab. Haye is showing patience and picking his shots but an upper cut misses its target. Ruiz is not making as many mistakes but is still caught by a sharp combination. The challenger nods and gets on with it again, trying to work his younger opponent down. Haye misses with a left hook and Ruiz catches him with a counter-attack. No great power behind it but he enjoys a good burst as the bell sounds. Still the eyecatching work came from Haye.
Round Two: Ruiz is looking to come forward and there are signs his head is starting to clear. He’s getting close to Haye and getting punches off. A jolting jab from the champion but still the challenger comes forward, pushing Haye back. Another booming right, Ruiz is stunned by it but still comes forward. Haye’s movement is good, he’s picking his shots. Ruiz is trying to work him down but the champion is dictating the pace. His punches and movement are quicker. Ruiz misses with a right and the bell sounds. A better round for the challenger – but another to the champion.
Round One: Off we go in a fantastic MEN atmosphere. Ruiz looked all business and marches to the centre of the ring. Drama, Haye lands with a huge right hand and Ruiz needs a standing count. A second count, Ruiz is down again but from a rabbit punch. His eyes are gone, this is going to end quickly. ‘Easy, easy’ rings out from the crowd, another heavy right, Ruiz needs the bell. 45 seconds to go, Haye misses with a big left. What an incredible start, how is Ruiz still there? The challenger lands with a left and throws a big right. He’s still in there, some warrior. Ruiz throws a flurry of punches after the bell, he still looks disorientated but he’s survived. Haye loses a point for the rabbit punch.
2311: Incredible reception for Haye in Manchester continues. We’re under way.
2309: Ruiz is pacing the ring as the formalities are completed. His focus never wavers from Haye.
2305: It’s a smiling Haye who enters the fray, looking around the arena and taking it all in.
2302: He has now emerged to an incredible reception. The Manchester crowd roar him to the ring.
2301: Haye is still in his dressing room. He’s making the contender wait.
2300: Ruiz is 38 now but still runs to the ring.
2258: Boos ring around the MEN as Ruiz walks to the ring. He is looking to become WBA champion for the third time but it doesn’t stop the “who are ya” chant from breaking out.
2255: Here we go…it’s time for the big one.
