The Panel run the rule over John Ruiz and what threats the veteran challenger will pose David Haye...
Don't write off Ruiz so readily, warn the Panel
Britain's David Haye defends his world heavyweight title for the first time on Easter weekend.
The Hayemaker will take on two-time WBA champion, John 'The Quiet Man' Ruiz, at the MEN Arena in Manchester on April 3, live on Sky Box Office and in HD. Click here for booking details
As ever, the Sky Sports team of Jim Watt, Glenn McCrory, Nicky Piper and Johnny Nelson, will be on hand but first skysports.com has brought them together to set the scene...
SKYSPORTS.COM: John Ruiz has been there, seen it, done it before in terms of world-title fights, yet is being written off. What sort of threat will the Quiet Man pose come April 3?
Jim Watt
He might be getting on a little bit at 38, but he has proved to us that he is a good fighter and because of the style he has always had, it's not as if he is going to become an old man overnight. Look at his record and he has had some very good victories down the years - and I do think that under a new trainer he has changed a little bit. We saw him on the Haye-Valuev undercard and although in Adnan Serin he was up against a guy who had probably lost a third of his fights and who he was expected to beat, there were one or two changes. He looked a little more spritely, a little livelier and he boxed behind the jab a bit more, kept his distance. The John Ruiz of old would have buried his head in your chest, tied you up and made you - and the fight - look bad. It's fair to say he has probably had more chances when it comes to world titles, but this must surely be his last chance to prove to TV and the watching world, that he is worth another crack - and that makes him a dangerous opponent.
Johnny Nelson
I do think this fight will be the acid test for David, I really do. This will show us what an impact he can make, give us a great starting gauge as to how good he actually is as a heavyweight. And it will tell us whether he is going to be an outstanding champion, reign for a long time and be unbeatable; or if what we are seeing is going to be short-lived and we have to enjoy it while it lasts. This is the hardest test by far for David. Ruiz is not outstanding, but he is a former world champion and he is tough. He hits hard and he's not slow, not sluggish and although he seems to have been around forever, he is not shot. He can fight at a decent pace as well - the perfect opponent to answer all the questions about David Haye the heavyweight.
Glenn McCrory
Ruiz will be no pushover, that's for certain. He has the capabilities to be a really tough opponent for David. But I agree with Nicky, this can easily go two ways; this could either be a real tough, hard fight or David could just as easily blow him away. But then again, only one person has managed to do that to Ruiz, so it would be a bit much to expect that, especially as he has so little experience as a heavyweight. Having said that, if David is what he says he is and is what we think he is, then maybe he should be able to get rid of him. He needed speed against Valuev but will need power and strength against Ruiz - he will really need to put him in his place. Ruiz is awkward and has made some very good fighters look bad down the years but I am expecting this to be the fight where David shows us he deserves his place as heavyweight champion of the world.
Nicky Piper
I think this is a really tight fight but, as Glenn says, there is always the chance he can blow Ruiz out with one punch very quickly. David has that power and it would be amazing if he did, but I do think this will be a really tough fight. Ruiz is tough, durable, has a good workrate; he took Ruslan Chagaev to a split decision, pushed Valuev close and beat Hasim Rahman. He's not easy to stop, has boxed plenty of big punchers and never really been wobbled. Any doubts about Haye's chin and stamina will be tested - unless he can make this an explosive. Ruiz's experience means he won't be fazed by the reception. He's boxed here a few times and has won them all, so he is used to travelling and fighting in opponents' backyard. There will be an intimidating atmosphere in the MEN and we have seen plenty of fighters down the years lose before they have even got into the ring.
Do you agree? What will Ruiz bring to the ring that might trouble Haye? Let us know by filling in the feedback form below...
