John Ruiz's trainer Miguel Diaz says his man will roll back the years when he fights for the world title for the 11th time.
Get ready for the old John, says trainer Diaz
The man behind John Ruiz's latest world-title challenge says he will turn back the clock against David Haye.
Miguel Diaz, who took over in the corner just before the Quiet Man's last fight, a seventh-round stoppage of Adnan Serin in November, believes we will see a new improved fighter on April 3, live on
Sky Box Office HD.
And while some experts believe Ruiz might change his style to face Haye, his trainer says it is more a case of going back the form that saw him first win the WBA world title some nine years ago.
"He's doing fantastic," said Diaz. "I don't think I've invented anything. There's nothing really new to John, just things we've brought back from his past, when he was an amateur and his early pro career.
"People who are seeing him now that knew him back then are saying it's so good to see his old jab. They tell me he looks like the old John.
"We didn't really change him; just brought back the old him and added a few things - bobbing and weaving and coming off the ropes throwing punches, putting his shoulder behind his punch. Things like that. We're going to win."
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This will be the longest training camp Ruiz had undergone since turning pro some 18 years ago and the first full one Diaz has taken charge of.
The 78-year-old Argentinian, who guided Erik Morales to world-title glory and has also worked with the likes of Fernando Vargas and Miguel Cotto, admits they are relative novices in terms of the fight-trainer bond.
But he says he has gained Ruiz's complete trust in a short space of time.
"We've created a special relationship that's very important for a fighter and trainer," he explained. "Fighters are smart and they soon know who is telling them the truth or BS-ing them.
"John didn't respond to everything I said right away. Now, if I tell him to jump off the second floor and, he may wonder why, but he'll do it."
