Haye-Valuev is a go, Ruiz steps aside

by sonofapsycho on Aug 26, 2009 7:59 AM EDT Comment 9 comments

FanPost promoted by SC

Some good news being reported by BoxingScene and UK Press:

David Haye's WBA heavyweight title challenge against Nikolay Valuev will go ahead on November 7 after former champion John Ruiz agreed to end his campaign to scupper the fight.

The contest was agreed earlier this summer but some doubt surrounded it after mandatory challenger Ruiz threatened to force Valuev to fulfil his obligations and fight him, rather than the Englishman.

However in a statement, Chris Meyer, general manager of Valuev's promoter Sauerland Events, said: "There is absolutely no problem with the Valuev-Haye bout. Everything has been sorted out."

He added: "We have struck a deal with Team Ruiz for him to step aside. Our attorneys are just putting it in writing.

"Once this contract has been signed, we will submit the necessary papers to the WBA by the end of this week.

"German TV ARD and UK's Sky Box Office have booked the November 7 date in their schedules. We are just discussing the dates for the press conference."

Notes from SC: This is mildly unexpected, as I thought Ruiz was quite serious about wanting his shot soon, but you can also never discount John Ruiz and his lawyers. What they were looking for instead -- since I doubt this was some blowaway offer they couldn't refuse -- was just some step-aside money. They saw an opportunity at free cash while they sit on a mandatory and took it. Given all the crap sanctioning bodies pull, good for Ruiz.

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Great news

Much as Ruiz was the mandatory and all, him and Valuev again I can do without.

We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)

by BrianBrock on Aug 26, 2009 8:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think you speak for the just about everyone in saying you can do without another ruiz and valuev fight.

by sonofapsycho on Aug 26, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now for

Haye to actually make it to the fight and dominate Valuev…

We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)

by BrianBrock on Aug 26, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's a smart move.

Ruiz knows a few things:

1) He’s more likely to not get robbed if the fight isn’t in Germany, and if Haye wins, it wouldn’t be.
2) Haye-Ruiz is probably a bigger money fight than a third Ruiz-Valuev fight.
3) With Haye’s beard and Ruiz’s style, he could very well knock Haye out (although the chances are close to nil that he would win a decision, while Ruiz would probably be favored to win a decision in a fight on neutral ground against Valuev.
4) Money talks, and they gave him a bunch to step aside.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 26, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

#3 confuses me.

How does Ruiz style lead to a knock out. His hugging style tends to make him win ugly close decisions. Also seeing how he only has 3 KO’s in his last 15 fights I am intrigued by how you see this ending early. Or am I reading that wrong and you think Valuev will knock out Hayes first. Now I’m more confused.

by TXroyal on Aug 26, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought that he was maybe commenting on Haye’s paper chin, saying that Ruiz had a better chance to KO Haye than he does Valubum.

That’s probably true.. it’s hard to knock out that giant bum. First you have to reach him, and that means you have to risk touching that shaggy hide of his. All that sweaty fur has got to stink.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Aug 26, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This

And Ruiz punches sneaky hard and doesn’t let up once a guy is hurt. He’ll do the jab and grab for a bunch of rounds, but then when he unloads on the chin, he’s a pretty good finisher. He just doesn’t have the opportunity to do it except against guys with crappy chins, like Haye.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 26, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good for Ruiz?

Hell, how bout good for the rest of us not having to sit through another hugfest!! Hopefully Ruiz keeps steppin’ aside all the way into retirement. I have no desire to see this man in a fight ever again no matter who the opponent is.

by SmittytheCutman on Aug 26, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs