Haye Stops Ruiz
David Haye put on an exciting performance and had the American on the canvas three times in the fight before Ruiz's corner threw in the towel in the 9th round.
Haye had Ruiz down from a great right hand in the very first round and Ruiz did well to survive. He showed good powers of recovery and doggedly trudged forwards in an attempt to pin the champion down.
Haye's speed and movement and countering shots were too much though and Ruiz was down again in the 5th and 6th rounds although from rabbit punches around the back of the head.
Haye was way ahead on points and looking well on top in the 9th round as he caught Ruiz with a good combination. At this stage Ruiz's corner threw in the towel indicating their man had taken enough. From the spectators point of view it looked like a very premature stoppage from the referee but once everyone realised it was a corner retirement it was more understandable.
Ruiz was probably disappointed since he still had a chance of landing that big punch with three rounds to go but at the end of an accomplished career this was a compassionate act by his corner.
This was a great performance by Haye who made the first successful defence of his WBA heavyweight title. This fight confirmed him as the greatest threat to the supremacy of the Klitschko brothers and let's hope this is a fight that happens later this year.
