British Heavyweight Boxer David Haye Wins Over John Ruiz via TKO

WBA heavyweight champion David Haye of England retained his championship belt by beating John Ruiz of the United States via TKO Saturday at the MEN Stadium in Manchester United Kingdom. Ruiz was knocked down on three occasions and took a mighty beating throughout the fight and it was inevitable his corner would throw in the towel.

The Londoner floored Ruiz with a right hand after 25 seconds and the American took a second count in the opening round at Manchester's MEN Arena. Ruiz proved his durability by fighting on but was put down twice more in a torrid sixth round. And Haye finished the job in the ninth when Ruiz's corner threw in the towel.

Haye-Ruiz is the first world heavyweight title bout to be held in Britain for nearly ten years. Before his date with John Ruiz, Haye said he was not taking John Ruiz for granted, being a former world champion with a boxing record of 44 wins in his professional boxing career.

"I learned the lesson not to be complacent a long time ago," added Haye, whose only professional defeat came when he was stopped in the fifth round by fellow Briton Carl Thompson.

"I can close my eyes and can still feel the pain of that defeat. I don't want to go down that road again."

With the convincing win by the British champion, boxing fans predict that the heavyweight division which has gone down in popularity with the retirement of popular heavyweights like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Mike Tyson, will again take the lead in the boxing divisions popularity which is presently dominated by the welterweight, lightweight and featherweight divisions.

(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )