WBA Heavyweight Title fight betting - David Haye vs John Ruiz

David Haye return to the ring tonight, for the first time since he claimed the WBA Heavyweight title with his win over giant Russian Nikolai Valuev last November.

Despite his massive height and weight disadvantage in that fight, Haye was victorious, winning by a majority decision. He fights tonight against Puerto Rican John Ruiz, in a mandatory defence of his title, with a view to taking on one of the Klitschko brothers if he is successful.

Haye is a heavy favourite for the fight, priced at 1/6 with Totesport (bet £60 to make £10 profit), while Ruiz is at 6/1 on Betfair. Skybet offer 40/1 on the draw.

Of his 24 fights, Haye has lost only one, with 21 of his 23 wins coming by knock out. Ruiz has fought 54 times, with 44 wins. Two of his eight losses have come against Valuev, who was so comprehensively beaten by Haye, and this does not bode well for Ruiz`s chances. Ruiz is no spring chicken either, and at 38, he  is 11 years older than Haye.

Skybet offer 9/4 for either fighter to win on points, and 7/2 that Haye wins inside the first three rounds. The Hayemaker is also 7/2 to win in rounds 6-4, and 9/2 to win in rounds 7-9. Haye is 5/1 to win in the last three rounds, and Ruiz is 28/1 to do the same. Ruiz is also 28/1 with Skybet to win in any of the round groups.

The fight is 2/1 on Betfair to last the distance, and Betfred offer 9/20 that it finish by a KO or TKO before the end.

Many commentators believe that a victory for Haye will help to revive the flagging sport of boxing, which was deflated by the cancellation of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, and with a character like David Haye, there are bound to be fireworks tonight.

David Haye vs John Ruiz betting odds

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