David Haye to make first title defence against American Ruiz

WBA heavyweight champion David Haye will face twice former holder John Ruiz when he defends the title for the first time in Manchester in April.                                           
 

"It's been 10 years since the heavyweight championship has been fought in Britain and everyone knows I had to go to Germany to take the title away from (Russian) Nikolai Valuev," Haye told Sky TV.                                           
 

"Now it's time to showcase my skills again in front of the great British public and I'm delighted to have the fight at Manchester's MEN Arena.                                           

"I've been there on many nights to watch Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, even Mike Tyson, and the atmosphere was always tremendous.                                            

"I'm looking forward to getting back to what I do best -- throwing my trademark ''Hayemakers'. Ruiz is a come-forward fighter so I aim to get at him, break him down and take him out in good style."                                            

Haye, who defeated the towering Valuev in Nuremberg in November, will face the 38-year-old American on April 3.                                           

Ruiz previously held the title between March 2001-March 2003 and February 2004-December 2005.