David Haye is one night away from “creating a legacy” when he faces two-time World Heavyweight champion John Ruiz on Saturday night. As both fighters having weighed in earlier today, Haye looked sharp as he prepares for his first WBA Heavyweight World Title defence.

The World Champion had talked about having his first defence in London, however Saturday will see David Haye step in to Ricky Hatton’s shoes as he fills up the the MEN Arena in Manchester.

With all the hype surrounding the Hayemaker camps training regime and media appearances leading up to Saturday, Haye surprised many as he stepped up to be weighed. The champion weighed in at only 222lb (15st 12lbs), just a 5lbs over his previous heaviest weight. Ruiz however came in at over a stone heavier, 231lb (16st 7lbs).

Haye is easing himself in to his new role as Heavyweight champion and has not tried to bulk up to gain additional weight. The key weapon in the Haye arsenal has always been his speed, and on Saturday night it could be key to a great Hayemaker performance.

“My ambition is to go down in history as a great boxer, to do that you’ve got to have great performances,” said Haye.

“The whole thing now is about creating a legacy, doing what Lennox Lewis did, going out there and beating the best possible guys before getting out on top. That’s my plan,

“There’s a few guys out there holding belts I want and I want to take their titles off of them and be remembered as a great heavyweight.”

The Nikolai Valuev fight was not the exciting explosion of action we had been promised, with Haye instead having to resort to a tactical fight after damaging his hand in the early rounds. The hand however is completely healed and ready to be unleashed on the unsuspecting American.

“By the time he’s realised I’m using the right hand he’ll be unconscious.” Said Haye.

“I’m punching harder than ever and this fight will be an indication of that.”

The volume of punches will be a lot different this time round also, promises the British fighter.

“I’ve got that extra swagger from becoming the heavyweight champion, having that belt around my waist,” he said.

“But every time I go to the gym I go in as champion and I want to prove myself and do things better than I did before.

“Adam [Booth, his trainer] is very happy with the volume of punches, the quality of punches, everything seems to have clicked nicely.”

John Ruiz has admitted that he had only seen only one David Haye fight on video, the night he took the belt from Valuev. Without fully understanding the Hayemaker game plan, Ruiz is predicted to try and walk through Haye.

“John Ruiz is a come-forward fighter, he’s not going to stand off and try to box me, he’d be nuts to do that,” said Haye.

“I’m expecting him to get in close, rough me up, try to get me in a dogfight because he feels he’s been there before and I haven’t.

“I’m expecting he’ll try to walk through my punches, but it’s one thing in theory to do that – when I’m blasting away at his head, he’ll have a rude awakening.”

“I was the unified cruiserweight world champion, I’m now a heavyweight world champion,” added Haye.

“I’m confident the experience I’ve got, even if it is half the experience he’s got, is good enough to negate his tactics and gameplan.

“It’s often my opponent’s plan to take me into the later rounds but the amount of damage that has accumulated on them means they don’t hear the final bell.”

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