Is Haye's Punching Power at Heavyweight Massively Overrated?

Few cruiserweights in history have been impressive knockout punchers at heavyweight. And although fans who are desperate for big hitters at heavy have pretty much concluded that David Haye is a concussive puncher, I am not so sure. Let us take a moment to review his 4 fights at heavyweight.

I think we can all agree that the Barrett and Bonin fights were meaninless. Bonin's best showing was a KO loss to Audley Harrison, and Barrett was running on fumes. Just a year before he stepped in the ring with the Hayemaker he was destroyed in 2 short rounds by Cliff Couser... A fighter with a massive 27 percent ko ratio!!! And a year after he lost to Haye, he was nearly decapitated in 2 rounds by Olandier Solis. If anything. Haye's victory was far less impressive than either of the aforementioned.

What next? Because he fought with heart and tenacity and he took flush shots, many fans are now claiming that Ruiz has an iron chin. But is this true? Could a man who got knocked cold in 19 seconds by David Tua actually have an iron chin? Well, it is David Tua we're talking about. But then again there is the rather unsettling fact that Ruiz spent his entire career avoiding fighters with heavy hands. In fact, the only two fighters Ruiz took on in the 14 years between the Tua and Haye fights that could be considered big hitters were Rachman and old Andrew Golota. Old Andrew Golota knocked him down twice. So, no, Ruiz never had a good chin.


Lastly, we have Valuev. Again, here is a fighter who is often praised for having a great chin. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no evidence to support this claim. Much like Ruiz, Valuev spent his entire career avoiding heavy hitters. Looking over his record, I am hard pressed to find a single heavy puncher in a 15-year career. Not one!


At the end of the day, my conclusion is that David Haye's punching power is overrated at heavyweight. After all, he hit Ruiz with scores of flush shots and had trouble finishing him off. And as I mentioned, Ruiz does not have a good chin.

 

Simply No.

I don't have to respond this type of bias, or explain anything. This guy is crazy.

 

Punches like a prime Tyson.

 

After the way he dropped Ruiz in the first round, i dont think so. Not the biggest puncher by any means but his hands are pretty heavy.

 

No don't let the Ruiz fight fool you, Ruiz has an iron jaw and Haye broke his cheekbone busted him up pretty bad tbh.

 

I think your right about having overrated power at Heavy. At Cruiserweight he truly was a beast, it's what made me a fan (that's now dwindling). Compared to someone like Wlad, Haye definitely comes up short. But then again so do most.
His power is explosive and he uses it well with his speed. The knockdown of Ruiz was straight on the chin (I think), kind of like Pac's knockdowns of Marquez in their 1st fight; seemed to catch him off guard. Meh. That's all I've got.

 

Simpy no? I think it's simply that you cannot respond. I have no bias against Haye. Whether you believe that or not is irrelevant. This is a legitmate question and I took the time to present evidence for each point. If you aren't smart enough to do the same, why bother commenting? Gotta love the submorons who add comments that say a certain question or conclusion is not worth commenting on.

 

Apparently a man that has actually been in the ring with him disagrees with your nonsense. Barrett said his power very much reminded him of Wlad. Not that he's more powerful or equally so, but that it reminded him of it. I.e. he must be a pretty big puncher.

You are free to carry on making assumptions from your arm chair that fighters that have fought at heavyweight their entire career and have been stopped a combined once (Valuev and Ruiz) don't have good chins.

 

In short no. Ruiz's chin is decent. The Tua knockout was a case of catching him cold with a humdinger.

He has excellent timing and heavy hands.

 

Ruiz does not have an iron jaw. I think I pretty much proved that.

 

You haven't proved anything. You've given your own opinion on something.

 

He has definitly good power. It´s not top notch though. His nuthuggers overrate it.

 

that sonbitch can bang ands thats all there is to it

 

He obviously has pop, but he's not the second coming of Tyson as some people here make him out to be.

 

As I mentioned for the reading imparied, both Valuev and Ruiz avoided big punchers like the plague. But please, feel free to dispute this "assumption." Please list the big punchers that these men fought in their careers that would convince anyone that they had good chins.

Here is what I have for you. Ruiz fought a grand total of 4 big puncher in his career: Rachman, old Golota, Haye and Tua. He was knocked down in 3 of the 4 of fights. Total knockdowns: 7. Times knocked out: 2.

Does this sound like a guy with an iron chin?