Yes because the older Ruiz is so much better than the close to prime version. Actually considering that shot Holy did just as well against Valuev, if not better, than Haye did, I would say your statement has no merit whatsoever.
He ran for 12 rounds, throwing an embarrassing average of 11.7 punches per round, threw one meaningful punch in rd 12 that stunned Valuev for a whopping 5 seconds, and followed it up with nothing. It was far from almost ko'ing him, he couldn't even drop him. He was gifted the title by Sauerland who sold out Valuev since he was at the end of his contract.
Haye is in it because he is skint. The idiots going along to watch him fight journeymen are the ones killing boxing.
I have to agree: When Fury tore into him on Ringside, Haye sat there and took it. Yet, when Briggs challenges him, Haye gets all loud and brave. Plus, in trying to talk his way into big fights with Fury and Joshua, Haye is doing exactly the same thing as Briggs.
If you think Valuev beat Haye then I don't know what to tell you. Haye didn't land much but Valuev landed literally next to nothing. He just plodded forward. Rubbish fight but only one winner.
Jim Watt had Valuev beating Haye. That's all the evidence you need to know that he didn't. A cracking little Lightweight in his day, but Watt's scorecards are absolutely mind-boggling half of the time. The man must be blind.
Haye seems to be someone who can give out the verbal abuse but doesn't like taking it back. I remember he seemed uncomfortable face-to-face with Fury a number of times. Although this with Briggs could just be promotion to set up a fight.