Playtime over for Haye as Brit steps up training

Bermondsey fighter Haye was put through his paces by trainer Adam Booth in front of the world's media ahead of the world title bout at Manchester's MEN.

Haye beat giant Russian Nikolay Valuev in November to claim a version of the heavyweight world championship.

The Briton is a hot favourite to blast his way past Ruiz, but Booth has warned his man against taking his 38-year-old opponent lightly.

"We felt that when we signed the Valuev fight and won the Valuev fight, that the hardest fight of his career would be John Ruiz," Booth said.

"We have no doubts about that. Maybe Vitali Klitschko would be harder, but John Ruiz because of his style makes it the hardest fight of David's career.

"This threat is real, because of his style of making fighters look bad and bringing them into range and trading with them. He knows David likes to box long, which is why this is a hard fight for David."