Evander Holyfield is on a mission

EVANDER HOLYFIELD wants to wreck David Haye’s bid to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Haye views Holyfield as one of his heroes after following in the American’s footsteps by dominating the cruiserweight division before moving up to trade blows with the big boys.

The Londoner has previously admitted he would prefer to see the Real Deal enjoying his retirement instead of boxing on at the age of 47.

But Holyfield, who fights Frans Botha for the minor WBF belt on Saturday, has WBA title-holder Haye firmly in his sights.

The four-time heavyweight champion said: “He has a belt and I want them all. I wish I could fight him right now.”

Holyfield believes a win against Botha at the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas will move him a massive step closer to another world title shot.

And he is counting on Sin City being the lucky charm he needs to reignite his career.

The veteran said: “I’m happy to have the opportunity to fight in Las Vegas again because anything that ever worked for me happened here.

“I became the heavyweight champion here in 1990, 1993, 1996 and in 2000.

“Realistically, Vegas is a place that has given me the opportunity to be the person who I am.

“The fact of the matter is I’ve been driven by the things that people said I couldn’t do.

“When you tell me I can’t do something, that sets a fire under me to prove that I can.

“My only goal has always been to be the undisputed heavyweight champion.”

David Haye feels relaxed after the win

DAVID HAYE retained his WBA title with an awesome display of power punching that put John Ruiz on the floor FOUR times.

The Londoner savaged Ruiz from the first bell with sledgehammer bombs delivered with blinding speed.

This was as one-sided as a heavyweight contest can get and Ruiz’s corner finally had enough when trainer Miguel Diaz waved the white towel in surrender after two minutes and one second of round nine at Manchester’s MEN Arena.

A delighted Haye said: “I knew it was going to be tough, but I knew when I landed my bombs I was going to hurt him.

“Credit to Ruiz, he was a durable opponent, but I could have taken him out in the first round if I didn’t rush my shots.

“I’m over the moon and really happy with the performance. I felt I was really sharp.”

Ruiz, despite being outclassed, was dangerous throughout and rocked Haye with some heavy rights to the jaw.

The veteran American was down twice in a sensational opening round as he went looking for the champion like a bull in a china shop.

He hit the canvas for the first time after a solid right to the face and was put down again before clutching the back of his head, hanging over the ropes, as if to say he was caught by a rabbit punch.

Referee Guillermo Perez agreed and took a point away from Haye — even though he gave Ruiz his second standing eight count.

Ruiz carried on fighting after the bell and Haye’s trainer Adam Booth screamed for the official to take a point away from the American.

The 38-year-old Quiet Man was taking a sustained beating like he had never absorbed before, with Haye’s jab softening him up for the big over-hand right crosses.

And the sell-out Manchester crowd loved it as Haye delivered what he had promised in his first title defence.

Ruiz clung on for as long as could but was put down again in both the fifth and sixth rounds.

He refused to stop moving forward, only to be picked off at will by the impressive Hayemaker.

And it came as little surprise when Diaz’s corner asked for the fight to be stopped in the ninth, handing Haye a technical knockout to extend his record to 24 wins in 25 fights.

After the fight, Haye was quick to pay tribute to the fans who turned out to support him on a great night for British boxing.

The 29-year-old said: ”The crowd has been absolutely electric for me. There was a 20,000 capacity here with everyone screaming for the Hayemaker.

“With performances like that I’ll keep the fans behind me. I loved the whole occasion.”

DAVID HAYE will watch Manchester United and Chelsea slug it before trying to united the bitter rivals.

David Haye battles John Ruiz at MEN

The WBA king takes on American John Ruiz at Manchester’s MEN Arena on April 3 — the same day the red and blue Premier League title credentials will be examined at Old Trafford in another heavyweight clash.

Haye wants to pitch up at United for the day’s early kick-off, which is being labelled the Brunch Punch, before becoming the first world heavyweight champion to defend his title on British soil since Lennox Lewis a decade ago.

The Hayemaker said: “I’m hoping to get both sets of lads there. It is two vicious rivals but for a boxing match I would want them to put their differences aside.

“This isn’t about rival teams. This is about supporting the same guy from Britain. Boxing goes beyond team rivalry.

“I would like to think all the players and fans will be supporting me.”

Haye has been pals with United defender Rio Ferdinand since their schooldays in the same area of South London, while Chelsea playmaker Joe Cole is another big fight fan.

Millwall supporter Haye added: “I’m hoping all the Chelsea mob can be there.

“And it would be great if Rio can bring along Wayne Rooney, who I know is a boxing nut, and the rest of the United stars for what should be a terrific night out.

“If I can get a couple of tickets for the United-Chelsea game it would make my day. Maybe I can do my warm-up pitchside during half-time!

“I am not a fighter who sits around all day worrying about what can happen on fight night.

“I usually find something to do — two hours before I won the world title against Nikolai Valuev I was looking at internet sites to see what fans were saying about me.”

Lewis was the last British champion to successfully defend his title at the old London Arena in Docklands, when he knocked out Francois Botha in two rounds.

A skinny 19-year-old Haye was ringside that night in July 2000 — but only after he bunked in because he could not afford a ticket.

Haye revealed: “I was at the last world heavyweight title fight in England when Lennox smashed Botha in two rounds. I didn’t pay to get in. I bunked through a back door with a couple of mates.

“I was jumping seat to seat to get as close to the ring as I could. I’d sit there until someone came up and said, ‘That’s my seat’.

“Eventually I reached inner ringside when one of the security guys I knew pointed me in the direction of an empty seat.

“That was the last time Lennox boxed in England. After that he fought all over the world.

“As a kid growing up I thought I would eventually fight Lennox for the world title. Thank God he’s retired.

“I remember Lewis-Botha vividly. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be the next world heavyweight champion to defend in Britain.

“People talk about going to fight in Las Vegas, but what American is there coming through to reach the big numbers?

“I want as many big nights in England as I can get — the more the merrier. MEN in April is just the start.”

April 3 will be a big night as Haye vs John Ruiz and Manchester United vs Chelsea will be aired on the same day.