Boxing:David Haye dismantled John Ruiz to make a successful first defence of his WBA world heavyweight title in a brutal showdown at the MEN Arena. Haye outclassed the limited but courageous Ruiz who refused to take a backwards step until he was rescued by his corner towards the end of the ninth.
The right hand was Haye's most productive shot, which he used to repeatedly stagger former two-time world champion Ruiz, who was overwhelmed from start to finish before a 20,000 sell out crowd.
It was the dramatic performance the 29-year-old Londoner promised would ignite the ailing heavyweight division and a far cry from the lifeless majority points decision he secured against Nikolai Valuev last November to win the WBA belt.
In the build-up Haye refused to taunt an opponent who fought 36 rounds against Evander Holyfield a decade ago, realising the futility of attempting to provoke such a grizzled veteran.
As expected Haye was too fast and too powerful to be troubled by Ruiz, though future opponents will have noticed his obvious defensive frailties on Saturday night.
Haye spent the early afternoon at Old Trafford watching Chelsea beat Manchester United and paraded his belt on the pitch before kick-off.
He obviously wasted little energy at the match, however, as he made a sensational start that saw him knock Ruiz over with a straight right just moments into the opening round.
The American took a fearful battering as Haye attempted to finish the fight early, launching big bombs that hurt his opponent.
In his eagerness Haye had a point deducted for hitting on the back of the head and Ruiz survived the round, even landing a right of his own on the final bell.
By the end of third Ruiz's nose was bleeding heavily after taking several lightening-fast jabs, though Haye was also taking punishment.
Haye, who weighed in at a career heaviest 15st 12lbs, landed with two giant shots in the fifth that staggered Ruiz but the challenger refused to cave in.
One more ferocious right hit its mark but Ruiz was only dropped when Haye cuffed him around the back of the head, though a count still ensued.
The brave Ruiz was showing remarkable tenacity as he continued to take heavy punishment, while occasionally exposing Haye's vulnerability.
Ruiz was saved by the bell in the sixth, his resistance fading amid a barrage of heavy blows.
Both jabs found their mark in a finely-balanced seventh but it was Ruiz who was on the front foot as he hunted down his opponent.
Haye produced a strong eighth round, staggering the indomitable Ruiz with his favoured right hand.
Ruiz, refusing to take a backward step, was enduring sickening punishment as Haye's speed and accuracy continued to bloody his face.
Having seen enough, Ruiz's corner threw in the towel towards the end of the ninth and the gutsy American was spared any further punishment.
Having disposed of Ruiz, negotiations over a lucrative showdown with either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko will now intensify.
A rematch clause against Valuev, agreed when he signed to face to the Russian, must first be circumvented to avoid restaging a fight no-one wants except the hulking former champion.
With Valuev out of the way, Haye will hope to meet either of the Klitschkos later this year with the Gulf being mooted as a possible host region.
The Ukrainian brothers - who hold the WBC, IBF and WBO belts between them - have declared they will flip a coin to determine who faces Haye.
Haye's ambition is to unify all four titles by prevailing in the only two meaningful fights for him in the division, before retiring at 31 with that birthday arriving in October next year.