Boxing: Golden Boy Promotions sign up John Ruiz

VETERAN heavyweight contender John Ruiz has signed with Golden Boy Promotions ahead of his title challenge to Britain's David Haye.

Londoner Haye is set to make his first defence of the World Boxing Association belt he won last November from Nikolai Valuev when he faces mandatory challenger Ruiz this spring.

Puerto Rico's Ruiz, 38, who won the same belt in 2001 to become the first Hispanic heavyweight world champion and again in 2004 before losing it to Valuev in 2005, has now signed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy, which also represents Haye in the US and the Las Vegas-based fighter is looking forward to successful partnership with his new promoter.

Ruiz said: "I'm going to continue to make history and break records one fight at a time, starting with David Haye this spring.