David Haye: My loud and proud fans will help me home in on success

The weather here in Manchester is cold, grey and wet. But I don't care one bit because it's just so good to be fighting in a home ring again.

My last bout in the German city of Nuremberg was an incredible experience — mainly because I left with the world heavyweight title — but there truly is no place like home.

Although I felt I'd beaten Nikolai Valuev out of sight last November, nobody could really be sure which way the judges were going to vote on foreign territory. Thankfully, there were hundreds of British fight fans in attendance, which definitely helped my case.

I was astonished to see so many Brits there, as I fully expected to be heavily outnumbered by Valuev's German fans. But all I could see when entering the ring were dozens of Union Jack flags and all I could hear were chants about me and my country. Decision victories are never in doubt with support like that.

After the Nuremberg adventure, I always planned on making my next fight a home affair.

Originally, this defence against John Ruiz looked set for London but eventually it made sense to bring it to Manchester.

Manchester, and the MEN Arena in particular, has been a hotbed for British and world boxing over the last couple of decades. I have been ringside when Ricky Hatton contested big title fights there and I also saw Mike Tyson beat Julius Francis at the Arena.

The place is famous for producing some of the loudest boxing nights, as the Manchester fans are traditionally noisy and love getting behind their fighters, especially Hatton.

Now I'm hoping this Hatton effect can rub off on me come Saturday night. We've pretty much sold out the venue and now it's down to me. However, while this fight with Ruiz has been billed as a homecoming' of sorts, it would be dangerous to think I only have to waltz into the ring and lift my arms in celebration.

I am very proud to be taking part in Britain's first world heavyweight title fight in a decade and Ruiz is a very lively opponent.

So far as I am concerned, the celebrations start after I knock him out — not before.

The fight will be screened live and exclusively on Sky Box Office.