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December 18, 2005
BERLIN (AFP) - Russia's Nikolay Valuev beat America's John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title but the fight ended in controversy when the points decision was jeered and the members of the American's camp became involved in an ugly brawl.
The 32-year-old Russian, fighting for a world title for the first time, became the tallest (7ft) and heaviest (330 pounds) champion of all time.
But his win, awarded by a 114-114, 116-113, 116-114 decision, came amid huge controversy.
Many in the arena thought Ruiz, the defending champion, had done enough to retain his title and keep alive his dream of a unification fight with Hasim Rahman, who inherited the WBC version after Vitali Klitschko was forced to retire last month.
Ruiz's coach Norman Stone was outraged by the decision grabbing the belt and screaming at Valuev's camp: 'You suck' as he was led from the ring by security staff.
Promoter Don King said that he would take the Russian, known as the Beast from the East, to America for his next fight.
"He's ready and we want America to know that he's coming," said King.
"But John Ruiz believed he had won the fight."
Ruiz was a man in a hurry even sprinting into the ring to face his giant opponent.
The height of Valuev restricted his movement around the ring and the lumbering Russia was often picked off by the nimbler American who constantly scored points with neat combinations executed close in.
As a result, Valuev, bidding to become the tallest world champion of all time, needed treatment to a cut below his left eye between rounds.
Valuev boasted a 43-0 record before Saturday and gamely inched his way back despite lacking a killer blow.
He rocked Ruiz with a brutal left midway through the eighth round.
By the 12th and final round, both men were hanging on.
Ruiz buried another left into the face of the Russian who was warned for holding but Valuev saved himself in the last round with a right-left combination that just swung the decision his way.
However, the result of the fight and its aftermath will have done little to improve the reputation of a heavyweight division rocked by a series of poor fights.
Ruiz Sucks, but he'd kill Minto.
BERLIN (AFP) - Russia's Nikolay Valuev beat America's John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title but the fight ended in controversy when the points decision was jeered and the members of the American's camp became involved in an ugly brawl.
The 32-year-old Russian, fighting for a world title for the first time, became the tallest (7ft) and heaviest (330 pounds) champion of all time.
But his win, awarded by a 114-114, 116-113, 116-114 decision, came amid huge controversy.
Many in the arena thought Ruiz, the defending champion, had done enough to retain his title and keep alive his dream of a unification fight with Hasim Rahman, who inherited the WBC version after Vitali Klitschko was forced to retire last month.
Ruiz's coach Norman Stone was outraged by the decision grabbing the belt and screaming at Valuev's camp: 'You suck' as he was led from the ring by security staff.
Promoter Don King said that he would take the Russian, known as the Beast from the East, to America for his next fight.
"He's ready and we want America to know that he's coming," said King.
"But John Ruiz believed he had won the fight."
Ruiz was a man in a hurry even sprinting into the ring to face his giant opponent.
The height of Valuev restricted his movement around the ring and the lumbering Russia was often picked off by the nimbler American who constantly scored points with neat combinations executed close in.
As a result, Valuev, bidding to become the tallest world champion of all time, needed treatment to a cut below his left eye between rounds.
Valuev boasted a 43-0 record before Saturday and gamely inched his way back despite lacking a killer blow.
He rocked Ruiz with a brutal left midway through the eighth round.
By the 12th and final round, both men were hanging on.
Ruiz buried another left into the face of the Russian who was warned for holding but Valuev saved himself in the last round with a right-left combination that just swung the decision his way.
However, the result of the fight and its aftermath will have done little to improve the reputation of a heavyweight division rocked by a series of poor fights.
Ruiz Sucks, but he'd kill Minto.
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