THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BERLIN — Different date, similar story: the second fight between Russian giant Nikolai Valuev and John Ruiz in Berlin also ended with a judging controversy. And the same outcome.
Valuev regained the WBA championship early Sunday using his left jab to outpoint Ruiz in an unanimous decision.
The fight was first declared a split decision, but the score was officially later changed to give Valuev all three of the judges’ votes.
The seven-foot Valuev (49-1) regained the title he lost to Ruslan Chagaev in April 2007 and beat Ruiz (43-8-1) for the second time.
The judges scored it 116-113, 116-111 and 114-113.
In a press conference following the fight, WBA delegate John Mack explained that one of the officials, Japanese ringside judge Takeshi Shimakawa, alerted him after the first split decision was read out that he too had given the fight to Valuev.
The Japanese official explained that one of the cards had the names of the fighters in a different order, therefore resulting in the confusion. Shimakawa was the judge who scored it 114-113.
The decision wasn’t popular with everyone in the Max Schmeling arena in Berlin, with some of the crowd booing the outcome.
Valuev, with a massive advantage in height, weight and reach, also won a disputed decision over Ruiz in December 2005.
“I thought I won the fight,” Ruiz said. “I don’t know what was going on with the scorecards.”
The scorecards were taken back and fourth from the ring several times.
“Is boxing really that low? It is sad and turns boxing to the negative side,” Ruiz said, referring to the scorecards changing hands. “It is a black eye for boxing.”
Toni Cardinale, Ruiz’s manager, hinted that his camp might appeal the result.
“Ruiz knocked Valuev down in the second round and it didn’t count and that could have changed the outcome,” Cardinale said at the press conference.
“I don’t know what happened with the Japanese judge but we will take his words. We will sit back, watch the tape and make some decisions.”
Ruiz also said that he would like to come back to Berlin, for pleasure.
“It seems like every time I come here for business I get the bad end of the situation,” Ruiz said.
Valuev landed a few big rights, but not enough to put Ruiz into trouble. Ruiz could not connect with more than one punch at a time.
“I did not do what I wanted to do 100 per cent,” Valuev said.
The 35-year-old Valuev looked trimmer and quicker than in previous fights after changing his diet and training regime. He settled for keeping Ruiz at a distance with his left jab, but never delivered a punch that could shake Ruiz.
Ruiz appeared to shake Valuev with a big right in the second round but the Russian recovered quickly. Every time Ruiz appeared to get close, Valuev’s left jab would keep the American away.
Ruiz and Valuev were given a title fight after the WBA declared Chagaev “champion in recess,” following an Achilles’ tendon injury that forced him to call off a rematch with Valuev.