Wow.
BERLIN (AP) — John Ruiz lost the WBA heavyweight title Saturday night, dropping a disputed split decision to Russian 7-footer Nikolay Valuev.
Valuev, who becomes the tallest and heaviest (323 pounds) champion of all-time, won 116-113 and 116-114 on two judges’ cards, with a third judge scoring the fight 114-114. The crowd of 10,000 booed the decision.
“I had to wait 12 years for this and now it has happened,” the 32-year-old Valuev said. “It’s fantastic.”
Ruiz, who weighed 85 pounds less than Valuev at 238, appeared to have the fight in hand, using a jab-and-grab tactic to slip in a few punches and then tie up Valuev.
Valuev began throwing combinations in the seventh round, adding to a left jab that landed from the opening round. In the ninth, Valuev even danced a bit.
Valuev landed the only punch that did damage in the final round, hitting Ruiz on the chin with a straight left that wobbled the champion. Ruiz clinched his way to the end of the fight.
“Boxing is the only sport where you can get robbed without a gun,” Ruiz said. “My promoter Don King should do his job and get a rematch.”
Ruiz’s record fell to 42-6-1, while Valuev improved to 43-0 with one no-decision.
Ruiz lost to James Toney in April, then was given the title when Toney was stripped of the crown for testing positive for steroids.
He's obviously on the left (this also obviously isn't the Ruiz fight).