Ruiz loses title

BERLIN – Nikolai Valuev won the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title with a controversial majority decision over American John Ruiz on Saturday to become the first Russian champion in boxing’s most glamorous division.

Ruiz’s bitterly disappointed manager, Norman Stone, grabbed the title belt away from Valuev after the fight and ran around the ring holding it over his head until five ring bodyguards forcibly took it back. Two of the judges put Valuev ahead of the defending champion at the end of the 12-round fight, scoring it 116-114 and 116-113 for the Russian who is known as the “Beast of the East” for his towering size and formidable weight advantage in every fight.The third judge had both Valuev and Ruiz even at 114 in the first heavyweight title fight ever held in Berlin.The sell-out 10 000 crowd in the Max-Schmeling arena booed loudly when the decision was announced even though Valuev, who is 2.13 metre and 147 kg, trains in Germany and entered the ring as the presumptive home crowd favourite.Valuev, who had a 25 cm height and 45 kg weight advantage over his hard-charging American opponent, became the tallest and heaviest champion ever in the prestigious heavyweight division while extending his record to 43 wins and one no-decision.The three other titleholders currently are Hasim Rahman (World Boxing Council), Chris Byrd (International Boxing Federation) and Lamon Brewster (World Boxing Organisation).-Nampa-ReutersTwo of the judges put Valuev ahead of the defending champion at the end of the 12-round fight, scoring it 116-114 and 116-113 for the Russian who is known as the “Beast of the East” for his towering size and formidable weight advantage in every fight.The third judge had both Valuev and Ruiz even at 114 in the first heavyweight title fight ever held in Berlin.The sell-out 10 000 crowd in the Max-Schmeling arena booed loudly when the decision was announced even though Valuev, who is 2.13 metre and 147 kg, trains in Germany and entered the ring as the presumptive home crowd favourite.Valuev, who had a 25 cm height and 45 kg weight advantage over his hard-charging American opponent, became the tallest and heaviest champion ever in the prestigious heavyweight division while extending his record to 43 wins and one no-decision.The three other titleholders currently are Hasim Rahman (World Boxing Council), Chris Byrd (International Boxing Federation) and Lamon Brewster (World Boxing Organisation).-Nampa-Reuters