How did you score Ruiz-Valuev?

**SuckaPunch** · 12-18-2005, 11:16 AM

Mine was like yours but either 114-114 or 115-113 for John Ruiz.

Valuev didn't do enough to win the belt, it was a very close fight and the defending champion should always get the benefit of the doubt.

And one thing I learned about this fight, Valuev is just as boring as Ruiz, probably even worse.

**Nautilus** · 12-18-2005, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by SuckaPunch

And one thing I learned about this fight, Valuev is just as boring as Ruiz...

well, true, but he does not hug

**SuckaPunch** · 12-18-2005, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by Nautilus

well, true, but he does not hug

True, but Ruiz has more weapons besides his jab

And be honest, Ruiz was a LOT more exciting in this fight than Valuev, it wasn't even close.

Valuev has to throw his right hand a lot more, and probably some combinations. Valuev doesn't have anything but his jab.

**Nautilus** · 12-18-2005, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by SuckaPunch

True, but Ruiz has more weapons besides his jab

And be honest, Ruiz was a LOT more exciting in this fight than Valuev, it wasn't even close.

Valuev has to throw his right hand a lot more, and probably some combinations. Valuev doesn't have anything but his jab.

well, i thought round 12 was the most exciting, and Valuev threw combos and was close to knocking Ruiz down

**cold** · 12-18-2005, 12:28 PM

Valuev won a Majority Decision 116-113 and 116-114 on the cards of two judges, and another scoring it 114-114.

This was not a Split Decision like some articles say.

Ruiz appeared to have control of the bout, scoring with jabs and tying up Valuev to thwart his longer reach.

However, Valuev began to connect with combinations in the seventh round, adding to a left jab that landed from the opening round. He entertained the crowd with some footwork in the ninth, and wobbled Ruiz with 90 seconds left in the final round with a straight left to the chin.

Rnd 1- Ruiz did exactly what he promised at the beginning of the fight by coming right at Valuev, delivering left jabs and burrowing in to attempt to neutralize the Russian�s huge advantages in height, reach and weight.

Ruiz then did what nobody thought he would do midway into the round. He removed himself from the inside, content to stay on the outside. Valuev himself appeared a bit confused when Ruiz stepped back. The Russian waited to fire shots, and Ruiz came back inside with a flurry that delighted the crowd at the end of the opening stanza.

Rnd 2- Ruiz continued to press the action in the second, but the lumbering giant seemed to have just warmed up. Ruiz then landed his best punch of the fight to that point, a big right hand. He tried to follow it with another shortly thereafter but missed while Valuev rallied to land a few jabs.

Rnd 3- Valuev continued to establish his jab in the third round, which was enough to win the round on one of the judges scorecards�the first judging deviation after all judges were in agreement that Ruiz had won the first and Valuev the second.

Rnd 4- Ruiz seemed comfortable to stay on the outside during the first minute of the fourth round and paid the price by again being on the end of Valuev�s jab. Ruiz was better served when he moved back inside and began to throw combinations, many of which scored including a right hand that landed flush on Valuev�s face that seemed to stun him just before the bell sounded ending the round.

It wasn�t enough for Ruiz to win the fourth round on two of the judges� scorecards, and the judge who sided with him, Francisco Martinez of New Zealand, was the only judge to side with Valuev in the second round.

Rnds 5,6- The bout, which had the appearance of a tugboat battling a supertanker at times with the size difference of the fighters, moved into the fifth round where Valuev landed his best right hand of the fight to that point, which may have been the difference in a close round that was unanimously won by the Russian�as he did again in the sixth round.

Rnd 7- Ruiz sensed that he needed to rally, and he did with strong combinations in one of the better rounds of the fight, the seventh. All three judges gave that round to Ruiz, and all three judges were in agreement that Valuev was ahead by one point going into the eighth.

Rnd 8- Valuev�s trainer screamed at him to increase his intensity, and Ruiz remained right where he wanted him to be�on the outside�where Valuev again worked his jab and also landed a solid right, which was enough to win the round on all three cards and extended the Russian�s lead to two points across the board.

Rnd 9- Ruiz burrowed inside again in the ninth where he boxed effectively and won the fight on two scorecards while the third judge, Derek Milham from Australia deviated by scoring it a 10-10 draw. (This wouldn�t be his last 10-10 scoring as he did the same thing in the final round, which had produced some of the most spirited action in the contest.)

Rnd 10- The tenth appeared to be an even round until Ruiz unloaded a right hand and promptly followed with another that may have been his best punches of the fight. Valuev answered with a right of his own with both fighters still punching at the bell.

The scorers differed in this round as well: two gave it to Ruiz, probably swayed by those strong back-to-back rights, but Hector Hernandez from Mexico gave it to Valuev.

The fight was still up for grabs entering the championship rounds where one judge had the fight even, the two others were at 96-95 and 96-94 favoring Valuev.

It should also be noted that referee Stanley Christodoulou, from South Africa, had warned Valuev repeatedly throughout the fight for throwing elbows and holding but never deducted a point.

Rnd 11- Ruiz slowed his punch output in the first half of the eleventh round while both fighters had marks showing under their eyes by this point. The judges were obviously confused in this round as two judges split the round and the other, Hernandez, scored it a draw.

Stone yelled at Ruiz during the break before the final round, much like Valuev�s trainer had implored his fighter to step up the action earlier.

Rnd 12- Both fighters seemed to give what they had left in the final round with many ringside observers feeling Ruiz had won the round but two judges gave it to Valuev. The remaining judge, Milham, inexplicably scored the final round of a heavyweight championship match a draw.

In the end, one judge scored the fight 114-114, while the two remaining judges favored Valuev by scores of 116-114 and 116-113, giving the Russian the WBA title by majority decision.

I think the fight was close to a Draw although Ruiz would not have lasted to see a fifteenth or higher round should the match go that long (which they can't anymore) so Valuev got a fair decision.

Article:

Russian Nikolay Valuev won a disputed split decision against John Ruiz to claim the WBA heavyweight title in Berlin at the weekend, becoming the tallest and heaviest champion of all time.

The crowd of 10,000 derided the decision that had the 213-centimetre Valuev winning 116-113 and 116-114 on the cards of two judges, and another scoring it 114-114.

Ruiz seemed stunned, then left the ring, but his volatile manager, Norman Stone, returned and snatched the title belt off Valuev's shoulder in the middle of the ring.

The new champion did as much to defend it from Stone as he had in trying to take it from Ruiz, which was little.

Stone then walked to the edge of the ring, holding the belt aloft as the crowd cheered him wildly before Hagen Sevecke, one of Valuev's cornermen, rushed over and sucker-punched Stone, landing the cleanest punch of the night.

"Boxing is the only sport where you can get robbed without a gun. My promoter, Don King, should do his job and get me a rematch," Ruiz said, then walked out of the post-match press conference.

Valuev, 32, weighs 147 kilograms and is at least 25 centimetres taller than Ruiz.

The American seemed to have control of the bout, scoring with jabs and tying up Valuev to thwart his longer reach.

But Valuev began to connect with combinations in the seventh round, adding to a left jab that landed from the opening round. He entertained the crowd with some footwork in the ninth, and wobbled Ruiz with 90 seconds left in the final round with a straight left.

Ruiz's record fell to 42-6 with one draw, while Valuev, who became the first Russian heavyweight champion, remained unbeaten at 43-0 with one no-decision.

The fight was unskilful, with Valuev seeming awkward and Ruiz clinching throughout, much like in 11 previous title fights.

Stone later accused the German organisers of manipulating the fight, although they were not responsible for the selection of judges, from New Zealand, Australia and Mexico.

**Guest** · 12-18-2005, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by cold

I think the fight was close to a Draw although Ruiz would not have lasted to see a fifteenth or higher round should the match go that long (which they can't anymore) so Valuev got a fair decision.

That's the dumbest thing I ever heard. No offence.

I had it 115-113 Louise, based on the twelve rounds.

**Kimmy** · 12-18-2005, 01:19 PM

Ruiz won, it was close he had at times effective aggression, he forced the fight and at times showed dexterity in his punches. Valuev looked one dimensional and very so. I bet Wlad is licking his lips at the prospect of fighting this guy....

**The Pretender** · 12-18-2005, 01:20 PM

Ruiz for the win 115:101

**AREALFIGHTER** · 12-18-2005, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Kimmy

Ruiz won, it was close he had at times effective aggression, he forced the fight and at times showed dexterity in his punches. Valuev looked one dimensional and very so. I bet Wlad is licking his lips at the prospect of fighting this guy....

wlad would carve him up like christmas dinner

How did you score Ruiz-Valuev?