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Ruiz
petitions WBA for Valuev rematch
LAS VEGAS (January 8, 2006) – Two-time world heavyweight champion John
"The Quietman" Ruiz (41-6-1, 28 KOs) has petitioned the World Boxing
Association for an immediate rematch against Nicolay Valuev for the WBA
heavyweight title. Last month, Ruiz lost a controversial decision to
Valuev in Berlin.
Ruiz' petition is based on the WBA's rule 7.3 (see below) that allows
for a rematch based on a controversial decision in a championship match.
Valuev won by 12-round decision by scores of 114-114, 116-114, 116-113.
"I'm focusing on our WBA petition," Ruiz said. "I enjoyed everything
about our trip to Germany other than the decision. The German people
were great to me. I deserve a rematch and would fight him again in
Germany if I had to. I remember thinking mid-way through the fight that
it was the easiest fight I'd had in a long time. I couldn't believe it
when the decision was announced. The fans in Germany booed the decision.
I felt I won the fight. You're supposed to take the title from the
champion; they gave it to him. I'll continue fighting until I feel it's
time for me to retire. I'll retire on my terms. Right now I'm looking
forward to my next fight and want it to be for the title against Valuev."
Compubox's PunchStat Report, which HBO uses for its broadcasts, after a
review of Ruiz-Valuev revealed that Ruiz clearly was the aggressor,
holding advantages against Valuev in terms of total punches landed,
195-157; power shots landed 128 of 194 versus 43 of 184. Ruiz
out-punched Valuev in eight of 12 rounds. Valuev received seven warnings
from referee Stanley Christodoulou, although no penalties were deducted,
and Valuev clinched 76 times compared to Ruiz' 29. Most observers felt
Ruiz dominated the 12th round, as the punch-stats indicate: Ruiz landed
18 of 41 punches thrown (44% connect rate) and 11 power shots, versus
Valuev's 7 punches out of 44 thrown, and only 4 power shots (16%).
However, Valuev received a 10-9 advantage on two of the judges'
scorecards while the third scored 10-10.
In the last four rounds the judges were completely uneven in their
scoring: Milhelm (2 Even, 1 Ruiz, 1 Valuev), Hernandez (1 Even, 1 Ruiz,
2 Valuev),
Martinez (3 Ruiz, 1 Valuev).
WBA Rule 7.3
If a championship match ends in a draw or if the match is extremely
close and one of the contenders receives a controversial decision
regarding the other, the World Championships Committee, at its
discretion, may recommend that the two (2) boxers be ordered to fight
again for the Championship, within a period to be set by the World
Championships Committee.
Ruiz is the first and only world heavyweight champion of Hispanic
heritage. He has beaten world champions Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman
and Tony Tucker, as well as top 10 contenders Andrew Golota, Fres
Oquendo and Kirk Johnson.
