11/05/24
December 19, 2005
Boxer Valuev Wins Russia’s First World Heavyweight Title: 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.
That is one big man. You couldn't pay me enough money to step into the ring with someone that size. I just hope that if and when there is a rematch, that he decisively wins. That is what is holding the heavyweight division down, nobody is dominant. If he could have won with a KO then we might be seeing our next great champion, but he didn't.
posted by grabofsky74 at 06:49 AM on December 19, 2005
Wish I could have seen the fight, heard Ruiz got pretty stunned in the final round. Ruiz wants the rematch but do the people want to watch the punch-punch hold of Ruiz. I almost don't think he needs to be champ when he seems to fight not to lose, just this time it didn't work.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 07:59 AM on December 19, 2005
ruiz may have been one of the most boring fighters of all time,i think he wants to be a wrestler anyway, time to call the wwe.
posted by patsdynasty at 08:47 AM on December 19, 2005
Okay, then who's next if not Ruiz? I can't see Rahman & Valuev getting together. Chris Byrd, maybe?
posted by chicobangs at 11:02 AM on December 19, 2005
Ruiz is a bum. He doesnt deserve a rematch or the title. I didnt see the fight, but i read that it was very close and controversial, which in my mind doesnt say a lot about Valuev, either. The heavyweight division is a joke right now.
posted by the don at 11:50 AM on December 19, 2005
That dude looks like george the aninmal steel on stilts.
posted by Turbo at 12:09 PM on December 19, 2005
Why did he wear a sweater during the fight?
posted by mbd1 at 12:18 PM on December 19, 2005
Tyson's looking at Valuev, drooling and thinking "MMmmm, Super-Sized!"
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:40 PM on December 19, 2005
Ruiz is, and will always be a bum. he never deserved to be a champ of anything. having said that, this new Russian cat has got to be a bum by default. GET HIM BYRD !!!!
posted by grizzay at 02:29 PM on December 19, 2005
To paraphrase (I think) Damon Runyon: 'A mediocre big man will always beat a mediocre little man.'
posted by owlhouse at 03:30 PM on December 19, 2005
Ruiz is a nothing fighter who has only beat washed up nothing fighters. The fact that this guy is so big means nothing except it demonstrates the pitiful condition of the Heavyweight division and boxing in general. He is a freak show at best.
posted by Atheist at 03:43 PM on December 19, 2005
damn I clicked the link and I think they changed the pic to that of bigfoot.
posted by sgann22 at 04:15 PM on December 19, 2005
Isn't Ruiz the same guy who got smacked around by Roy Jones, Jr., even though Roy was giving up four or five inches height and thirty pounds or so? Ruiz was just the right size to be in just the right place at just the right time.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:46 PM on December 19, 2005
If you think Ruiz is a bum, you ain't see Audley Harrison!
posted by Fat Buddha at 05:30 PM on December 19, 2005
That wearing a sweater and BIGFOOT sighting is hilarious.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 07:12 PM on December 19, 2005
that guy is huge but not as big as the bigshow
posted by freak at 08:04 PM on December 19, 2005
I got rid of my deadwood, only to replace it with deaderwood. I am the Steve Bruce of Spofi.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:39 AM on December 20, 2005
Terribly sorry, I don't know how that happened, my last comment should be on an an EPL thread!
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:41 AM on December 20, 2005
See also the images of Valuev here