Aug

25

John Ruiz vs Nikolai Valuev

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Nikolai Valuev and John Ruiz would not stop staring at each other when they posed for the photographers following today?΄s press conference in Berlin. After two long minutes, they were finally separated by Wilfried Sauerland and Don King. β€œI think we will be seeing a very exciting fight on Saturday,” Sauerland predicted.

Both fighters are brimming with confidence ahead of their rematch. β€œI feel like I won the first fight,” Ruiz said.

β€œI am here in Germany to get the belt back. I have worked very hard in practice with my coach. I am in great shape and I will show that on Saturday.” His trainer, Manny Siaca Sr., was also confident of success..

β€œOn Saturday the two best heavyweight boxers will meet in the ring. But this time the ending will be different from their last meeting. You will see that John Ruiz will be world champion again.

The Russian Giant, however, has different plans. β€œIt would take too long to describe all the things I have changed (in my game),” he stated. β€œI have prepared very hard and very long. I am in very good shape. I want to win!” Wilfried Sauerland warned everyone not to underestimate the 36-year-old former champion. β€œI saw Samuel Peter?΄s fight against Jameel McCline. Peter went down three times. But then McCline clearly lost to Ruiz on points.”

Don King also praised Ruiz?΄ performance against McCline. β€œJohn did a great job,” the US promoter stated. β€œHe is here to win. He will be in great shape. All eyes will be on Berlin. We can expect a great fight.”

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Two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KOs) broke Las Vegas training camp today and he departed for Germany in quest of his third world title. Ruiz is traveling with his advisor and attorney, Tony Cardinale, and head trainer, Manny Siaca, Sr.

The WBA vacated the title due to an injury to Ruslan Chagaev, declaring him “champion in recess,” and ruled that the top two rated contenders fight for the title. Ruiz, rated No. 2 by the WBA, takes on the No. 1 contender, 7-0, 320-pound Nikolai Valuev (48-1, 34 KOs), who won a controversial 12-round split decision 2 ?ο?½ years ago against defending champion Ruiz, on August 30 in Berlin for the WBA crown.

Ruiz also lost a majority decision to Chagaev in Germany. “I believe the third time will be the charm – my first win fighting for the third time in Germany – and I’ll bring home my third world championship belt,” Ruiz said before he left. “I heard that Valuev has been swimming to train for our fight. Good. He’s going to need that because I’m taking him into deep water before knocking the giant out. Timber! The deeper the fight, the deeper the water’s going to be for him. I know what I can do to him. I beat him the first time but they gave him the decision.

“Everything about training camp was good. I worked very hard to get ready for this fight. I’ve been working on a lot of stuff with Manny like more balanced punching and a few new moves. When we get into the ring I want him to be thinking about what he’s going to do with me. He’s not going to fight the same guy he did the first time. You can’t let him stand there or he’ll throw punches all night long. I’m going to take the fight to him and make him move around. I’m going to stay on him, surround him, and show him different angles and more combination punching.”

The Puerto Rican-American Ruiz is the first and only Latino heavyweight champion of the world. He has fought in 10 world championship fights and defeated three world heavyweight champions — Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker – in addition to beating top contenders such as Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo, Kirk Johnson and Jameel McCline during his 15-year pro career.

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