Big-time boxing lawsuit filed in Tacoma

ADAM LYNN; adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com
Last updated: December 29th, 2008 08:08 AM (PST)

Former WBA champion John Ruiz, aggrieved about his loss in a rematch Aug. 30 in Berlin with Russian giant Nikolai Valuev, sued Valuev’s promoters earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.

Ruiz, a Nevada resident, contends Valuev’s team cheated during the bout – which the 7-foot-tall Valuev won on points – and that Germany-based promoter Sauerland Event is illegally withholding a portion of Ruiz’s share of the purse.

The promoter has said it withheld $222,225.20 of Ruiz’s $1 million payout to cover his German taxes.

Ruiz wants a federal judge to award him the disputed portion of the purse and other “damages against Sauerland as determined at trial” for the alleged cheating, according to his lawsuit.

That could include stripping Valuev of the WBA title and ordering yet another rematch, judging from statements Ruiz and his handlers have made to fight writers in the months since the bout.

“Team Ruiz will maintain its demand that the bout be declared a ‘no-contest,’ and that steps be taken to avoid any future unfair practices of this sort,” according to a statement from Team Ruiz published Sept. 16 on the Web site Eastsideboxing.com.

Attempts by The News Tribune to reach Sauerland officials were unsuccessful.

The promoter has defended itself in the boxing press, where the dispute has been a hot topic.

“That is absolutely ridiculous,” Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer told BoxingInsider.com for a Sept. 9 story. “His accusations are without any substance. They are an affront to the WBA and their officials. Everybody saw that Nikolai clearly won the fight.”

Ruiz claims in his lawsuit that Valuev had inappropriate help in winning the Berlin bout.

Citing evidence gleaned from a video of the bout, he contends that Valuev’s cornermen conspired with a Sauerland employee to get improper access to the running score of the bout before the start of the 12th and final round.

According to the lawsuit, the video shows one of Valuev’s cornermen asking a Sauerland employee “improperly in position” to see the judges’ scorecards, “What is the score?”

The video then shows some “unintelligible verbal communication” between Valuev’s trainer and the Sauerland worker, the lawsuit states.

“After which, the trainer tips his water bottle to the Sauerland employee, indicating that he understands that Valuev is ahead on points and will win the bout unless Ruiz knocks him out in the last round,” according to the suit.

“Immediately thereafter, the trainer tells Valuev to ‘stay away’ from Ruiz, who had done damage to Valuev in the 11th round. This is exactly what Valuev then did, and, as confirmed by the Sauerland employee, he won the bout on points.”

Ruiz contends the alleged actions of Valuev’s trainer and the Sauerland employee violated the spirit of fair play and, more importantly, WBA rules, the latter of which breached his contract.

The running score is supposed to be kept confidential until the end of the bout to ensure that both boxers continue to fight hard until the final bell, Ruiz claims.

“I’m terribly disappointed with what went on over there,” Ruiz told BoxingInsider.com for a Sept. 8 posting. “Boxing suffered another black eye.”

Meyer told BoxingInsider.com that Ruiz’s contentions are nothing more than sour grapes.

“It really is a shame that Ruiz acts as a sore loser yet again,” Meyer said.

That “again” refers to a 2005 bout between the boxers that also ended in a controversial loss for Ruiz. His manager at the time was so incensed that he grabbed the WBA championship belt from Valuev after the fight and paraded around the ring with it.

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644

blogs.thenewstribune.com/crime

BOXING HAS LONG HISTORY IN TACOMA

The lawsuit over the World Boxing Association heavyweight championship wound up in Tacoma because WBA bylaws call for the association’s disputes to be governed by Washington state law and be heard in Pierce County courts.

It’s unclear why Pierce County was chosen.

An e-mail to WBA President Gilberto Mendoza went unanswered last week.

T-Town does boast a long and storied boxing history.

The McMurtry brothers, Pat and Mike, were national contenders 50 years ago. Rocky Marciano was stationed briefly at Fort Lewis. The Tacoma Boxing Club produced six champions at this year’s 60th Tacoma Golden Gloves championships at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

Adam Lynn, The News Tribune

Originally published: December 28th, 2008 11:35 PM (PST)