Valuev takes WBA title with decision over Ruiz

Russian giant Nikolai Valuev won the WBA heavyweight championship Saturday night, using his left jab to outpoint American John Ruiz in a unanimous decision in Berlin.

The fight was first declared a split decision, but the score was officially later changed to give Valuev all three of the judges’ votes.

The 7-foot Valuev (49-1) regained the title he lost to Ruslan Chagaev in April 2007 and beat Ruiz (43-8-1) for the second time.

The judges scored it for Valuev, 116-113, 116-111 and 114-113.

WBA delegate John Mack said one of the officials, Japanese ringside judge Takeshi Shimakawa, alerted him after the first split decision was read out that he too had given the fight to Valuev.

The Japanese official explained that one of the cards had the names of the fighters in a different order, therefore resulting in the confusion. Shimakawa was the judge who scored it 114-113.

The decision wasn’t popular with everyone in the Max Schmeling arena in Berlin, with some of the crowd booing the outcome.

Valuev, with a massive advantage in height, weight and reach, also won a disputed decision over Ruiz in December 2005.

“I thought I won the fight,” Ruiz said. “I don’t know what was going with the scorecards.”

The scorecards were taken back and fourth from the ring several times.

Valuev landed a few big rights, but not enough to put Ruiz into trouble. Ruiz could not connect with more than one punch at a time.

“I did not do what I wanted to do 100 percent,” Valuev said.

The 35-year-old Valuev looked trimmer and quicker than in previous fights after changing his diet and training regime. He settled for keeping Ruiz at a distance with his left jab but never delivered a punch that could shake Ruiz.

Ruiz appeared to shake Valuev with a right in the second round but the Russian recovered quickly. Every time Ruiz appeared to get close, Valuev’s left jab would keep the American away.

Ruiz and Valuev were given a title fight after the WBA declared Ruslan Chagaev “champion in recess,” following an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to call off a rematch with Valuev.

Golf

Clark surges to front

Tim Clark needed only one birdie over his final two holes to shoot 59. He finished with consecutive bogeys and had to settle for a one-shot lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship at Norton, Mass.

He still matched his career low with a 9-under-par 62 on soft and vulnerable TPC Boston, giving him a one-shot lead over Mike Weir of Canada at the halfway point of the PGA Tour’s second playoff event.

“It just was strange,” Clark said. “I felt good all day and just kept making birdie after birdie after birdie. And then on the front nine, a couple of eagles really boosted the round. For a while there, there certainly was a chance of 59.”

On another day of low scoring, Clark was trying to get into contention when he shot to the top of the leaderboard by playing a six-hole stretch in 7 under, including two eagles. After a wedge to 3 feet on the par-5 seventh put the South African at 11 under for the round with two holes to play, it all fell apart.

Clark missed the green on the par-3 eighth and failed to convert an 8-foot par putt.

“That was the end of the dream,” Clark said.

He missed the ninth fairway, watched his approach bound through the green and he missed his 10-foot par putt for a 62, putting him at 14-under 128.

Vijay Singh, who won The Barclays in a playoff last week to lead the FedEx Cup standings, picked up three birdies on the final four holes for a 66 and was two shots back at 12-under 130, along with former British Open champion Ben Curtis, who had a 65.

Jim Furyk (65), Sergio Garcia (64) and Ernie Els (65) were in the group at 131 that also included Kevin Streelman.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson made the cut on the number at 3-under 139.

•Sluman shares lead: Jeff Sluman shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the second-round lead in the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, Calif., with Loren Roberts, Phil Blackmar and John Harris.

Sluman, a six-time PGA Tour winner in his first full season on the Champions Tour, had six birdies and a bogey en route to a 9-under 135 total. He opened with a 69 on Friday at Del Monte.

The four-way tie marked the first time this season a Champions Tour tournament has had multiple leaders entering the final round. Craig Stadler, the inaugural tournament winner in 2004, shot a 66 at Del Monte after completing the final nine holes of his fog-delayed first round at Pebble Beach and was alone at 8 under.

Steve Thomas (70) and Fred Funk (70) were 7 under.

Horse racing

Curlin victorious

Curlin won the $500,000 Woodward Stakes to move a step closer to defending his Horse of the Year title, beating long shot Past the Point by 1  1/4 lengths at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The $300,000 winner’s share moved the Stonestreet Stable-owned Curlin past Skip Away as the second-leading money winning thoroughbred in history with more than $9.79 million and leaves him less than $200,000 behind Cigar ($9.9 million).

Curlin, ridden by Robby Albarado, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.34 in en route to his fourth victory in five starts this year and sixth straight win on dirt.

Curlin paid $2.70, $2.40 and $2.10. Past the Point returned $13.80 and $6.40, and Wanderin Boy paid $3.50 to show.

Earlier, 4-year-old First Defense won the $250,000 Forego Stakes after heavily favored Lucky Island stumbled badly at the break.

Miscellany

Wrestling pioneer dies

Pro wrestling pioneer Walter “Killer” Kowalski died from the effects of a massive heart attack in Everett, Mass. He was 81.

Kowalski died at Whidden Hospital in Everett, 12 days after his family decided to take him off life support. He had been in critical condition in the hospital since his heart attack on Aug. 8, wife Theresa Kowalski said.

•Mugabe pays athletes: The president accused of impoverishing Zimbabwe has handed out $148,000 to the nation’s Olympians, most of it to a top-performing swimmer.

The government-controlled Herald newspaper reported that Robert Mugabe announced the awards during a brief ceremony Friday. He called Kirsty Coventry Zimbabwe’s “golden girl” and gave her $100,000.

Coventry won three silvers and a gold at the Beijing games. She showed off her medals during a parade through Harare earlier this week.

The Herald said Mugabe gave three others on the 13-member Olympic squad $10,000 each.