BERLIN (AP) -Russian giant Nikolai Valuev won the WBA heavyweight championship Saturday night, using his left jab to outpoint American John Ruiz in an unanimous decision.
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.
