Ruiz’s record fell to 42-6-1, while Valuev improved to 43-0 with one no-decision.

The American used the clinching moves that carried him through 11 title fights, with wins against Evander Holyfield and Andrew Golota.

“We knew beforehand you can’t have a beautiful fight against John Ruiz,” Valuev’s trainer Uli Wegner said. “But my fighter jabbed him the whole fight and later he used his physical advantage. It was close, but he deserved the verdict.”

This was the latest setback for Ruiz after losses to two former middleweights. He was beaten by Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney in April, but was given the title when Toney was stripped of the crown for testing positive for steroids.

At the news conference after the bout, Stone accusing the Germans of manipulating the fight, although they did not choose the judges from New Zealand, Australia and Mexico.

Ruiz’s camp said they will petition for the rematch with the WBA, which they did successfully for a Holyfield fight.

The 32-year-old Valuev is a former basketball player and discus thrower who was fighting for almost nothing in Russia until he was discovered by Sauerland two years ago.

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“This is the best New Year’s gift I could have,” Valuev said. “I’m not thinking about being the first Russian champion, I’m thinking of improving, so I can keep the title two or three fights.”

In an earlier bout, Laila Ali stopped Sweden’s Asa Sandell in the fifth round of a non-title bout with her father, former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, watching.

Ali caught the taller Swede with a left hook late in the round, then knocked her back with several punches before the referee stepped in.

Muhammad Ali, in Berlin to collect a peace prize, walked ringside to kiss his daughter after she ran her record to 22-0 with 19 knockouts.

Ali, the women’s WBC champion, had a tough time during the first two rounds from the little-known Swede, who used her height to connect several times.

“I expected the fight to be a little tougher than usual,” Ali said. “I had a game plan. They stopped the fight too early, but they do that in women’s boxing.”

Sandell’s record fell to 3-2 with one draw. The 37-year-old is a former amateur European champion who now works as a journalist.