Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz was never a fan favorite and always had to do things the hard way.

He had overcome close decision losses to Sergey Kobozev (SD 10) and Danell Nicholson (SD 12) as well as a brutal first-round knockout at the hands of David Tua to become the first Latino heavyweight champion when he beat Evander Holyfield for the WBA title in 2001. He made two defenses before he was beaten by Roy Jones Jr. in March 2003.

"The Quietman" kept himself to himself and regained his title the following year. However, he dropped the title to James Toney in April 2005 and retired.

"I never got the proper recognition," Ruiz told The Ring. "I reached my boiling point that night and decided enough was enough. I was done with boxing!

"He tested positive, something he'd done before, so it was no surprise."

After Ruiz (41-5-1) was reinstated as champion, the opportunity came to go to Germany and face Russian behemoth Nicolay Valuev (42-0).

"The money was in Europe because the Euro was up then," he said. "I was fighting to win the world championship, but also to make as much money to take care of my family."

The defending champion spent three months in training camp in Las Vegas trying to prepare as best he could.

"We used the same guys for most of my fights," he said. "Who could we have gotten to spar who was that big?"

A week before the fight, Ruiz flew first class from Las Vegas to Berlin.

During his time in Berlin, he used the gym of 1992 Olympic gold medalist Torsten May, who he had fought and beat in a USA vs. Germany meet, in West Palm Beach, Florida, in April 1992.

"Whether we saw people in restaurants or being interviewed, Germans always treated me right," he said. "I never took anything personal. I had to build up my anger towards my opponent and the fight. I was fighting for my family to feed my family and to keep that going."

Ruiz enjoyed his time there and was able to get out and see some of the city.

"We walked around a lot for that fight; visited churches and museums, went shopping in the city, sat and ate, and saw neighborhoods," he recalled. "[It was] my first time there, I remember a plaza being filled with people. We did a little tour of the city to try and enjoy it."

Ruiz met Valuev for the first time at the press conference and the two weighed in the following day. Valuev, who stood 7 feet tall, towered over Ruiz, 6-foot-2 and outweighed him by a mammoth 87 pounds.

"I prepared for the face-off and talking [to reporters] about the fight," he said. "I never knew much about my opponents. I never really studied them. I'd take the fight and work to get in top shape to be ready to battle 12 rounds."

The Massachusetts native did what he always did on fight day.

"I had a little breakfast, I ate lunch, around 2 p.m., and I'd aways eat some kind of Pasta before the fight that wasn't going to start until around midnight," he said. "I usually ate in my room, depending on how I felt, but I was secluded in my hotel room."

He made his way to the Max Schmeling Halle and kept to himself.

"I Iooked around for a place to lay down and take a nap, because I wanted to try to stay relaxed and not waste any energy," he said. "I got my hands wrapped and close to the fight, I had a shake out and stretched out. I never changed that too much."

After the ring walks, introductions and anthems, it was time.

"I felt ready," he said. "Before the bell rang, I was preparing to charge out and take the fight to my opponent. I always did that to start the fight since the Tua fight [Ruiz didn't charge out of his corner and was knocked out in 19 seconds), when I wandered around."

Ruiz felt comfortable midway through their contest.

"Feeling good, especially when I heard the people singing, which definitely gave me a boost," he said.

The fight continued in a similar vein and was close at the end.

"I realized that I got the bad scores whenever I was in a close fight," he said. "I felt I had won, but also thought, here we go again. I never won those close decisions and somehow lost on the scorecards."

When the scorecards were read out, it was a familiar feeling. Valuev was awarded a 12-round majority decision: 116-113 and 116-114, while the third judge couldn't separate the two 114-114.

"It was like I had expected because I was fighting in his hometown," he said. "I felt like I had to knock him down five, six times every round to win a split decision."

According to CompuBox, Ruiz outlanded Valuev 195-157.

The 10,000 in attendance voiced their displeasure at the controversial decision.

"They usually booed the guy fighting the hometown fighter," he said. "The fans showed their appreciation for me after the fight. They were behind me, and I really appreciated them. I fought there three more times."

Ruiz returned to his hotel room before heading home the following day.

"My face was swollen; I had to ice it and get some Advil," he said. "I tried to get some sleep but after a fight like that I had a headache."

And just like that "The Quiteman." returned to America but without his prized possession, the WBA title.