Nikolai Valuev 7 November 2009, billed as "'David vs. Goliath"', Valuev faced off against former unified and lineal cruiserweight champion David Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung in Nuremberg. Valuev lost on points (114–114, 116–112, 116–112). Valuev announced his retirement from boxing in a Russian newspaper three days after the loss to Haye on 10 November 2009. In 2010, Valuev's doctor went on record saying that he is treating Valuev for "serious bone and joint problems". Valuev underwent two operations that required at least six months on the sidelines. Valuev confirmed in 2013 that medical advice was one of
Nikolai Valuev the reasons he is not planning to make a comeback in boxing. Valuev is one of five heavyweight champions to have retired without having suffered a stoppage loss during his career. The others are Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano, Riddick Bowe and Sultan Ibragimov. Valuev's first role in a film was a cameo appearance in the German film "7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug" in 2006. In 2008, Valuev played the main role in the film "Stonehead" by Philip Yankovskiy, playing an ex-boxer who lost his memory. The film took the main prize at the film festival "Window to