Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye would agree to face Ruiz in a mandatory defence. Confirmed bouts: Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye, billed as "David vs Goliath", was a professional boxing match contested on 7 November 2009 for the WBA heavyweight championship. After regaining the WBA title with a unanimous decision over fellow former Champion John Ruiz Nikolai Valuev had made one defence gaining a very controversial majority decision over Evander Holyfield, he agreed to "Champion in Recess" Ruslan Chagaev, who had given Valuev the only defeat of career. However their fight on 30 May 2009 in Helsinki, Finland at the
Nikolai Valuev vs. Evander Holyfield Nikolai Valuev vs. Evander Holyfield Nikolai Valuev vs. Evander Holyfield was a professional boxing match contested on December 20, 2008 for the WBA heavyweight championship. After only winning two of his last nine fights, including a three fight losing streak at the end (going 2–5–2 from 1999 to 2004), four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was suspended indefinitely by the New York State Athletic Commission amid health concerns following a poor performance against Larry Donald in which the then 42-year-old Holyfield was nearly swept by Donald on all three judge's scorecards. Following the suspension, Holyfield was out of boxing for 21