Nikolai Valuev vs. Evander Holyfield (six rounds apiece). The decision was controversial, with veteran announcer Nick Charles stating "That is the worst display of officiating I have ever seen." ESPN's Dan Rafael wrote "you can make more of a legitimate argument that Holyfield won all 12 rounds than you can make one that Valuev claimed at least seven to take the fight." Valuev would go on to face former unified cruiserweight champion David Haye, losing via a majority decision and retiring three days later. Holyfield would continue on for three more fights before finally retiring just before he turned 50, therefore this fight marked the
Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye he had inherited the mandatory status from Chagaev as the next highest ranked contender. He would later agree to face the winner of Valuev vs Haye. Haye was able to out move and out box the much slower Valuev by using a circle, stick and move strategy which would give a majority decision victory. The win made Haye the fourth brit to win a major heavyweight title, after Bob Fitzsimmons, Lennox Lewis, and Frank Bruno as well as only the second former cruiserweight champion to win a heavyweight title after Evander Holyfield. Valuev would retire after the fight, while Haye