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
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Ruslan Chagaev WBA title from Nikolay Valuev in April 2007 by a majority decision. His scheduled rematch with Valeuv was twice cancelled due a viral infection and a torn Achilles tendon both suffered by Chagaev. After the second cancellation Chagaev vacated the title becoming a "Champion In recess", with Valuev going on to defeat fellow former champion John Ruiz to regain the title. After Haye pulled out, Klitschko and Chagaev agreed to meet at the Veltins-Arena with the vacant "Ring" magazine heavyweight belt on the line. Also, this was the first time that the Lineal championship had been contested since Lennox Lewis