Standing at a height of 2.13 metres (7 feet) and a peak weight of 151 kilograms (333 pounds),[5] Valuev is best known for being the tallest and heaviest world champion in boxing history.

[6][7] Valuev was born on 21 August 1973, in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia).

[12] In January 2006, Valuev was accused of assaulting a security guard at the Spartak Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg.

Valuev changed trainers, from Manuel Gabrielian to Alexander Zimin, who coached the old Soviet Union amateur boxing team.

[15] On 16 February 2008, in a title eliminator, Valuev defeated former titleholder Siarhei Liakhovich, winning every round at the Nuremberg Arena in Germany.

Valuev instead fought John Ruiz for the vacant title on 30 August 2008 and the WBA decided to make Chagaev "Champion In Recess".

[18] After a rather uneventful match with no knockdowns and few punches thrown by either fighter, Valuev won a widely disputed majority decision.

[21] In his second defense on 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.

[28] In August 2016, Valuev became a presenter on Good Night, Little Ones!, Russia's long-running TV program for small children.

In December 2011 Russian parliamentary election, Valuev became a member of the State Duma through the United Russia Party.