Haye targets Klitschko rematch after 2016 De Mori comeback fight
Published:
Lee Gormley | November 24, 2015
David Haye returns to the ring in 2016
Former world heavyweight champion David Haye has confirmed he will return to the ring in 2016 after a four-year absence from the sport, and the 35-year-old has already secured a comeback fight against Australia’s Mark De Mori on January 16th, at the O2 Arena in London.
I am so happy to announce my comeback fight against Mark De Mori on Saturday 16th January @theO2 #Hayemakerisback pic.twitter.com/zmsb0ieTrz
— David Haye (@mrdavidhaye) November 24, 2015
At the same venue set for his scheduled comeback bout in London, Haye announced to the boxing world during a press conference that he will finally be donning his gloves once again in 2016, after much speculation in recent years, as he aims to add to his professional record of 26 victories and two losses.
De Mori clash scheduled
Among those 26 triumphs for the fighter known as ‘the Hayemaker’, are an impressive 24 wins by knockout since bursting onto the professional stage in 2002, and the former WBA heavyweight champion will look to pick up where he left off in 2011, when he comfortably stopped compatriot Dereck Chisora in the fifth-round of their Upton Park meeting.
“I could have picked an easier opponent. I could have fought someone who’d been knocked out a couple of times but I wanted to give people someone to get excited about,” said Haye, regarding his comeback opponent De Mori.
“He is top 10. I don’t want to fight complete nobodies. I believe if I can do what I’m doing in the gym on 16 January then I’ll be better than I used to be.”
“I’ll fight anyone who stands in my way”
Haye impressively clinched the heavyweight title back in 2009, when he overcame Russian giant Nikolay Valuev and went on to successfully defend his crown twice, before losing out to dominant Ukrainian Klitschko in Germany.
“I asked my fans on Twitter who they would like me to fight and De Mori called me out. He has an impressive record. There are no names on it that make me really worried but can talk and it should be a fun fight for the fans,” continued Haye.
“I could have boxed someone easier but I’m not interested in that. I’d like a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko down the line but I’ll fight anyone who stands in my way to being the champion.”
The Londoner’s dynamic style and distinct speed for a heavyweight was key to his previous success, but it remains to be seen whether he can emulate his former achievements and reach those heights again after such a long period out of the squared circle.
McGuigan can help Haye revival
Although, with Carl Frampton’s esteemed trainer Shane McGuigan, son of former world champion Barry, now having undertaken coaching duties for ‘the Hayemaker’, the Briton could yet become a force to reckoned with once again in a highly-competitive heavyweight division.
“It’s been a long three and a half years out, with many ups and downs, but the Hayemaker is finally back. I’ve a new team, new look and new inspiration to achieve my goals,” added the Bermondsey-born bruiser. “I’ve always set the bar high in my career, and I will continue to do so.”
Haye had been previously scheduled to take on fellow Brit Tyson Fury before announcing his initial retirement from the sport, but his long-standing rival will soon come face-to-face with his former conqueror Klitschko in Dusseldorf for their heavyweight title encounter, where the undefeated Manchester-born challenger is 11/2 with Coral to secure a stunning stoppage victory.
Domestic showdowns with rising star Anthony Joshua, heavyweight title challenger Fury and a possible rematch with Klitschko are potential future prospects for the returning ‘Hayemaker’, but those high-profile match-ups depend on his imminent comeback clash with Australian competitor De Mori in January.
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