By Vadim Pushkin
Former two division world champion David Haye (26-2, 24KOs) was looking for the right comeback opponent when he announced his return late last year.
In his first fight since July of 2012, when he knocked out Dereck Chisora, the Hayemaker will come back to the ring on January 16th against Mark De Mori (30-1-2, 26KOs) of Australia.
"A lot of things went into the decision. He looks impressive athletically, he has a good ranking, a high knockout rate, can dish out it verbally very well, and he is unbeaten in 11 years. That was very important to me. I wanted to fight someone who under no circumstances was already knocked out Wilder or Wladimir Klitschko. I want to deliver a statement and show that I'm back. And I think to start with someone in the top ten of the WBA is not so bad," Haye said.
Not everyone is impressed with Haye's selection. Tyson Fury's uncle and trainer, Peter Fury, thinks very little of De Mori. Haye says he is a historian and made his comeback steps based on the outcome of several other failed returns of the past, where fighters came back feeling rusty against an opponent who was too tough to deal with.
"Just because De Mori does not have any big names on his record? Before you could say the same thing about [Fury]. Now he is world champion. De Mori has not gotten the opportunity [to beat a big name] just yet. That doesn't mean he can't do it," Haye said.
"It takes a time to regain your ring experience again. That's why it's good that I didn't get in, in my first fight in the ring, against Deontay Wilder. I feel strongly enough, but I have learned from the boxing history. Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, had a three and a half year break. He quickly went against Joe Frazier and promptly lost. But after he had the time to regain [his abilities in the ring], he beat Frazier twice. That proves to me that you should not rush on your comeback. You have to work yourself bit by bit upwards again."
