David Haye returns to the ring against Mark de Mori in January

Boxing
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Posted: Nov 24, 2015 | Updated: 4 months ago

David Haye (26-2-KO24) has come out of retirement after three years away from boxing to announce that he will be fighting Australian Mark de Mori (30-1-2-KO26) next month at the O2 Arena on 16th January, Haye has not fought since he stopped fellow Briton Dereck Chisora in 2012.

The Hayemaker has had a complete overhaul of his team, Adam Booth no longer trains Haye and the Londoner has brought in Shane McGuigan – son of former world champion Barry – and is targeting all world champions.

Haye recently closed his gym in Vauxhall and sold the ring on eBay for £65,700 to focus on his comeback, having had three attempts to return thwarted by injury.

He was due to face Manuel Charr in 2013 but suffered a hand injury in training then pulled out of a fight with Tyson Fury with a cut to the head and again out of the rescheduled match with a serious shoulder injury.

Haye won the WBA title in 2009 when he outpointed Russia’s Nikolay Valuev but was beaten by Wladimir Klitschko two years later.

De Mori has lost only once in his 33 career bouts.

The 33-year-old Perth-born boxer’s last defeat came in 2004, and 26 of his 29 victories have come via knockout.

“I could have picked an easier opponent,” said Haye. “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.

Speaking on his return to the ring, Haye said: I’m so happy to be able to step back through the ropes and back into the ring, where I do my best work.

“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.

“I’ve always set the bar high in my career, and I will continue to do so.”

De Mori, ranked in the top 10 by the WBA, said: “I’ve finally got my shot. I’ve been put on the sidelines for many years, frustratingly looking in, and not been given the opportunity to fulfill my ambition to fight the big names and to become the heavyweight champion of the world.”

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