David Haye has officially announced that he will be returning to the ring after a three year hiatus.
The Hayemaker will be pulling on his gloves and taking on Aussie Mark De Mori at the O2 Arena in the New Year, in front of what should be a sell-out crowd. The return of Haye is another boost for British boxing, in what could well be a fantastic few months for the sport.
This past weekend, Anthony Crolla – many of whom had doubted would ever fight again following a brutal attack last year in which he sustained devastating injuries – defied all the odds to become the WBA Light Heavyweight Champion. Tyson Fury will be hoping to follow suit and become the World Heavyweight Champion when he takes on Vladimir Klitschko in Germany this coming weekend. And, Anthony Joshua will look to take a step closer to staking his claim for a world title fight, by defeating fellow Brit, Dillian Whyte in mid-December.
The three year absence of Haye is bound to draw out the sceptics. But, if the past is anything to go by, the enforced break could work wonders for the 6’3 speedster. His boxing ability is unrivalled and when fully fit, you would argue he is one of the best British boxers of his generation.
The hunger, drive and ambition is still there. Haye looked and felt like a natural in the press conference. His rapport with media was refreshing – a sentiment shared among those in attendance.
Haye’s vision of becoming the World Heavyweight Champion plays heavy on his mind. His opponent, Mark De Mori, will be no push over though. His enthusiasm for the fight showed during the pair’s head to head confrontation, which only added to the hype of the January 16th O2 Arena showdown.
If the Haymaker and the Dominator pack as much punch as they did media value during their press conference, we’re in for one hell of a fight!