David Haye vs Mark de Mori: Hand-picked victim for Hayemaker’s big-time return

De Mori will test only former champion’s fitness after three years out

(Getty Images)

A cut, a damaged shoulder and a hand injury form the trinity of heavyweight injuries that prevented David Haye from fighting during the last three years. Haye returns to boxing this evening in front of an anticipated crowd of 14,000 at the O2 in the most significant heavyweight fight of the weekend. In New York tonight four other heavyweights will fight for two versions of the world title but it is Haye’s return that matters.

Since he last fought, in July 2012 against Dereck Chisora at Upton Park, Haye has changed trainer, changed his diet and obviously changed his mind about retiring. In his absence the boxing landscape has also changed, and I would argue it has shifted in his favour. Haye was systematically dismantled and broken by Wladimir Klitschko in 2011; now big Wlad is out of the way, a bitter renegade since losing to Tyson Fury.

The Fury result adds something to tonight’s fight, as did the latest triumph by Anthony Joshua last month, and Haye is under even more pressure to make a statement. He risks getting left behind in the battle of British heavyweights, an old man with fading memories. The cash prize would make the winner of any potential series of fights involving the three men the wealthiest sportsman in Britain. The real hero would be the fixer who somehow satisfied the ego, demands and fears of the three to put them in the same ring.

In the opposite corner tonight is Mark de Mori, who is from Australia but now lives in Croatia. He is the perfect hand-picked victim for Haye’s increasingly fragile body. It is an easy fight for an injury-free Haye and a potential disaster if the old battle wounds become a factor.

There is nothing wrong with De Mori’s credentials, haircut, build or confidence, but he has been imported from Split to play the Heel to Haye’s Pretty Boy. If De Mori can duck and dive to round six, it could get interesting. Haye will want him out in two or three minutes rather than two or three rounds.

It is wise to ignore all the bold talk of Haye being better than ever, stronger than ever and fitter than ever because he is 35 now with dodgy fists and a shoulder that could fall lame after just one punch.

The Australian has lost just once in 33 fights – against an unknown fighter called Johnny Wyborn in Homebush Bay, Sydney – and on that afternoon in 2004 De Mori was 40lbs heavier than Wyborn. It lasted 151 seconds and should, in theory, be dismissed but fighters like Haye do not lose to men that get flattened by men like Wyborn. De Mori can also bang a bit and 26 of his 30 wins have come early against men that Haye in his pomp would probably not hire for sparring fodder.

De Mori has been on a tour of obscure venues against forgettable fighters in the last few years, a wanderer on a circuit that does not lead to recognition or fame. He has not been tested in fights with men like Zeljko Bojic, who had lost four and won three, and Iko Dzafic, who was unbeaten in two before he was stopped by De Mori in 2013. De Mori won the WBF and WBU world titles over 12 rounds against a Croatian called Ivica Perkovic, who entered the ring having won 20 and lost 21.

Haye left the sport as a former world heavyweight champion, a survivor of 12 rounds with big Wlad, and it is a very long time since he met men like Bojic, Dzafic and Perkovic. De Mori has never met anybody like Haye.

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TALE OF THE TAPE

13 Oct 1980, London Born 11 Feb 1982, Perth

28 Fights 33

26 (24) Won (KO) 30 (26)

0 Drew 2

2 (1) Lost (KO) 1 (1)

6ft 3in Height 6ft 2in

16st 3lb Weight 17st 5lb

Orthodox Stance Orthodox

Hayemaker Alias Dominator