Mark de Mori is a huge underdog going into tonight’s fight against David Haye at the O2 Arena, London. De Mori’s record is unremarkable and he’s ranked somewhere in the Heavyweight Top 100 – but there’s much more to know about this Australian-born contender. Here are some quick fire de Mori facts:
- He suffered from deafness until the age of four and chronic asthma throughout much of his childhood, spending a great deal of time in the ER following life threatening attacks.
- Trained alongside former Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in Oxford, California in 2010.
- Originally learned how to box from watching YouTube videos, developing his craft in his father’s garage on City Beach, Perth. It was during this time that his low guard style became ingrained.
- Used to be in Don King’s stable, but was released after King’s Bermane Stiverne failed to beat Deontay Wilder to take home the WBC crown. De Mori is now promoted by Warriors Boxing and managed by Mark Borao.
- His wife Marijana is a record holder in powerlifting.
- Trains at a private gym during visits to Chelsea, London.
- De Mori has resided in Croatia for the past two and a half years, training at Split’s Odjebi training centre where he endures the same brutal training regime as one of the Croatian President’s bodyguards
- Marijo Sivolija, De Mori’s coach, is a former two-time Croatian Olympian (2004, 2008), who won silver at the 2005 World Amateur Championships held in China.
- De Mori takes in street cats and pays for their healthcare needs.
- Former Heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon has mentored De Mori for four and half years, watching videos of De Mori’s sparring and offering advice.
- Became a huge fan of Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as a child, and also Wrestling’s Ultimate Warrior
- De Mori isn’t a complete stranger to big arena fights; he fought at the 88,000 capacity Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2008.
What’s your take on Mark de Mori? Is he in with a fighting chance against a potentially ring-rusty David Haye? Or is de Mori just being served up as necessary cannon fodder to reboot Haye’s boxing career?
