1. If Ever the Underdog Had a Chance…
On paper, Mark de Mori is a heavy, heavy underdog. There’s simply no denying that David Haye is more skilled, powerful, and has shared the far greater company in the ring. While that may have been true four years ago, and should still be today, we just don’t know what Haye has left. Haye (26-2, 24 KO) hasn’t fought since 2012 when he stopped Derek Chisora and developed a debilitating shoulder injury soon after.
So, while it seems like Haye vs de Mori is a bonafide tune-up owing to careful design, it might turn into something totally different. Consider this: Mark de Mori (30-1-2, 26 KO), a currently unheralded puncher-type, could win this one. Let’s remember that Haye isn’t known for possessing the solidest of chins, after all.
I know, I know, it’s hard to even entertain that thought, and really, an upset probably isn’t going to happen. But stay with me, and consider the following questions. What if Haye’s shoulder malfunctions early in the fight? Are Haye’s 35-year-old legs the same as they were four years ago? Can he shake off all that rust and conquer a capable, active Heavyweight like de Mori?
If you haven’t already, you may want to catch our Haye vs de Mori Preview, Tale of the Tape, Stats & Facts here.
2. The Return of a Dangerous Heavyweight
Again, there are a lot of ‘ifs’ surrounding Haye’s comeback campaign. If Haye’s shoulder holds out, even at 35 we could be about to see the return of a very exciting power house talent this year. Even with talented poster boys such as Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the mix, the division is still fairly shallow. And I don’t need to tell you that a charismatic puncher like Haye will be warmly welcomed back (provided he gets past de Mori).
If Haye is still on top form (it’s likely with just 28 fights and no serious wars on his record), he would be a front runner to face Britain’s best in 2016. Lucrative fights with the aforementioned Fury and Joshua will be in the ‘Hayemaker’s’ crosshair, and perhaps even Dillian Whyte, another domestic talent who brought out the best in Joshua last December.
At 35, we can pretty much guarantee Haye has those fights in sight. Any of the above pairings would be considered an event (certainly the Fury and Joshua matchups), and would fill out stadiums like London’s O2 Arena in no time at all. Haye’s retirement package could well be sealed in 2016 alone.
3. For Plain Old Nostalgia
If you’re a serious boxing nut, or even a casual fan, you’ve probably witnessed a fair number of Haye’s entertaining scraps over the years, especially at Heavyweight. Haye was the undisputed Cruiserweight champion once upon a time, successfully rebuilding his career after suffering defeat at the hands of patient, determined veteran Carl Thompson in 2004.
Undeterred, Haye bounced back to knock out all but one of his next eleven opponents, which included the likes of Enzo Maccarinelli, Jean Marc Mormeck, Tomasz Bonin, and Giacobbe Fragomeni. Before climbing up to Heavyweight, Haye was the WBA, WBC, WBO and RING champion. (If Haye had resisted the call of the ‘glamour division’, I’ve no doubt he would have become one of the best 200-pounders of all time.)
Haye’s Heavyweight campaign, while not quite as impressive and a little padded in places, earned the respect of many fans. Haye knocked out debut foe Monte Barrett, outpointed and almost dropped 7 foot giant Nikolay Valuev (Haye is 6’ 3”), knocked out fringe contenders Dereck Chisora and Audley Harrison, stopped seasoned John Ruiz, and lost a decision to Wladimir Klitschko.
Is Haye the same fighter he once was? All questions will be answered on Saturday night. UK fight fans can catch Haye vs de Mori on ‘Dave’ from 9pm; as for those in the US, I don’t yet have an answer for you, I’m afraid. Some consolation: you can catch Live Round by Round Updates on Twitter (@BoxingBase), plus Live Coverage right here at Boxing Base. Problem solved!
So, will you be tuning in to Haye vs de Mori this weekend? What are your predictions for the fight? And, if you’re that good, how do you see 2016 looking for the Hayemaker?
