David Haye hopes to make triumphant return to boxing

FORMER heavyweight world champion David Haye will make his return to boxing against Australian Mark de Mori at London’s O2 Arena on January 16 and hopes that this, his first fight since 2012 will propel him back into the elite of world boxing.

Thirty-five-year-old Haye has been training with Shane McGuigan , son of former world champion Barry, and is aiming to reclaim the world title he lost to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011.

His 33-year-old opponent was last defeated in 2004, and 26 out of his 29 victories have been through knockouts.

“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.

“He is top 10. I don’t want to fight complete nobodies. I believe if I can do what I’m doing in the gym on January 16 then I’ll be better than I used to be.”