Former world heavyweight champion David Haye has announced he is to return to the ring in January with a bout against Australian Mark de Mori at London's O2 Arena.
The 35-year-old Briton held a press conference at the venue on Tuesday to deliver the news of what is set to be his first fight since he beat compatriot Dereck Chisora in July 2012.
In 2013 Haye withdrew from proposed clashes against Manuel Charr and Tyson Fury due to injuries, with surgeons advising him following a shoulder operation on the latter occasion to seriously consider retiring.
But he refused to give up on a comeback which has now been scheduled for January 16th and will see him take on a man two years his junior in De Mori.
“I’m so happy to be able to step back through the ropes and back into the ring, where I do my best work,” Haye said.
“I’ve always set the bar high in my career, and I will continue to do so. Please sit back and get ready for another fun-fuelled heavyweight campaign to the very top.
“It’s been a long three-and-a-half years out, with many ups and downs, but The Hayemaker is finally back and ready to do what I do best.
“I’ve a new team, new look and new inspiration to achieve my goals.”
It recently emerged Haye was linking up with trainer Shane McGuigan — son of Barry McGuigan — who also works with super-bantamweight world champion Carl Frampton.
De Mori is ranked in the WBA’s top 10 and unbeaten since suffering the only defeat of his 33-bout career in 2004.
The Australian has won 30 times (26 KOs), while Haye has 28 victories (24 KOs) and two defeats on his record — the last loss coming in 2011 against Wladimir Klitschko.
After claiming various world titles at cruiserweight, Haye stepped up to the heavyweight division and took the WBA crown in 2009 by beating Nikolai Valuev.
That belt was retained against John Ruiz and Audley Harrison, only to be lost to Klitschko in a 2011 unification bout, after which Haye insisted his performance had been undermined by having broken a toe pre-fight.
A brief retirement followed, before an end in an infamous brawl with Chisora that saw Haye defeat his countryman in the fifth round at West Ham’s Upton Park.
Over the weekend he indicated he is aiming to reclaim his title from Klitschko, who fights Fury on Saturday.
