DON’T call it a comeback – at least not from retirement.
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| David Haye's bout with Mark de Mori will apparently be his last |
David Haye insists his first fight in three-and-a-half years against Australian Mark de Mori next Saturday at the O2 Arena is only his return from injury.
The former two-weight world champion revealed he never hung up his gloves after doctors advised him to following serious shoulder surgery in 2013.
And is adamant he is only returning to the ring to achieve a “fairy tale finish” for his career and not for the money.
Heavyweight star Haye, 35, has not fought since his 2012 win over British rival Dereck Chisora at Upton Park.
He twice pulled out of a fight with now WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury because of a cut in sparring and then the shoulder injury that required serious surgery in Germany.
Haye flirted with returning to the ring for more than 18 months, but seemed more interested in a jet set lifestyle as he toured the world and mingled with celebrities.
But now the former WBA heavyweight champion – who revealed he was depressed and had to go through “dark days” in the aftermath of his shoulder surgery – is back.
“The simple answer to why I’m coming back is because I’m physically able to fight,” he said as he put the finishing touches to his first camp with new trainer Shane McGuigan.
“I always believed I would be back. There were some very dark days after the injury when I was depressed.
“When my arm was in a cast for six weeks, I couldn’t do anything. I was in a position where I was not able to move around, go for a run or anything. That was the worst time. I couldn’t even have a shower.
“But you come through that and it spurs you on to achieve bigger and better things.
“I know what it is like to not be able to function properly so now that I can I want to make the most of it. I want to fulfil the potential I have.
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| Haye and De Mori will fight at the 02 Arena in London on Saturday 16 |
“I’m not coming back for money. I feel I have unfinished business. My last fight was with Chisora, that was just a stepping stone to a world title.
“Vitali Klitschko said he would fight the winner so I did it, but then he fought Manuel Charr and then retired. That fight didn’t happen, so we went for Fury.
“It was frustrating getting cut right before the first fight then my shoulder went for the next one.
“I’ve been out through injury, I didn’t retire. I didn’t say I was retired, or do an official retirement announcement.
“People retired me once they realised I had a serious shoulder operation, but I never said I was done.
“People think I’m coming out of retirement, but that’s not the case. I’m coming back from injury.”
Haye, of course, did retire once after his defeat by Klitschko as he had promised he would quit when he turned 31.
That hiatus ended when he returned to settle a feud with Chisora after they brawled at a press conference.
But there is no clock ticking on his career now despite being four years past the age he initially wanted to retire as he looks to finish in style.
“I haven’t given myself a time frame until I retire,” Haye, who has lost two of his 28 fights, said.
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| Haye's last professional fight was in 2012 when he knocked out Dereck Chisora |
“It could be in two years, it could be three. I give myself one fight at a time. I take it from there.
“I always said I would retire at 30 but the fight before my 31st year was the loss against Wladimir Klitschko on points and it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“If I had of won that fight I would have retired the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion.
“That would have been the fairy tale ending to my career but it didn’t quite happen.
“I would like the fairy tale ending that I didn’t quite have.”
Haye is unsure if that fairy tale finish is avenging his Klitschko loss if the Ukrainian can beat Fury in their return later this year or whether it is just regaining the heavyweight crown from whoever has it.
But he is aware that, at 35, there is no room for any slip ups as a fight with Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua has also been earmarked for the returning Londoner.
“I can’t afford to lose any fight. I can’t lose. I need to be winning and winning in good style,” he said.
“The bottom line is I want to regain the heavyweight championship of the world. That was always my intention. If I lose now I can’t do that.”
David Haye takes on Mark de Mori at The O2 on January 16. For tickets to #HayeDay visit axs.com or watch the fight exclusively live on Dave from 9pm.
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