BoxRec

Haye makes his comeback vs. Mark de Mori in London on Jan 16th.

It seems this will be his final curtain call with a loss or another bad injury surely spelling the end of his career.

How far do people here think he will go?

I think his only path to Klitchko (assuming he gets by Fury) would be to pick up the WBC and look to unify, but for that to happen he'd probably need to be fighting Povetkin/Wilder towards the end of 2016 or early 2017.

It's 9 years since Haye fought more than twice in a year but if he's serious about this comeback you'd have to think he'll be looking towards two comeback opponents in the first half of next year before having a serious crack at a champion.

For me, he beats any heavyweight not named Klitschko if he's even 80% of the fighter he was, so this comes down to whether he's serious or not.

I'm voting yes, and if that's the case, he can beat Wilder IMO, and would probably give Klitschko a better fight 4yrs down the line!

I'd say he will become a world champion fairly quickly and the way Klitschko has already started to say the Haye fight was a difficult one and that Haye would easily ko fury, I think wlad is already planning a big money rematch for the end of 2016.

Either K brother will have too much for him.

Finn wrote:I'd say he will become a world champion fairly quickly and the way Klitschko has already started to say the Haye fight was a difficult one and that Haye would easily ko fury, I think wlad is already planning a big money rematch for the end of 2016.

Agree with this. Povetkin would prove the stiffest possible test outside of Klitschko.

Wilder will prob get ko'd before a fight vs Haye emerges.

People are sceptical and rightly so due to his injuries but an injury free Haye is good for the division.

I'd say he won't even fight one fight, will get a little interest in the ticket sale money, sponsorship and raise his profile a bit in the UK. He won't actually fight IMO.

I can't see him beating any of the guys bar Chagaev. He's too small for HW and without fighting for thee and a half years, I can't see what he can do, bar beat a few european level journey men. I'll believe it when I see him with the gloves on

He'll beat his Mark guy and then he'll fight Tyson Fury and win that. Then he'll retire again...

I reckon he will fight a couple of medium level fighters, win both, realise he is older and re-retire before a real test citing shoulder problems.

If Haye totally commits himself again in terms of being trained, fighting regularly and putting other interests/distractions to one side....then he becomes a legitimate and dangerous contender fairly quickly. I certainly expect him to smack the hell out off de Mori.

But that is a massive 'if' because he has not shown the inclination to make this kind of sacrifice for some time and after a long lay off and no longer being a youthful heavyweight; he may well need to work harder than ever before and even refne his style a bit.

This comeback appears to be as tactical as you like; "if Tyson does it in Germany then I am ranked, fit and ready for a colossal payday."

I'd love to see him fight Povetkin for the WBC after one of them flattens Wilder.

I think that would be a cracking scrap between the best 2 heavyweights not named Klitschko

I'm sure Haye can win a version of the WBA strap

5 fights, 3 years.

de Mori - W - KO 3
Jennings - W - KO 8
Browne - W - KO 2
WBA full World Title - W - UD
Fury - L - SD

A wild prediction, but I think this is the sort of route he will go

He's fighting Joshua next summer in a final eliminator for the WBC title, which will be held by held by Povetkin, who might fancy a rematch with Wlad.

Mori> Chagaev (WBA) > winner of Wilder and Fury/Klitschko

Id back against haye to become heavyweight champion again. 3 and a half years is a long time and I think he's coming back for the wrong reasons. Can he sustain a hard training camp and a hard fight aswell. Based on the evidence I wouldn't think so.

ThereByTheGrace wrote:I think he's coming back for the wrong reasons.

He's not short of money, as he's invested wisely. What reasons are the wrong one?

I'd really have to see him back in action first.

The lad he is facing is really slow and I dont think we will find out much from it though. Maybe his 2nd one back will give us a better idea.

Part of me remembers Hatton coming back against Senchenko and you kind of expect them to still be 90% of what they were, but Ricky was not even a shadow of himself and that was pretty much 3.5 years after his last fight too.

I mean Ricky was horribly knocked out against a guy whom Malignaggi stopped !

Timing, distance, ring generalship and pace are all things other than "keeping in shape" that can alter significantly over time.

Taking baby steps is the right move back by Haye, so he is at least using his head with regards his return.

I remember Erik Morales looked awful after coming back against Alfero, and I feared for his life when he decided to fght Maidana - but he was back on form by then and took him to a split I think and then went the distance with Danny Garcia.

So it's important to find your feet first. But either way it's good he is back.

G0mez wrote:I'd really have to see him back in action first.

The lad he is facing is really slow and I dont think we will find out much from it though. Maybe his 2nd one back will give us a better idea.

Part of me remembers Hatton coming back against Senchenko and you kind of expect them to still be 90% of what they were, but Ricky was not even a shadow of himself and that was pretty much 3.5 years after his last fight too.

I mean Ricky was horribly knocked out against a guy whom Malignaggi stopped !

Timing, distance, ring generalship and pace are all things other than "keeping in shape" that can alter significantly over time.

Taking baby steps is the right move back by Haye, so he is at least using his head with regards his return.

I remember Erik Morales looked awful after coming back against Alfero, and I feared for his life when he decided to fght Maidana - but he was back on form by then and took him to a split I think and then went the distance with Danny Garcia.

So it's important to find your feet first. But either way it's good he is back.

I don't think its fair to compare him with Hatton as we all know Ricky's troubles he had outside the ring (drink, drugs..). Vitali Klit hat 4 years out of the ring and dominated Peter when he was 37.

I think Haye can beat everyone after this fight bar Wlad, as long as his shoulder is healed. He needs to get to AJ while he is still green though because in 2 years AJ could be a beast.

digzee wrote:

G0mez wrote:I'd really have to see him back in action first.

The lad he is facing is really slow and I dont think we will find out much from it though. Maybe his 2nd one back will give us a better idea.

Part of me remembers Hatton coming back against Senchenko and you kind of expect them to still be 90% of what they were, but Ricky was not even a shadow of himself and that was pretty much 3.5 years after his last fight too.

I mean Ricky was horribly knocked out against a guy whom Malignaggi stopped !

Timing, distance, ring generalship and pace are all things other than "keeping in shape" that can alter significantly over time.

Taking baby steps is the right move back by Haye, so he is at least using his head with regards his return.

I remember Erik Morales looked awful after coming back against Alfero, and I feared for his life when he decided to fght Maidana - but he was back on form by then and took him to a split I think and then went the distance with Danny Garcia.

So it's important to find your feet first. But either way it's good he is back.

I don't think its fair to compare him with Hatton as we all know Ricky's troubles he had outside the ring (drink, drugs..). Vitali Klit hat 4 years out of the ring and dominated Peter when he was 37.

I think Haye can beat everyone after this fight bar Wlad, as long as his shoulder is healed. He needs to get to AJ while he is still green though because in 2 years AJ could be a beast.

If Haye looks good and he's still sparking people left right and centre, I imagine Hearn would be very cautious about putting AJ in with him.

davie wrote:I'd love to see him fight Povetkin for the WBC after one of them flattens Wilder.

I think that would be a cracking scrap between the best 2 heavyweights not named Klitschko

I agree with this, but only if Haye can regain the top form.

Nightmare Roy wrote:

digzee wrote:

G0mez wrote:I'd really have to see him back in action first.

The lad he is facing is really slow and I dont think we will find out much from it though. Maybe his 2nd one back will give us a better idea.

Part of me remembers Hatton coming back against Senchenko and you kind of expect them to still be 90% of what they were, but Ricky was not even a shadow of himself and that was pretty much 3.5 years after his last fight too.

I mean Ricky was horribly knocked out against a guy whom Malignaggi stopped !

Timing, distance, ring generalship and pace are all things other than "keeping in shape" that can alter significantly over time.

Taking baby steps is the right move back by Haye, so he is at least using his head with regards his return.

I remember Erik Morales looked awful after coming back against Alfero, and I feared for his life when he decided to fght Maidana - but he was back on form by then and took him to a split I think and then went the distance with Danny Garcia.

So it's important to find your feet first. But either way it's good he is back.

I don't think its fair to compare him with Hatton as we all know Ricky's troubles he had outside the ring (drink, drugs..). Vitali Klit hat 4 years out of the ring and dominated Peter when he was 37.

I think Haye can beat everyone after this fight bar Wlad, as long as his shoulder is healed. He needs to get to AJ while he is still green though because in 2 years AJ could be a beast.

If Haye looks good and he's still sparking people left right and centre, I imagine Hearn would be very cautious about putting AJ in with him.

Yep, if Haye gets even close to his best they will make him wait at least 18 months before they put AJ in with him, would be a great stadium fight for the summer of 2017 for a world title.

Disagree re: Hearn - he will be blinded by the pound signs and would jump at the chance for Haye v AJ on PPV, saying AJ can take him out whenever he wants.

Tarkus wrote:

davie wrote:I'd love to see him fight Povetkin for the WBC after one of them flattens Wilder.

I think that would be a cracking scrap between the best 2 heavyweights not named Klitschko

I agree with this, but only if Haye can regain the top form.

Agreed.
I'm quite happy to see he's taken a relatively straight forward opponent for his comeback.
When ever he talked about a comeback before he seemed to think he could jump in at the top.
He needs to earn his place in the big fights and also prove he's still good enough to be considered there.
But if he's the same fighter (i should probably have said this in the previous post) then the Povetkin fight is one i'd love to see

sammy95 wrote:5 fights, 3 years.

de Mori - W - KO 3
Jennings - W - KO 8
Browne - W - KO 2
WBA full World Title - W - UD
Fury - L - SD

A wild prediction, but I think this is the sort of route he will go

Are you on hallucinogens?

Haye isn't going to have 5 fights to get to Fury.

His plan is simple, beat De Mori, getting a ranking, hope Fury wins, try and tempt him.

If not, somehow try and bang the drum and raise interest in another snoozefest against wlad.

I don't think he'll be taking it slow. I think it'll be this vs De Mori and then going straight for titles (in his opinion). I can't imagine that'll transpire so he'll no doubt just look for a massive payday. Something like Joshua in a stadium show then retire with injury and stacks of cash.