David Haye vs Mark de Mori Betting Preview

Gambling.com Editor

January 7th, 2016

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British boxing fans have already been treated to three stunning victories in recent weeks. Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Chris Eubank Jr. have all proven to the world that British boxing continues to command respect.

Next up is David Haye’s comeback fight against Mark de Mori, which is scheduled for Saturday 16th January at London's O2 Arena. A fair amount of drama has followed Haye so far, so this should be another intriguing chapter in his career.

The 'Haye'-maker Set for Comeback?

Haye can be a divisive figure in the world of boxing. For each fan who admires his confidence, there is another who considers him too confident. In his prime, the 35-year-old was known for setting ambitious goals. And none were more challenging than his attempt to defeat Wladimir Klitschko a couple of months before retiring in 2011, just before his 31st birthday.

For boxing fans, the Klitschko bout will likely remain the most memorable of Haye’s fights. After surviving 12 rounds with the towering Ukrainian, Haye was clearly defeated on points by the margins of 117-109, 118-108 and 116-110. Haye accepted defeat graciously, and stuck to his plan of retiring before 31...but he wasn't able to resist the lure of the ring for long.

Haye returned just 10 months later to settle a grudge with Dereck Chisora following a series of altercations at boxing events. In spite of Chisora's aggression, Haye comfortably beat the fighter, who at the time, weighed 37 lbs. heavier than him.

Fights were then scheduled with Manuel Charr and Tyson Fury in 2013, but Haye had to pull out of both due to an above-eye injury. Following further injuries (this time to his right shoulder) doctors had even advised Haye that he should retire permanently. Haye then had to have his shoulder surgically rebuilt, which could perhaps have implications for the upcoming de Mori fight.

Analysing de Mori’s Prospects

Haye’s career record of 26-2 and 24 knockouts stacks up quite evenly next to de Mori’s record of 30-1-2 and 25 knockouts. However, Haye could struggle against an active fighter who is currently ranked 10th in the WBA rankings. In his prime, this might have been a comfortable fight for Haye, but the retirement and injury inevitably raise some doubts.

There's no denying that de Mori has an impressive record; his last loss was in 2004. However, he has never come up against the truly elite fighters who might have provided a more challenging test for his skills. Consequently, most boxing analysts are convinced that, in spite of Haye's injuries, de Mori is the underdog.

Haye is facing a powerful heavyweight opponent who adopts an orthodox stance and likes to fight with low fists. The 33-year-old from Australia has been described as arrogant in style, which could count against him when confronted with Haye's finely-tuned technique. That said, an arrogant approach did enable Fury to beat Klitschko in November.

Haye the Odds-On Favourite

Respect for Haye’s legacy is reflected at Coral Sports, who are offering a mere 1/25 on Haye to win, while outsider de Mori is available at much more generous 9/1 odds. An upset in this fight would be extremely lucrative for any fans who are shrewd enough to call it.

Haye’s betting markets are more appealing once you consider the method of victory. For instance, the Londoner winning by KO, TKO or disqualification improves significantly to 1/10. Nevertheless, it is still tough to find a lucrative margin at that rate.

Perhaps a better option is to consider Haye winning by decision or technical decision at 13/2. It's important to bear in mind that Haye has spent years receiving surgery and treatment just to get to this point. The 35-year-old is no longer in prime condition and could be taken the distance, meaning he would need to win on points.

Smart betting is needed to profit from a Haye victory, while a de Mori upset is rewarding on its own. To check out all the latest odds on this world class event, head over to Coral Sports now and place your bets before it's too late!