David Haye has spoken about his desire to fight British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, should he win his fight against Mark de Mori on January 16.
Haye, who has recently paired up with trainer Shane McGuigan, took on a punditry role on the night Joshua beat Dillian Whyte earlier this month and the London man is ready to step into the ring with one of the most talked about heavyweights in the world.
Haye told Sky Sports: “I’m a professional fighter – this is what I have been doing since I was a kid. I’ve got my fight against Mark de Mori lined up but once that is out of the way, then we can talk about it.
“I think he is looking to fight in April again, against maybe someone like Dereck Chisora who would be a yardstick and a good test for him. I knocked Dereck Chisora out in five rounds; can AJ knock him out quicker than that?
“Maybe… it will be interesting to see, but I think definitely in the summer or towards the end of the year, if that is a fight that Anthony Joshua would want, then it is a fight that can be made.”
Joshua beat a valiant Whyte, although was put into trouble after getting hit clean by Whyte, unsteadying Joshua in the second round. While he finished the 2nd round and took the 3rd round to reestablish himself, Haye questions whether Joshua can deal with his power.
“If I was to fight him, I’m sure there are people who would think that AJ would beat me and I love the thought of that – getting into a fight where people are not quite sure what happens but if I tag Anthony Joshua, can he take my power?
“These are all things that are unknown. I think he probably needs one or two more fights before he would be ready for someone on my level but if he wants to do that before, let’s go for it,” Haye told Sky Sports.
While being out of the ring for three and a half years, Haye has many cobwebs to dust off and in his absence many fighters have grown to become serious talents in the division. Deontay Wilder is now the WBC champion, while Tyson Fury beat Wladmir Klitschko to become the unified champion, picking up the IBF, WBA and WBO straps. Fury was later stripped of the IBF belt.
With the likes of Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker, Dillian Whyte making noise in the division and including the current mix of heavyweights, Haye knows it is now time to knuckle down if he is to get back into the equation for the big fights and a world title.
“Three-and-a-half years for any athlete is a long period of time to be away from what they do best so I know every single day and every single hour has to be methodical. My diet has to be perfect and my sleep has to be right.
“I can’t drink any alcohol and I need to be 100 per cent on January 16 at the O2 Arena. I have got to show that I am the best heavyweight on the planet because there are some young guys out there – Anthony Joshua is looking amazing and Tyson Fury has just won a title.
“We have a whole new crop of exciting heavyweights and I want to chuck my name into the mix and to do that, I have got to not only win, but look good doing so,” said Haye.
– Oun Abbas Hussain / @ouney86
– Managing Editor for Behind the Gloves.
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