Wembley boxer sets sights on Vegas

by Alicia Lau–

PERTH heavyweight boxer Mark “The Dominator” de Mori says he was hooked on boxing after watching his father’s tapes of Muhammed Ali.

“I started following the sport when I was about 13, and at around the age of 15 I went to an amateur boxing club in Subiaco. After I had amateur fights for a few years, I decided to go pro,” he said.

“I really did not know anything about boxing as a child. I did not know it existed as a sport when I was a kid apart from movies like Rocky.”

The Wembley boxer started boxing professionally in 2004 after deciding he had enough of life as a psychology and criminology major at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.

Now, just six years later, the 28 year-old has gone international with his sights set on making a mark in the United States where he is scheduled for several upcoming fights this year.

This comes after his signing of a three year deal with world-renowned boxing promoter Don King, which would take him one step closer to realising his dreams of fighting in Las Vegas for the world heavyweight title.

According to de Mori, fighting in Las Vegas is the epitome of success in the sport and has always been a goal of his.

“Fighting in Las Vegas for the world heavy weight title in front of the largest audience has always been my goal since the start,” he said.

“The guys I’ve idolised like Mike Tyson, they’re all fighting in Vegas. There are guys who have made a good career in Australia but for some reason, I have always been more excited about making it in America.

“The opportunity to travel like I’ve had is alot more exciting than just fighting in my backyard.”

He credits his opportunity to explore international shores to his record of an impressive 14 knockout in 16 wins and more specifically to his win against American Ed Mahone in New Zealand in 2008 which he considers to be his most memorable fight to date.

“I’ve never seen anyone change as much as I changed for that fight,” he said.

“I shocked alot of people that night because I wasn’t supposed to have a chance at winning. It was a good feeling when I did and that’s when my career really took off.

“I went from a complete brawler to a complete boxer, almost a full 180 degrees turn with my style.”

As much support and success de Mori has had thus far, he notes that things have not always been smooth sailing, having almost no support during the start of his professional career.

“Most of my family did not want me to do it and all of my friends thought I would get knocked out. I had absolutely no support,” he said.

“The more successful I get, the more people think it’s a good idea.”

With his career taking flight and support from people most important to him, de Mori has nothing but high hopes for the future.

“In boxing, my hopes and dreams are to have no regrets, travel as much as I can and be the best fighter I can be. I would like to exhaust every opportunity I have and to be the best I boxer I can be.”



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