David Haye laughs off fears he is not ready to face Anthony Joshua

David Haye said he is targeting a fight with Anthony Joshua in the future David Haye said he is targeting a fight with Anthony Joshua in the future

David Haye dismissed suggestions that he's not "ready" for a fight with Anthony Joshua and hopes to face his British heavyweight rival by the end of the year.

The 35-year-old former WBA champion will end a three-year absence from the ring when he makes his comeback fight against Mark de Mori at The O2 in London on January 16.

Haye has already been mentioned as a future opponent for Joshua, who racked up a 15th straight knockout win when he halted Dillian Whyte in the seventh round in December.

Asked about his plans, Haye laughed off concerns that he needed more time to prepare for Joshua after a lengthy absence through injury and believes the all-British battle can be staged in 2016.

"You've got Anthony Joshua, who is looking amazing," Haye told Soccer AM. "I commentated on his last fight a few months back against Dillian Whyte, when he answered a lot of questions.

What are you talking about, 'It's a good question'? I'm the former heavyweight champion of the world. I'm a former cruiserweight champion of the world. David Haye

"He got hit on the chin, came back and knocked out Dillian Whyte. Fifteen fights, 15 wins, 15 knockouts. He's big, six foot six, ripped, young, fresh. That's the type of fight I like the sound of."

When questioned if he would be ready for Joshua, Haye replied: "What are you talking about, 'It's a good question'? I'm the former heavyweight champion of the world. I'm a former cruiserweight champion of the world.

"After Saturday, people will then realise, 'He's back'. The Hayemaker is back, bigger and better, ready to go.

Haye will return to the ring when he faces Mark de Mori next Saturday

"I'm hoping I'm back to my best and then give it a couple of fights. He's got a couple of fights lined up against some European fighters, so hopefully by the end of the year, that fight will have matured into one of the biggest all-British clashes.

"Hopefully there might be a world title or an eliminator for a world title, because he's going at such a trajectory, he could get to a world title before me."

Haye was twice scheduled to face Tyson Fury before injuries forced him out of the sport and he was surprised to see the 27-year-old claim a points win over Wladimir Klitschko in November.

Tyson Fury is the world's top heavyweight after his win over Wladimir Klitschko

But Haye still took a swipe at Fury, branding him "silly" for offering Klitschko a rematch.

"I didn't see that at all," he said. "Wladimir Klitschko had a real awful night when he fought him and they have got a rematch, so it will be interesting to see how the rematch goes.

"But he's a funny character; he's got all the belts. He's already had one of them stripped off him because he signed a silly contract that he shouldn't have done. But that's him, he's a bit of a silly guy.

"Hopefully he wins the rematch against Wladimir Klitschko and he can get in the mix, and I can get all the belts, basically."