David Haye obliterates Mark De Mori in one round blowout

 
GONE in 130 seconds.

 
A returning David Haye flagged his world title ambitions to the rest of the heavyweight division with a near effortless one round finish of an overmatched Mark De Mori (now 30-2-2, 26 KOs) at London’s O2 Arena.

 
Haye (now 27-2, 25 KOs), who tipped the scales at a career-high 103.1 kilograms, used the mobility that brought him the lineal cruiserweight championship and a heavyweight strap, as he tagged De Mori almost at all.

 
Despite coming off a three-and-a-half year layoff, Haye looked relatively sharp in his one round showing.

 
A rigid De Mori, 33, offered little in his brief appearance in the English capital, showing an inability to be agile as he found himself more often than not, on the back foot and against the ropes.

 
The 35-year-old Haye showed no ill-effects from a shoulder injury that twice prevented him from facing divisional leader Tyson Fury, with the Brit choosing to lead with his right-hand for the majority of the fight.

 
The bouts conclusion came as a clearly tentative De Mori reached out with a leisurely jab that was met with a fierce counter right hand, which all but ended De Mori’s night.

 
Although a series of glancing blows followed, it was the signature right that did the damage.

 
“I’m just happy to get this first bout out of the way,” said Haye in his post-fight interview.

 
“This was always going to be the hardest fight for me.”

 
“I set out to unify the heavyweight ­division a few years ago and I fell short. Now, I’m going to make a serious run at this division, there are titles all over the place at the moment.”

 
De Mori has flirted with the possibility of retirement several times in the past twelve months, and while no announcement has been made, the loss may mark the end of De Mori’s twelve-year professional career.

 
 
Photo: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe