By Mark Vester

David Haye (20-1, 19KOs) walked into the lion's den at Palais des Sport Marcel Cerdan in Paris, France to stop Jean-Marc Mormeck (33-4, 21KOs) in the seventh-round to win the WBA and WBC cruiserweights titles.

The fight was fought at close quarters with Mormeck appearing to get the better of the exchanges with his usual high volume of power punches. Haye started slow and appeared to be winded at some points, but then he would erupt with sudden bursts of energy when attacked. Haye's punches began to wear Mormeck down with each passing round. Mormeck had his moments, even scoring a quick knockdown near the end of the fourth.

As Mormeck tried to bullrush him with punches in seventh, Haye landed a crushing left that sent him down and out.

Mormeck loses for only second time in the last ten-years of his career. He managed to avenge his 06 loss to O'Neil Bell with a decision win earlier this year. Haye, who went up to heavyweight and back down to cruiserweight to take the fight, is likely to go back up to the heavyweight - unless a deal can be made for a unification bout with UK rival Enzo Maccarinello, the holder of the WBO title. Maccarinelli demanded a fight with the winner in a press release issued last week.