Haye Promises to Be Judge and Jury on His Career-defining Night

David Haye believes he will have to knock out the French WBA and WBC cruiserweight champion, Jean-Marc Mormeck, in Paris tonight if he is to succeed in taking his world titles.

"I've boxed some good fighters over the years, but no one is as good as this guy," said the Londoner. "He's regarded as the best cruiser weight in the world, bar none, and I've got to knock him out - I can't let this go to points in his home town. I've got to be judge, jury and executioner."

The 27-year-old Haye, who has lost only once in 20 contests as a professional, said the fight could be a "ridiculous tear-up", and added that difficulties making the weight meant this is likely to be his last fight at the 90kg (14st 4lb) limit, effectively ruling out a money-spinning unification match against the WBO champion, Enzo Maccarinelli.

"Once I have beaten Mormeck, I don't feel there'll be anything left to prove," said Haye. "After winning the world title, I will be recognized as the No1 cruiser weight in the world. Then I want to be the No1 heavyweight in the world. It will probably take me three years."

The edge in power in tonight's contest probably lies with Haye, who has finished 18 of his 19 victories inside the distance, but the Don King-promoted Mormeck, 35, is a tough man with a decent punch who won a rematch in March with the respected Jamaican O'Neil Bell to take the title. Home advantage at the Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan favors Mormeck and, if he can avoid Haye's big punches in the early stages, he should take it on points.

Madison Square Garden will be packed for an intriguing battle in the early hours of tomorrow morning between the undefeated WBA welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, and the 36-year-old American "Sugar" Shane Mosley, a former world champion at three different weights.

Cotto, 27, has youth and strength on his side but Mosley may have the edge in boxing ability and speed. Although Mosley was twice outfoxed three years ago by the clever southpaw Ronald "Winky" Wright, and has two further losses in his 49 pro fights against Vernon Forrest, his pedigree is unquestioned, having twice recorded wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas.

"On paper, this is the toughest challenge of my career," said Cotto, while a confident Mosley added at the press conference: "Cotto is a young, strong, hungry champion. But on Saturday we are going to do some business in the ring and we will see who the champion really is."

On December 8 the WBC champion, Floyd May weather, defends his title in Las Vegas against Manchester's Ricky Hatton, and there is speculation that a unification match might follow between the winner and the fight between Cotto and Mosley.

The bookmaker Stan James has Haye and Mormeck both at 5-6 to take the cruiser weight title, while Cotto is the 4-6 favorite in the New York fight, with Mosley a tempting 11-10 against.