Five-star Haye Lives Up to the Hype Felling Barrett

At the same venue that David Haye finished his days as the world's best cruiserweight by destroying Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds, the 28-year-old began his permanent step-up to heavyweight with a convincing - and at times electrifying - fifth-round knockout of Monte Barrett.

Although Haye did not have it completely his own way, the display had enough power and menace to have his opponent down five times, including with the right and left that finished the American after one minute and 28 seconds in that decisive round.

It was also the kind of pulsating tear-up that will have caught the notice of the America TV audience and the boxing world, which for so long has lacked a true performer in its most glamorous division.

Haye had spent the build-up talking of defeating both Klitschko brothers - Vitali was ringside and must have been impressed - who hold all but one version of the world title, and becoming the number-one big man in the division.

That might have suggested Haye had not completely focused on a man who had been good enough to fight twice for a world belt, and been tough enough to force Wladimir Klitschko to floor him five times before finishing him in the seventh round - two more than Haye needed - eight years ago, just around the corner from here at Millwall's New London Arena.

Haye, that killer grin in place, had a message for the Ukrainian duo immediately afterwards. 'The guy who is standing to my right is the guy,' he said of Vitali. 'I'm going after either him or his brother. Two Klitschkos next year - that's my dream. I will be victorious.'

Barrett had hardly got the crowd onside by beginning his evening with an entrance to the ring that had him transforming a slick somersault through the ropes into a disastrous crash to the canvas that had the arena jeering.

The fighter from New York then took pretty consistent punishment, although in the second round it was Haye who came off worse, being hurt with a left in the neutral corner before taking some follow-up punishment.

But in the riveting next round, Haye forced Barrett back with some heavy treatment that indicated he has the power in this kind of company - though he may still have to bulk up from the 15st 5lb he came in at to take on either of the mammoth Klitschkos - closing these three minutes with a big left that had the American down and receiving the count, needing to cling on for survival.

During the week Haye had also talked about emulating his hero Evander Holyfield, who famously moved up from cruiserweight to dominate the heavyweight division. When Referee Richie Davis stopped the punishment, the lad from Bermondsey had certainly given enough thrills and quality to suggest he has a chance of going right to the very top and entertaining everyone along the way.

Earlier in the evening, middleweight George Groves, who once beat the Olympic champion James DeGale as an amateur, made his professional debut against the Latvian Kirill 'The Pitbull' Pshonko over six rounds. Having looked to finish it early, Groves was given a first lesson about the durability of opponents at this level as the shorter man refused to buckle under what began as a pounding of uppercuts and hooks.

In the first round, Groves set the tone of the fight by constantly jabbing at his 22-year-old opponent before unloading the heavy stuff. This allowed him to back Pshonko on to the ropes, where he continued to pummel him with right hands.

The treatment continued until the finish of the third round, when Groves began to sense that, despite his undoubted power, he might not finish Pshonko early. And, by the fourth, Groves had begun to tire a little and Pshonko, underlying the nature of his chin and heart, seemed to freshen, beginning to dance round the danger, countering with some decent rights to give Groves something to ponder.

The 20-year-old Eastender was considered a contender for the 2012 Olympics on his home patch. Instead, Groves decided to sign for Haye's Hayemaker Promotions - he is considered, by some, a better prospect than DeGale - and began his professional career with a comfortable enough 60-54 victory.

Meanwhile, in Liverpool, Luke Campbell defeated Detelin Dalakliev to become England's first European amateur champion for 47 years, defeating the Bulgarian on count-back, after the fighters drew 5-5.