David Haye produced one of the British wins of the year by annihilating the highly respected and vastly more experienced European Cruiserweight Champion Alexander Gurov inside a minute at the Bracknell Lesire Centre, London.

In what was, on paper at least, a huge step up in class for the cocky and charismatic 25-year-old, 'the Hayemaker' laid the WBC No.2 rated Ukrainian out in just 55seconds of the first round. And that's 55seconds including the 10 count!

Hyperbole aside, it is an astonishing result for Haye. Gurov had only lost once - in a world title fight against Jean Marc Mormeck - in eight years and was considered a massive puncher in his own right.

But, after forcing Haye to step back after a couple of southpaw jabs, Gurov was caught by a lightning fast one-two which sent him into dreamland. It was immediately obvious that the 34-year-old was not going to make the count.

A delighted Haye said afterward: "Everything is coming together, I am punching so hard. Nothing he could have done tonight to avoid getting knocked out but, actually, I would have liked to

"I used to try too hard and mentally wasn't right when I fought Carl Thompson a year ago but I learn from that mistake."

Some were hoping that Haye would be forced to answer the questions regarding his stamina, which surfaced when he faded badly and was stopped in five by Thompson.

Haye laughed: "Trust me, the stamina (problem) has been addressed. I could throw 100 of those shots in a round. But the only man who could extend me in the entire division is (world champion) Jean Marc Mormeck.

"The fight I want more than any next is to fight Carl Thompson. He beat me fair and square (September 2004) but I want them blemish eliminated from my record."