De Mori hungry for more after victory
Mark de Mori is promising more of the same as he looks to finally make headway in boxing's heavyweight division.
The 32-year-old Perth fighter, now based in Croatia, extended his winning streak to 17 on Friday by stopping Adnan Buharalija in four rounds in Newcastle.
De Mori's victory took two rounds fewer than when he beat the Bosnian last year and improved his career record to 26 wins, two draws and just one loss.
The quality of opponents has been mixed, as de Mori acknowledges. But he is right when he says his win-loss record and improving rankings with boxing's sanctioning bodies will still make him an attractive proposition.
"The best way for me to get a big fight is my ranking. Other promoters will see value in having their boxer beating me," he said.
"I used to ask (promoter) Don King for the big fights but I really had no value, so I had to try and get ranked.
"The more I can keep winning and improving my ranking, the more offers we will get.
"It is exciting that this year there have been some negotiations with big-time fighters and it keeps me motivated."
De Mori is rated 11 by the World Boxing Association and 19 by the World Boxing Council.
He said going 12 rounds for the first time late last year gave him the confidence to attack Buharalija early.
"I had a goal to work in close and overpower him. The main strategy was to be in close or out of range because in medium range he is dangerous with his left hook that hurt me last year," he said.
"I used my strength to tie him up and push him around. I just kept throwing in close and ripping in some big body shots and tried to keep a sustained attack and not let him recover.
"In the past I would have backed off to save energy but now I have complete confidence in my stamina after doing a hard 12 rounds last November.
"I believe I have the explosive power to be dangerous to anyone and many people have compared me to (late heavyweight star) Tommy Morrison, meaning what I may lack in some areas I make up for with explosive power.
"I have dedicated my whole life to boxing and I will be back in the gym Monday."
- Perth super-featherweight Matt Garlett will challenge Australian champion Kye McKenzie in Newcastle on July 18.
