By Steven Wain: Matthew Macklin (25-2-18 KO’s) captured the vacant European Middleweight title last night at the Manchester Velodrome, with a devastating first round TKO win over Amin Asikainen (26-3-17 KO’s). Macklin who is promoted by well known boxer/promoter Ricky Hatton was a close favorite with the book makers to win, but nobody expected such a devastating win especially against such a world class puncher as Amin Asikainen.
Amin Asikainen
Asikainen Stops Campas
By Eric Schmidt: Former International Boxing Federation light middleweight champion Luis Ramon Campas (91-11, 73 KOs) was stopped in the 7th round on Friday night against Amin Asikainen (24-1, 16 KOs) at the Toolo Sports Hall, in Helsinki, Finland. Campas, 36, who normally fights at light middleweight, looked much smaller against middleweight Asikainen, 32, who happens to be the best boxer in Finland.
Campas had problems with Asikainen’s superior reach and size for most of the fight, as he was unable to get within punching distance without having to eat several shots while on the way in. Once in close, Asikainen would often tie him up to prevent him from punching. A minute into the 7th round, Asikainen tagged Campas with a big right hand while he was trying to come inside, hurting him badly and causing him to back up. Asikainen followed after him, and hit him with repeated right hands, driving Campas to the ropes, where Asikainen finished him off with three more fight hands before the referee Erkki Merone could call a halt to the bout at 0:56 of the 7th round.