Macklin TKOs Asikainen in RD1

Matthem "Mack the Knife" Macklin (25-2, 18KO) stopped "Idi" Amin Asikainen (26-3, 17KO; former Ring Magazine MW #6) in the 1st round in Manchester last night, winning the vacant EBU Middleweight title. Asikainen, who held said championship in 2006-2007 has been trying to get back on track ever since losing it to Sebastian Sylvester in June 2006. Since that defeat, he went 4-0 until losing a title fight to Khoren Gevor in November 2008 in Helsinki.

Asikainen came out sharp, but Macklin dropped him with a left hook at 1:45. Asikainen did get up, but Macklin dropped him again at 2:34, causing the stoppage. After the fight, Asikainen's coach Pekka Mäki (son of Olli Mäki, a ranked featherweight in the 1960's) told the media that the defeat casts serious shadows to Asikainen's career.

- We have to consider, if there still is something for him in boxing. It's a difficult question. This was in many ways a decisive fight as far as his career goes. You just can't lose like this.