Macklin handed Euro chance

Macklin: Set to fight for European title

Asikainen is rated number four with the IBF so a win over him would leave me knocking on the door.

Matthew Macklin
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British middleweight champion Matthew Macklin has been handed a shot at the vacant European title in September.

Macklin, from Birmingham, will tackle tough Finnish fighter Amin Asikainen at the Manchester Velodrome on September 25.

Macklin had been due to defend his domestic title against Commonwealth champion Darren Barker on September 5 but that fight has now been called off with the 27-year-old insisting the Euro chance was too good to turn down.

And Macklin is hoping the fight, which is one of the first bills being staged by Ricky Hatton's new promotional company, will lead to a world title shot in 2010.

"I really feel that things are starting to come together for me now since winning the British title," he said.

"To be honest I had planned on winning the British title a lot earlier in my career. I'm 27 now so the next few years are going to the most important so when the chance at the European title came along I knew I had to grab it.

"The European middleweight scene is red hot right now and particularly in Germany where they seem to be dominating the division even on the world stage.

Confident

"Obviously Arthur Abraham has just moved up to super-middleweight and you have Sebastian Zbik who just won the interim WBC title while Felix Sturm has held the WBA title for the last three years.

"Another German, Sebastian Sylvester is fighting for the vacant IBF title in September and Asikainen is rated number four with the IBF so a win over him would leave me knocking on the door."

Asikainen has lost his last two European title fights but has previously beaten Sylvester.

And the Finn is confident he can travel to Manchester and win back the belt he lost in his rematch to Sylvester in 2007.

"Winning the European title for the second time would be great," said Asikainen.

"The European title is the most meaningful belt in boxing after the world title. Of course, I dream of winning the world title too some day but right now I am totally focused on Matthew Macklin.

"Coming to Manchester to fight is not a problem for me. As an amateur I fought several times outside Finland and as a pro I have won three of my four fights abroad including a knockout win over Sebastian Sylvester in Germany. Actually I think that fighting away from home kind of suits me better as it takes some of the pressure off.

"I will prepare for 12 hard rounds and I believe I can win either on points or by KO."