Klose, Mkrtchian Win European Boxing Titles In France

Welterweight Frederic Klose led the way at the Parc des Expositions in Reims, France last night, regaining the European title with a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over Antonio Lauri. Frenchman Klose lost the title last May to Oktay Urkal but was able to turn away the Italian Lauri by scores of 117-111, 116-114 and 114-112. In a more explosive bout, another Frenchman, Jackson Chanet, lost both the WBA number one ranking at super middleweight and his European crown to the determined Russia based Armenian Mgr Mkrtchian. After a fight full of scathing trench warfare, Mkrtchian hit the jackpot in the eleventh round and gunned down Chanet in the eleventh frame. Mkrtchian will almost certainly be looking to turn his victory into another world title opportunity, having been stopped in the seventh by WBO Champion Joe Calzaghe two years ago.