Boxing In Germany: Sylvester Regains European Title In Zwickau

In a rematch to their riveting first fight a year ago, middleweights Amin Asikainen and Sebastian “Hurrikan” Sylvester went at it hammer and tongs last night at the Stadhalle in Zwickau and by the eleventh round, Sylvester had won back the European title.

Last year in Hanover, the previously undefeated Finn Asikainen broke open a very close contest and shocked reigning champion Sylvester with an eight round stoppage.

This time in Zwickau, Asikainen looked to be on that same path much earlier when he dropped his bitter rival in the first frame although the apparent knockdown wasn’t counted.

The Finnish fighter looked to be the stronger man early on, backing Sylvester up but the efforts put in by Asikainen came with a price as the German was the fresher combatant after the midway point in the fight.

Cracks began to show in Asikainen’s defenses as Sylvester hammered the champion with a sizzling left hook that had the Laplander’s legs unable to keep him upright in the seventh.

From that point on Sylvester’s conditioning allowed him to be much more active than his adversary although Asikainen was still dangerous, scoring with big shots at times, cutting the local man under both eyes.

In the eleventh round, the much shorter Sylvester was burrowing inside on Askainen at will and a perfect right hand from Sylvester forced referee Guiseppe Quartarone to call a halt to the action.

Sylvester regains the European crown in forceful fashion, improving to 26-2 (13) while Asikainen suffers his first loss at 21-1- (15).

There is much speculation now that Sylvester could challenge either IBF Champion Arthur Abraham or WBA titlist Felix Sturm within a year’s time.