Gevor downs Amin Asikainen’s dream of retaining his EBU title

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Even the riotous atmosphere at Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena was of no assistance to Amin Asikainen in his Friday night attempt to renew his European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight (72.6 kg) title.
      The Finn’s dream was crushed by the iron fists of Khoren Gevor. The German took the title when Asikainen’s coach Pekka Mäki requested the bout be stopped in the seventh round.
      “I wasn't that disappointed at Pekka’s decision. My head was totally clear, but my legs were jelly”, Asikainen commented.
      By then Gevor had already put Asikainen on the canvas for the second time in the bout.
     
Asikainen’s comment on conclusion of the press conference that followed the fight is a statement to his character.
      “I apologize to all to whom I have caused disappointment.”
      In reality, Asikainen’s disposition and fighting spirit could not have left too many of the 9,700 present at the arena disappointed. When a man does everything in his power, the standard can hardly be set higher than that.
      “Gevor was better than me today. I never got comfortable with his southpaw style”, Asikainen said.
     
One turning point in the bout was at the end of the first round, when Gevor first put Asikainen on the deck.
      “In my opinion this happened after the gong had sounded. I really felt the blow and perhaps at that stage my match suffered a bit”, Asikainen explained.
      After that Asikainen nevertheless managed to recover, and he was even credited with a knockdown in the sixth.
      “That blow failed to land properly”, Asikainen said, and reckoned that Gevor must have slipped.
      Gevor’s fists in turn hit their targets uncomfortably often, especially when the two men got in close.
     
Gevor even hit Asikainen several times illegally in the neck, but coach Mäki refrained from too much protesting.
      “It is pointless to use the referee as a scapegoat. Amin can be very proud of his performance today”, Mäki praised his protégé. Gevor will now set his sights on the World middleweight title. Asikainen’s future is currently completely open.
      “I will forget boxing for a little while, and review the situation later", said the 32-year-old, who has 25 wins and 2 losses under his belt as a professional boxer.
      The same evening the vacant Finnish heavyweight title was also determined. Juho Haapoja took the title after a stoppage by the referee in the ninth round. By then his opponent Sami Elovaara’s eyes were quite badly beaten up.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New European middleweight champion Amin Asikainen receives hero´s welcome (5.6.2006)

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