Boxing:Matthew Macklin believes his stunning European middleweight title win has got "the ball rolling" as he campaigns for a world title shot. Former British champion Macklin, whose parents both hail from Ireland, won the vacant European belt in Manchester with a stunning first-round stoppage victory over Finland's Amin Asikainen.
Birmingham-born Macklin, 27, was making a step up in class against Asikainen at the Velodrome having relinquished the British title he won in March without even defending it.
The Manchester-based fighter has world title aspirations and enhanced those in emphatic fashion with a spectacular win, flooring the former holder twice en route to a quick-fire win.
He and promoter Ricky Hatton are now targeting recently-crowned IBF champion Sebastian Sylvester, of Germany, and Macklin believes he is hitting form at the perfect time.
"You can only gain momentum when you are fighting regularly, putting on good performances and winning titles," he said.
"Now I am winning titles and settled with my team, I am going to gain the momentum that I have lacked.
"When you are stopping and starting, it can't snowball for you. But winning the British and European, especially with knockouts, they are statements.
"Now the ball is rolling and we can gain some momentum."
Macklin won the British belt in explosive fashion with a third-round battering of local rival Wayne Elcock earlier this year.
New promoter and close friend Hatton helped him secure an immediate shot at the vacant continental title, however, prompting Macklin to drop the British belt in order to move up in class.
Former European champion Asikainen, 33, had a record of 26-2 (17 knockout wins) heading into the contest with a stoppage win over recently-crowned world champion Sylvester the highlight of his CV. Macklin had a similar record of 24-2 (17) having lost to Andrew Facey in 2003 and Jamie Moore in 2006.
Macklin's camp had braced themselves for a gruelling contest against tough former champion Asikainen and in their wildest dreams would probably not have expected such a victory.
After a low-key first minute in which the Birmingham-born Irishman had some success with solid body shots, Macklin stunned his fellow challenger with a sublime left hook out of nowhere which sent Asikainen down, his head crashing off the canvas.
Asikainen beat the count to fight on bravely but was quickly back in trouble as Macklin sensed victory was within his grasp.
Macklin poured forward excitedly, landing a flurry of shots culminating in a devastating short right hand to the head which floored his man for the second time.
Asikainen got back to his feet but after looking into his eyes, Italian referee Luigi Moratori decided the Finn was unable to continue and waved it off after two minutes and 34 seconds of the round