By Per Ake Persson
Helsinki, Finland: EBU middleweight champ "Idi" Amin Asikainen retained the title with a unanimous decision over German challenger Alexander Sipos in front of about 6 000 fans at the Hartwall Arena. There were no knockdowns. It was scored 115-113, 117-111 and 117-112 after a good fight where Sipos, a big underdog, surprised the champion with left hooks and left upercuts early on. Asikainen was the stronger though and dominated the middle rounds until caught by a right in the tenth round. He survived the storm and as Sipos came forward in the eleventh he countered effectively to seal a deserved victory. Full marks to Sipos who in defeat showed the heart of a true fighter.
Jr welter Juho Tolppola outscored tough but somewhat faded French veteran Gabriel Mapouka after ten. It was scored 99-91, 99-91 and 100-91. Tolppola was too quick for Mapouka, who at 37 isn´t the force he once was.
Norwegian super bantamweight Reidar Walstad won on a tko when his opponent Valery Vanchy from Spain didn´t come out for the eighth and final round due to a broken nose. Vanchy, a tall southpaw, gave Walstad plenty of problems but Reidar was ahead on points after seven despite two points deductions for low blows. Vanchy had one point deducted for dangerous use of the head.
Lightweight Ville Pispanen won every round against Manuel Gomes, from Angola but fighting out of Portugal, after six.
