By Mark Vester
Matt Skelton (22-2, 19 KOs) captured the vacant European heavyweight with a ninth round technical knockout of Paolo Vidoz (25-6, 14 KOs) in Lombardia, Italy. Vidoz retired in the corner, elected to call it quits before the start of the tenth round. Vidoz won a bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics but his career never took off. He's been 3-3 in his last six fights. The Skelton loss is the second defeat in a row and the third knockout loss of his career. At 38, Vidoz needs to consider his options.
Martin Rogan (11-0, 5KOs) is the next likely opponent for Skelton, according to promoter Frank Warren. Rogan won an upset decision over Olympic gold medal winner Audley Harrison on December 6 in London. Born in Belfast and fighting in the UK, Rogan has managed to become very popular among the Irish boxing fans. Warren would like to stage Skelton-Rogan in Belfast, Ireland.
"That is going to be a great fight,” Rogan told the Belfast Evening Telegraph. "A fight between me and Skelton would be huge in the King’s Hall and I know I’ll beat him. I’m already back doing some work in the gym and I’ll start doing some running."
"I won’t even take Christmas Day off because I’m focused on staying in shape so when a big fight is announced I’ll be ready to start training hard. My fitness over the past six months has just changed so much. I’ve never been as fit in my life and I’ve nearly put on a stone in weight but it’s all muscle. And you could see how my fitness got me through in the Harrison fight. I took some hard shots and just kept coming at him.”
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