Macklin regains European middleweight crown

Birmingham's Matthew Macklin became a two-time European middleweight champion after Georgia's Shalva Jomardashvili quit on his stood at the end of the fifth round in their vacant title clash on Frank Warren's Magnficent Seven bill this evening.

The official time was announced as two seconds into round six as Jomardashvili refused to get off his stool after absorbing some hurtful body shots from Macklin in the previous session.

Macklin (11st 5) , who was supposed to be fighting domestic rival Darren Barker tonight until Barker's unsatisfactory injury withdrawal, appeared a little flat in the early stages despite seemingly following cornerman Joe Gallagher's instructions to box off the back foot and take the sting out of the willing yet crude Georgian's attacks.

Jomardashvili (11st 5) attempted to take the fight to Macklin and produced some decent work to the body in the second round. Macklin maintained his composure but struggled initially to penetrate Jomardashvili's high-held guard as the Georgian waded forward somewhat crudely.

Macklin finally started to show some quality in the fourth, avoiding Jomardashvili's lunges and countering with a neat uppercut and a right hand which emphasised the Birmingham's greater skills. Whilst clearly limited, Jomardashvili came to give it a go and briefly knocked Macklin out of his stride with a right hand and a left hook that got Macklin's attention at the start of the fifth.

The Georgian's fleeting success ultimately proved to be his downfall as Macklin awoke from his brief slumber and came storming back, belting Jomardashvili to the body with several hard shots. The visitor tried gallantly to retaliate but in doing so spun himself right round and ended up on the canvas as a result of his wild efforts.

There appeared to be no sign that Jomardashvili was about to retire, but having tasted Macklin's power the Georgian appeared to have reached the sudden conclusion during the minute's respite that he was out of his depth.

Macklin, now 27-2 (19), will hope to secure a world title crack in 2011. It remains to be seen whether his clash with the injured Barker can be rescheduled for Frank Warren's mooted bumper show in December.