Matty Askin is looking for his next challenge possibly a title fight –after his third-round stoppage of Mitchell Balker at Bolton Arena.
Askin had his Surinam-born opponent down for a count of eight in the third round.
Balker got up only to face a barrage of a dozen or more punches, mostly without the semblance of a reply.
It was at that point that the referee stopped the contest to save the South American from further needless punishment.
Balker and his camp complained but the referee had little or no alternative but to halt the contest when he did.
Askin paid due respect to his beaten foe and said: “Maybe I took him a bit more lightly than I should have and I should never under-estimate someone like Balker.
“He is the best boxer I have ever been in the ring with and he will probably go a long way.”
Askin, the former ABA champion, said: “The first two rounds were close but I probably edged them. Balker was very aggressive but he was missing me with a lot of his shots.
“In the third round I really went for it. I planted my feet and went forward, and I caught him with a short right-hand flush on the chin and he went down.
“Balker was up at eight but I just jumped him after that and must have hit him with 12 to 15 punches.”
Askin admitted that his preparation for the Bolton fight had been far from ideal. “I had had no sparring whatsoever – nobody will come and spar with me.
“I found it difficult in the fight to get into range and I tended to force everything.
“It is the first time I have really been hit by someone. I have a black eye and a split nose, and Balker is a powerful puncher.
“I know it sounds ridiculous but I enjoy a contest like that. I dug deep when it was needed against someone who had never been beaten as a professional before.
“It is a good result to have on my record and it proves I have the punch power to take someone out when I want.”
Askin has won all his nine fights since turning professional and a challenge for some kind of title is on the cards for the new year.
