Australia-based Ugandan boxer Jackson Asiku has retained his Commonwealth featherweight title after defeating Australian opponent Matt Powell on Sunday.

 

The scheduled 10-round bout, held Sunday night at the Challenge Stadium, Mt Claremont, Western Australia, was stopped at round four when the referee Gary Ingraham had to save the Australian from further punishment.

 

The 29-year-old Ugandan, who had owned an impressive record of 24-3 with 11 knockouts, had also maintained great form since 2004 when he last lost a fight to Thailand fighter Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in the IBF Pan Pacific featherweight title.

 

Since then, Asiku had won 10 fights, five of them by knockout. He had won his last three fights against Marc Callaghan, Jamie McKeever and Singdaeng by knockout.

 

The Commonwealth Boxing Council has in October communicated to Asiku about the decision that he might be stripped of the title for failing to defend it inside the six-month mandatory period.

 

Asiku claimed the title with a knockout win over Marc Callaghan in 2005. He last defended his belt against Jamie McKeever in June 2006 in England.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2007)