By Mikko Salo. Finnish lightweight prospect Edis Tatli (18-0, 5 KO) continues his fast rise in the European ranks. Tatli pocketed his first belt on Saturday night by TKOing Italian Paolo Gassani (16-3, 8 KO) in the first round for the vacant EU title at Ringside Gym in Espoo, Finland. With the win Tatli becomes a player in the European lightweight scene.

  Pekka Mäki`s 25-year-old star pupil connected with a hard left hook early in the first round and ”finnished” the job at 1:20 mark with a barrage of punches. With all due respect to Tatli`s fast development and impressive skill set, his opponent had no business being in the ring in an international title fight of any kind. Paolo Gassani`s 16 wins had come against fighters with an average record of 3-16-1 and the previous time he was thrown in the ring against a serious talent - last year against Italy`s number one lightweight Emiliano Marsili (25-0-1, 10 KO) - he was KOed in the 1st round as well.

  On the undercard, Niko Jokinen (19-0, 7 KO), who previously campaigned at super middleweight, showed his punching power as a middleweight by knocking out Iranian-born Spaniard Fatah Baghban (8-5, 5 KO) in the first round. A first round knockout was also seen in a light heavyweight contest, where promising prospect Eemeli Katajisto (3-0, 2 KO) made short work of Lubo Hantak (9-48-2, 5 KO). Light welterweight Jarkko Putkonen (7-0, 4 KO) scored a six-round decision over Ivan Godor (10-26-4, 5 KO) and debutant Mikko Alanko (1-0) brought home a four-rounder against Ladislav Nemeth (1-17-1, 1 KO). Hantak, Godor and Nemeth all hail from Slovakia.

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