The Alexandra Palace in Wood Green, London was host to a pair of European title fights this past Saturday, with Darren Barker and Affif Belghecham battling it out for the vacant middleweight crown, and Audley Harrison going up against his previous conquerer, Michael Sprott, for heavyweight honours.

Photographer Justin McKie was ringside to capture all the hard hitting action.

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Dave Oakes recaps this past Friday night's European middleweight title clash between Darren Barker and Affif Belghecham.

Check out Dave's recap for the co-feature: Harrison Claims Euro Belt in Sensational Style

Photos © Justin McKie - photo gallery from both main-events

Darren Barker claimed the European belt on Friday night after he came through the toughest fight of his career, beating the surprisingly tough Affif Belghecham on points after a gruelling twelve round battle.

Looking his typically composed self, Barker started the fight well boxing behind a high guard and stiff jab, he landed the jab throughout the opener and was catching Belghecham with some meaty left hooks to the body.

The second was another round for Barker as he pummelled his French opponent with jabs and straight rights. The best punch of the round saw Barker land a beautiful left hook that seemed to momentarily hurt Belghecham, who gave a glimpse of what was to come when he fired back with punches of his own, including a left uppercut that landed flush.

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Dave Oakes recaps this past Friday's European heavyweight title clash between Audley Harrison and Michael Sprott.  Check back tomorrow for Dave's recap of the European middleweight title bout featuring Darren Barker and Affif Belghecham.

Photos © Justin McKie - photo gallery from both main-events

Audley Harrison won the European title on Friday night after he produced a remarkable comeback victory, knocking out Michael Sprott in the twelfth and final round of a fight in which he was miles behind on the scorecards. Harrison, who had struggled to find any sort of rhythm throughout the fight, floored Sprott with a vicious left hook that had the Reading man unconscious before he’d hit the canvas.

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Dave Oakes previews Friday's vacant European heavyweight title match-up between Audley Harrison and Michael Sprott.

Delusions can be a great form of escapism from the mundanities of life, but they’re only really enjoyable when your sanity stops you from fully believing what your mind wants you to. Unfortunately Audley Harrison’s overactive mind has gone beyond the realms of sanity; he seems to think that he’s the saviour of heavyweight boxing, a major household name and an entertaining personality who’s full of witticisms that have journalists drooling at the mouth.

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