Eric Aiken

Eric Aiken (born April 8, 1980 in Marysville, Ohio) is a former professional boxer. He is the former IBF world featherweight champion.

Early life
According to the February 1, 2008 broadcast of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2, Aiken was a paralegal before turning professional. As an amateur, he trained at the Alexandria Boxing Club. During his amateur career, Aiken compiled a 97-5 record with 47 knockouts. In addition, he won numerous state titles, the Mayor's Cup and the Nationals twice.

Pro career
On April 1, 2006, Aiken defeated former IBF bantamweight champion Tim Austin by sixth-round TKO. Only one month later (on May 13, 2006), Aiken challenged undefeated IBF featherweight champion Valdemir Pereira for the title. In the bout, Aiken knocked down Pereira in rounds four and five. Throughout the bout, Pereira hit Aiken with shots that were below the belt, and he was penalized one point in rounds six and seven. After another below the belt shot by Pereira in round eight, the referee disqualified him, and Aiken was awarded the title.

Aiken lost the title on September 2, 2006 against Robert Guerrero.

On February 1, 2008, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Aiken lost to Monty Meza-Clay by seventh-round technical knockout.