If they ever met...

The REAL McCoy · Post by **The REAL McCoy** » 12 Jan 2004, 15:51

Joe Calzaghe & Howard Eastman that is, what would happen?

McCoy thinks Eastman would do well, but get stopped in the 9th or 10th round, & heres a brief explanation why

Calzaghe would be naturally too big, fast & experienced for Howard Eastman, who has only faced one real world class fighter in his prime, William Joppy

And although Eastman done extremely well against Joppy, he still lost

His opposition since then has been poor, with Howard having fights his own way in fights hes expected to win

One of the things that gave Howard problems against Joppy was his fast hands & his high workrate, & Joe can boast of having both of these weapons in his armoury, & Howard hasnt yet faced anyone with a heavy punch at a bigger weight, & Joe punches hard at Super-Middle

Although there is more chance of McCoy binning his Tom Jones album collection than this fight EVER happening sadly enough :(

That dont mean we cant dream about it though :)

How do you cats see this one going?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Jan 2004, 16:15

Good post, McCoy. I too think Eastman would have his moments, but not for long. Calzaghe's strength, speed, and ability to punch in bunches, would inevitably prevail.
Eastman is a fighter who likes to pick his punches. You could say he's lazy. Calzaghe's traditional fast start would force the Battersea man into fighting out of character. He would retaliate effectively for a while, but once the pace slowed, would soon resort to his natural, almost casual approach. Calzaghe, always in great shape, would continue to chase the increasingly negative Eastman and punish him with quick bursts of punches to head and body. Eastman, older than Calzaghe at 33, would be worn and down and kayoed with a series of unanwered head shots in the middle rounds.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:04

A natural matchup, and the winner would probably wind up with a lot of credit in the States too. Shame it's not gonna happen any time soon.

I agree Calzaghe would win, too big & too fast. Howard would put up an excellent fight, because Joe's pace would force him to, but Calzaghe on points for me, as Eastman has a very good chin that would probably keep him going in the late rounds.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:10

Eastman is far too lazy to win against Calzaghe, he's just not busy enough. He would go the distance I think however, as I think he hit's hard enough to stop Calzaghe swarming him with east. I think Eastman would have him moments early on, but late in the fight would take a bit of a hammering as Calzaghe's power told.

I think Eastman's chin would keep him in there taking the sort of beating Joppy got recently.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:12

Calzaghe would win, I see it very similar to the Calzaghe vs Brewer fight - although I don't think Eastman would do quite aswell as Brewer did

Calzaghe is two strong and more importantly too fast for Eastman. Eastman made Joppy look like Ali in the speed department, something he never was. I think Calzaghe is a fair few gears faster than Eastman (who plods) this will mean he'll get the better of the majority of exchanges.

While Eastman has good power at Middleweight, it is over-rated. I'm sure Brewer hits harder than him, I can't see Eastman hurting Calzaghe like Brewer and Mitchell did (for brief periods).

Calzaghe work rate in undoubtedly his forte, and Eastman's weakness which again will pay dividens for Joe.

While I can see it as a good contest, I think it is one in which Joe will always be the little bit ahead in. I just can't see what Eastman has got that he's better than Joe in.

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:17

Agreed, Calzaghe would almost certainly beat Eastman at 168. At a catchweight, I'm not so sure. I believe Eastman is the better boxer of the two, but he's not consistant enough for me to pick him. We know what we'll get from calzaghe. He wouldn't stop Eastman, but he'd deal with him.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:25

Oh at Catchweight, this would put a whole new perspective on the fight. Joe stamina and ability would certainly be affected for having to try and make 11st 10. It would never happen.

Incidently, has anyone else thought that a possible reason for Eastman's plodding and lack of true work rate may be due to him struggling to make 11 st 6.

bigynzing · Post by **bigynzing** » 12 Jan 2004, 21:33

stujones wrote:Oh at Catchweight, this would put a whole new perspective on the fight. Joe stamina and ability would certainly be affected for having to try and make 11st 10. It would never happen.

Incidently, has anyone else thought that a possible reason for Eastman's plodding and lack of true work rate may be due to him struggling to make 11 st 6.

Could be...he has broad shoulder`s...but i think if this was the case the fight might of happend by now. I tell you one thing, the fight would be a belter

bigfatjourneyman · Post by **bigfatjourneyman** » 13 Jan 2004, 06:14

I know that Eastman doesn't struggle at middleweight and is pound for pound stronger and hits harder than Calzaghe. However I take into account what everyone says regarding a Calzaghe win. I think the problem would be if the fight is at Super-Middle what would the weight of the fighters as they enter the ring as Calzaghe is a big Super-Middle hence his recent announcement he is moving up to light heavy.
At catchweight Eastman would win but at Super-Middle it would be tough.