A MIDDLEWEIGHT FIASCO IN THE MAKING

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 22 Feb 2004, 12:42

right, so say Howard Eastman gets past Christian Sanavia for this 'final WBC elimination' matchup. WHEN DOES HE GET TO CHALLENGE HOPKINS? Bernard's next fight is against Robert Allen, then he'll be fighting De la Hoya for that big payday.

How will the WBC get round this? will they say that bernard has to defend the WBC title within 2 years, so howard gets his shot in 2006?

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 22 Feb 2004, 12:59

Interim title for a guess, or Hopkins gets made upto that stupid thing that the WBC made up, I cant even remember what it's called now, a super champion or sumit like that, leaving the main WBC title vacant.

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 22 Feb 2004, 13:09

surely it will be that Hopkins/DLH winner will have to defend against Eastman before anyone else.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 22 Feb 2004, 13:12

Jermain Taylor is lurking close to the top of the WBC rankings, I can see the Eastman being forced to take on Taylor for an interim belt - with the winner facing the DLH vs Hopkins winner.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 22 Feb 2004, 13:31

hasnt eastman been #1 for eons?

frickin hell... i guess it will have to be eastman v someone else for the vacant title.

this is bullshit, 10 years ago it wouldnt be a problem, now champs only have 2 fights year max.

what the fornicate is hopkins doing through the year? sitting on his arse? go make some more money.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 22 Feb 2004, 13:46

The only thing that could stop your idea coming to fruition is that Bernard and DLH get sealed before Eastman's next fight. Then maybe Eastman's next fight will be for the interim.

However, with Taylor ranked #3 by the WBC I can't help thinking he's involved somewhere - I for one will be glad, this opponent doesn't deserve to be fighting for a world title.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 22 Feb 2004, 14:33

Eastman-Hopkins WILL NEVER HAPPEN!! Not so far as i can see anyway, i would not be surprised if Eatman was not forced to fight Jermain Taylor at some point for a shot, think about it with Taylor stalking the top guys and moving up the rankings fast enough how long can they keep him from a shot at the top? Plus he is better known in America so i can well see him getting his chance before Howard, Eastman is 32 or so now and can only get worse, if he fight Hopkins in 2005/6 or whatever he will be 34 or 35 and on the decline plus Hopkins will probably be retired by then anyway! Eastman may as well look for other options as i can not see him ever getting his shot against Hopkins.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 22 Feb 2004, 15:04

eastman's been dead unlucky

i agree he was foolish against joppy for not giving it more but he was just edged out on the scorecards by the 2nd best middleweight in the world and 2 and a half years on and still no 2nd world title attempt.

hopkins in-activity has cost eastman his shot :x theres no way the wbc will strip hopkins what with the big de la hoya clash coming up, the wbc will want to be involved in that

so will want to fob eastman off with there interim title.

i expect knowing eastmans luck that the fight will be controversial and we get a flipping rematch

J · Post by J » 23 Feb 2004, 08:22

I dont think you can totally blame hopkins, Howard blew his chance against Joppy by giving the judges a get out card when he could have pressed home the advantage beyond discussion, similarly as Tarver did against Jones.
So Hopkins in the meantime who doesnty want to fight Howard (and howard aint the prettiest fighter to watch in the world sometimes neither) But why would he? He beat Joppy who beat Eastman (allegedly) so why begrudge him a super payday against del lay hoya?
Then he will retire bloke will be over 40 by then.
At the end of the day if HE had seized his chance against Joppy BH would have had to fought him, so to me while it is all politics you have to earn the shot and be ruthless when you can.

Good luck to howard though he is a very good fighter but not good enough to beat hopkins in my view.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 23 Feb 2004, 08:51

overhand_right wrote:hasnt eastman been #1 for eons?

frickin hell... i guess it will have to be eastman v someone else for the vacant title.

this is bullshit, 10 years ago it wouldnt be a problem, now champs only have 2 fights year max.

what the fornicate is hopkins doing through the year? sitting on his arse? go make some more money.

The WBC have always been the same.

John Mugabi was WBC no1 at 154 for years and years and years and didnt get a shot until he was completely past it.

The same will happen to Eastman.

This is where Hennessy should earn his money and MAKE the fight happen.

Lets see if he's any good.