Looks like Eastman got the finger

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 13 Oct 2004, 18:55

Taylor, surprise surprise is facing Joppy.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 14 Oct 2004, 03:28

from fightnews.com

The New York Daily News is reporting that middleweight contender Jermain Taylor has signed a four-fight deal with HBO. First up for Taylor is a December 4 date with ex-champ William Joppy.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 14 Oct 2004, 06:43

Mick Hennessy talks too much. Talk's cheap.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 14 Oct 2004, 07:18

bennie wrote:Mick Hennessy talks too much. Talk's cheap.

Mick Hennessy cant deliver the goods.

Sack him Howard, its getting too late to mess about with time wasters.

Freiheit · Post by **Freiheit** » 14 Oct 2004, 07:31

If Taylor doesnt fight Eastman in the Eliminator, Eastman will automatically become mandatory.

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:04

For some reason Eastman just dont impress me at all, the last couiple of fights he has been in have been terrible, if he performs owt like he has done in these fights against a man of Hopkins ability he will be crushed, just hope he can raise his game when he eventually gets another big fight, come on Howard you can do it son.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:08

Freiheit wrote:If Taylor doesnt fight Eastman in the Eliminator, Eastman will automatically become mandatory.

He was already #1 contender before they installed trinidad. Who knows what fornicating cheap excuse the WBC will come up with, perhaps they will force another eliminator against someone else, after Taylor loses his ranking, provided he does.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:12

How about Trinidad v Eastman?

Hellephant · Post by **Hellephant** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:17

jamesmcdonnell wrote:He was already #1 contender before they installed trinidad. Who knows what fornicating cheap excuse the WBC will come up with, perhaps they will force another eliminator against someone else, after Taylor loses his ranking, provided he does.

Yes, they will not force Hopkins to defend against Eastman. It's going to be interesting to see WBC's next move...

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:23

007 wrote:How about Trinidad v Eastman?

Why on earth would trinidad bother?

The only thing which makes this possible, is that Trinidad is not scared to face anyone, and might see Eastman as a tune-up. Other than that, Trinidad can face Taylor, Sturm, or just about anyone else he fancies as an interim fight before he fights Hopkins, which will probably come summertime next year.

I for one would love to see this fight....

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:30

The plot thickens

Hennessy:

“Let me make it clear: despite what others have been saying, Eastman-Taylor is a final eliminator for the WBC middleweight title,” Hennessy added. “That means the winner becomes the mandatory to Bernard Hopkins.
The fact that Felix Trinidad has now been moved into the WBC’s number one position will not affect this.

“I was present at the meeting at the convention where Felix Trinidad was installed.
“I addressed the convention at the time. I explained that I was there personally to submit a purse bid for the final eliminator between their long-standing #1 Eastman and Taylor to establish the mandatory contender to Bernard Hopkins.
“I asked for reassurance that this contest would not be affected and that the purse bid would still take place, despite rumours to the contrary.

“In front of the convention, President Jose Sulaiman confirmed that as the contest had already been agreed, Trinidad’s ranking would have no bearing on the situation.
“That means that if either Howard Eastman or Jermain Taylor withdraws from this final eliminator, the other will automatically be made the official challenger to Bernard Hopkins. I have that in writing from the WBC.

“Having just attended their excellent convention – for which the theme was ‘Loyalty and Fair Play’ - I know they will stand by their rules and words.”

J · Post by J » 14 Oct 2004, 08:34

think we can take it on good authority if the WBC have promised, that it wont happen then.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Oct 2004, 08:52

MightyWarrior wrote:The plot thickens

Hennessy:

“Let me make it clear: despite what others have been saying, Eastman-Taylor is a final eliminator for the WBC middleweight title,” Hennessy added. “That means the winner becomes the mandatory to Bernard Hopkins.
The fact that Felix Trinidad has now been moved into the WBC’s number one position will not affect this.

“I was present at the meeting at the convention where Felix Trinidad was installed.
“I addressed the convention at the time. I explained that I was there personally to submit a purse bid for the final eliminator between their long-standing #1 Eastman and Taylor to establish the mandatory contender to Bernard Hopkins.
“I asked for reassurance that this contest would not be affected and that the purse bid would still take place, despite rumours to the contrary.

“In front of the convention, President Jose Sulaiman confirmed that as the contest had already been agreed, Trinidad’s ranking would have no bearing on the situation.
“That means that if either Howard Eastman or Jermain Taylor withdraws from this final eliminator, the other will automatically be made the official challenger to Bernard Hopkins. I have that in writing from the WBC.

“Having just attended their excellent convention – for which the theme was ‘Loyalty and Fair Play’ - I know they will stand by their rules and words.”

I can see what is going on here. Hennessy is hoping to embarass the WBC into actually enforcing their own rules. He wouldn't be the first man to try it, or the first man to fail.

I predict Hopkins is about to become the 'champion emeritus' or is he already, christ I don't even know any more. That would then free him up and give him more time to defend his mandatory, in which time he could take on Trinidad as a mandatory, and then Howard continues waiting in vain for his shot.

If Howard becomes mandatory (again), then I just cannot see them stripping Hopkins of his belt. Even if they did, they would lose a lot more than Hopkins, who doesn't need the belt to be the man.

Howard may have to hang on until Hopkins retires before getting a shot, as Hopkins said he would not fight on to 41. Then it would be in the interests of the WBC to stage a series of eliminators for the vacant crown, and somewhere down the line reunify the titles....

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 14 Oct 2004, 09:05

I'm not sure B-Hop is the super champ, but About the whole "Super Champ" thing...

If a fighter is a super champ, can he still fight for the WBA/WBC/IBF belts? He already own them doesn't he? Its a joke really.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Oct 2004, 10:11

No, as far as I am aware, isn't Tszyu the only super champion at present. Hopkins is super champ again since he beat Joppy for the second time I think. fornicate me, I really don't know.

Ah here we go...Eastman fought Joppy for the WBA title.

Howard Eastman 159 32-0-0 Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV, USA W MD 12 12 ~ Referee: Jay Nady | Judge: Bill Graham 115-112 | Judge: Robert Watson 114-112 | Judge: Chuck Giampa 113-113 ~

Vacant WBA Middleweight Title
Joppy down in the final seconds of the fight
The WBA vacated this title after declaring former title holder Bernard Hopkins a "Super Champion"