Offical eastman vs hopkins thread

bigped · Post by **bigped** » 19 Feb 2005, 23:47

eastman on way to ring as we speak

come on howard

bigped · Post by **bigped** » 19 Feb 2005, 23:57

round one very even, nothing much just sussing each other out,

dandantheweatherman · Post by **dandantheweatherman** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:01

Five live just put up a message saying that due to contractual obligations they can't broadcast the fight on the 'net online. Bastards.

bigped · Post by **bigped** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:02

round 2 howards lot busier 10-9 to howard in that round

dandantheweatherman · Post by **dandantheweatherman** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:04

Works on http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/ukfs_sport/hi ... 606330.stm like the chap on this forum suggested in another post. They get satellite TV in the Falklands so why not in the Antartic!! It's not much further!

bigped · Post by **bigped** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:14

round 5 sounded a cracker, hopkins just

bigped · Post by **bigped** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:44

119-110 117-111 116-112 all hopkins...

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:58

He just wasn't good enough, Hopkins wasn't there to be hit, and whenever he tried to land he got countered.

Hopkins fought a very smart fight, Eastman was simply too limited to win that fight, no combinations, no variety, no jab, all right hands and loaded up all the time. Tried his best best wasn't good enough.

Taylor is another proposition entirely. He will push Hopkins very hard I think.

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 20 Feb 2005, 00:59

Eastman gave Hopkins WAY too much respect.

He seemed reluctant to let punches go, he seemed to always be setting up the right hand and when he got in the position for it he pulled it back all the time. He threw it a lot more in the last couple of rounds and caught Hopkins a couple of times but he needed to throw it more. His inside work was also limited cause Hopkins kept tying him up any time he got that close. All in all Eastman fought a very one dimensional fight with no work rate to support it and I only gave him rounds 2, 5 and 11 with the 1st being even leaving my scorecard 117-111 in favour of Hopkins.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 20 Feb 2005, 01:07

Dissappointed in Howard there. It was Hopkins...so fair enough, but Eastman just seemed to lack imagination and variety. perhaps it's my 5am goggle eyes but there seemed to be so much holding going on (mainly from Eastman). Not a great fight.

Neither fighter ever in trouble, but Hopkins was just too classy for him.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2005, 01:12

Cannibal wrote:Eastman gave Hopkins WAY too much respect.

He seemed reluctant to let punches go, he seemed to always be setting up the right hand and when he got in the position for it he pulled it back all the time. He threw it a lot more in the last couple of rounds and caught Hopkins a couple of times but he needed to throw it more. His inside work was also limited cause Hopkins kept tying him up any time he got that close. All in all Eastman fought a very one dimensional fight with no work rate to support it and I only gave him rounds 2, 5 and 11 with the 1st being even leaving my scorecard 117-111 in favour of Hopkins.

Eastman has always been like that when in against decent opposition, why would it be any different against an all time great middleweight. Eastman's limitations were known going into the fight, that they were present again should be no surprise.

He tried his best, his best just wasn't good enough.

Why is it though that Eastman never ever uses his bloody jab.

Spreadking · Post by **Spreadking** » 20 Feb 2005, 01:25

you guys gave Hopkins rounds, just like you give Ruiz rounds.

i had it 114-114

hopkins won the last 3 though, so I don't mind him getting it.

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 20 Feb 2005, 01:32

Spreadking wrote:you guys gave Hopkins rounds, just like you give Ruiz rounds.

i had it 114-114

hopkins won the last 3 though, so I don't mind him getting it.

You are on drugs mate

the first few rounds where close from 5-10 Hopkins 11 close 12 Hopkins there was nothing close about it. Eastman threw more punches but landed only 17% compared to 35% from Hopkins. Nearly every left hook Hopkins threw landed and how many right hands at least 40%.

billythekid · Post by **billythekid** » 20 Feb 2005, 01:39

Spreadking, put the booze down during the fight.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 20 Feb 2005, 02:48

Hopkins was class.

dandantheweatherman · Post by **dandantheweatherman** » 20 Feb 2005, 04:52

The first half of the fight sounded quite close from the radio. John Rawlings and Duke McKenzie gave the impression that it was slightly closer than the judges had it, but left listeners in no doubt who won. They did make it sound like a good fight though. Well, John Rawlings did.

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 20 Feb 2005, 05:04

I had to laugh at this from Hopkins.

"He takes a hell of a shot and was able to give me some good shots...I give him a B-minus,"

Smit · Post by **Smit** » 20 Feb 2005, 06:26

Eastman did nothing,.. really just wasnt busy enough at all.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 20 Feb 2005, 07:10

So it went as most of us predicted.

But where now for Howard Eastman? A rematch is not needed and will never happen, I can't see Eastman wanting to drop back down to domestic level, waiting around untill he gets beaten by some young gun.

A move to Super-Middleweight is a possibility, he has stated before he can fight at 12st. He may try for a shot at one of the 12st Champions, Eastman V Calzaghe or Reid anyone?

It could happen.

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 20 Feb 2005, 07:40

Disappointed by Eastman but also by Hopkins. No way on earth is he P4P number 1 boxer. He has a very boring style which might be to some peoples' taste but certainly not mine.

The match reminded me of Reid v Ottke (but without dodgy decision) as Hopkins ran for most of the night and simply threw counters; not exactly what I would call the style of a champion.

Hopkins style is like an inferior Kindelan and nowhere near as enjoyable.

I guess the people who admire him are easily pleased.

To finish with a battery analogy...

Hopkins was like a Duracell battery running all night long - unfortunately Eastman was not Ever Ready to beat him.

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 20 Feb 2005, 07:53

Matchfixer wrote:Disappointed by Eastman but also by Hopkins. No way on earth is he P4P number 1 boxer. He has a very boring style which might be to some peoples' taste but certainly not mine.

The match reminded me of Reid v Ottke (but without dodgy decision) as Hopkins ran for most of the night and simply threw counters; not exactly what I would call the style of a champion.

Hopkins style is like an inferior Kindelan and nowhere near as enjoyable.

I guess the people who admire him are easily pleased.

To finish with a battery analogy...

Hopkins was like a Duracell battery running all night long - unfortunately Eastman was not Ever Ready to beat him.

I thought it was a great fight plan by Hopkins, He didn't want to stand and trade with Eastman because of his power so he outboxed him quiet easily.
Boxing is about hitting without getting hit and about imposing your will on another fighter and not letting them get into there game plan which is exactley what Hopkins did.
Also this was not the way that Hopkins always fights if you can remember the way he beat up Trinidad.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 20 Feb 2005, 08:12

Howard Eastman quote after the fight

"Let's do it one more time; then I will even the score. Then we can do it a third time. After that we can look at the other guys."

It will never happen of course Eastman needs to look for other challenges and paydays.

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 20 Feb 2005, 08:50

My first big fight i was waiting for this year ends up being pants. I wasnt on the edge of my seat once.

ZZZZZZ I could run around the ring and get chased for 12 rounds!

I guess Eastman has to take the titles from Hopkins and its hard if the man wont stand still, so Hopkins does the right thing and keeps his face and the belts. Dosen't win any fans though!

People say that Eastman gave hopkins to much respect, thought it was the other way round. Hopkins seemed he was just thinking past this fight and even before the bell everyone was talking about hopkins this and hopkins that. They didnt know who Eastman was and they still dont know.

I would have thought the USA Fans would have liked Eastman for coming forward and wanting to fight, admit when he did, he didnt throw much but looked liked he wanted to fight more than hopkins did.

So the rematch wont happen and if it does i will save my money and not bother.

First 5 rounds to Eastman and round 11 the rest to Hopkins guess that makes a draw

FFS

Couldnt Taylor V Eastman be made, then the winner gets a shot at Hopkins?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 20 Feb 2005, 09:05

Hopkins was class, a brilliant performance. Howard showed good focus throughout - but just wasn't up to it.

I know people are all ready saying, Hopkins only threw 30 odd punches a round he must be shot. No, unless the fight becomes a grudge he always just does enough. Tito and Joppy both got his goat up and destroyed them. Yet between those fights he laboured and "looked worn" vs Daniels.

I think Hopkins was in 3rd gear, and Eastman was a good as he could have been. The 40 year old made the 34 year old look so slow in there.

I don't want to end on a negative note for British boxing (something I have been accused off) - I still take my hat of to Eastman, he looked as good as some of Hopkins' opponents, the likes of Daniels and Allen - and I cannot fault him for not having his mind on the job, because he fought with a good focus - so well done, but outclassed.

I think it was James Mac who was debating with me whether Hopkins vs Eastman would be as competitive as Hopkins vs DLH, did you think it was?

Incidently, how about a Super Fight at Light heavy between Jones Jnr and DLH? He's eat a fair few pies hasn't he?