Eastman - the lowdown

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 23 Feb 2005, 19:33

Eastman just cant cut it at the top level, thats clear.

While he has a decent dig and good chin, he's flat footed and his handspeed is nothing to write home about. His workrate and intensity leave a lot to be desired.

His punch power is overrated, he hits reasonably hard but most of his stoppages are corner retirements or ref stoppages he hasn't clean KO'd many that I can think of.

I just dont think he cuts it at the top, you can beat guys at British/Euro level plodding around throwing a handful of punches per round but you need a little more at the top level.

Thats my view on it anyway. He's lucky the middleweight division is so poor or he'd barely make top 10.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 23 Feb 2005, 19:46

Very accurate - I used to think he was the real deal and he was plodding because he had another gear to go. The Joppy fight convinced me that it wasn't. People said, "oh Eastman never tried properly in that fight" - Eastman never said that.

Very accurate post, Nick.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 24 Feb 2005, 03:47

Well put chaps.

One question - Pound for pound is Ricky Hatton better than Howard Eastman?

I'm asking this to try and get a perception of his chances against Tszyu.

Looking at how Eastman was outclassed should we simply expect more of the same, this shows the chasm between genuine world champions and a good domestic/euro level fighter?

In my opinion Hatton is better than Eastman P4P and several of his opponents have been better than Eastman's victims, relatively speaking.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 24 Feb 2005, 04:50

Eastman's opposition is poorer than Hatton's outside of Hopkins and Joppy where he lost twice and looked poor in doing so imo. I also don't think that the Joppy who outworked Eastman was that different to the one who got beaten up by Hopkins and not that far removed from the one Taylor had an easy time with.
Hatton is in a much harder division, has beaten more fighters who have fought at a higher level and is fighting imo as great a champ in Tszyu. I am also sure he will put a lot more effort in and will go down fighting. In p4p terms I think Ricky is no1 in the country. Is Witter higher than Eastman p4p?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 24 Feb 2005, 06:21

Amazingly, Howard said something along the lines of 'I've failed to become champion twice, without breaking a sweat, so I know I'm destined to be world champion.'

It's as if Eastman thinks it's cool to lose without getting putting in maximum effort, very strange.

I think Eastman is just too laid back to be a top flight fighter, he's always just going to cruise to defeat against anyone who is truly world class.

He's a good fighter, just not good enough.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 24 Feb 2005, 06:43

Yeah he seemed to fight better and with more fear against Elliott when he def broke into a sweat.
He just isn't that good, as much as he isn't putting the effort in I don't think he really knows what to do.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 24 Feb 2005, 07:07

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Amazingly, Howard said something along the lines of 'I've failed to become champion twice, without breaking a sweat, so I know I'm destined to be world champion.'

It's as if Eastman thinks it's cool to lose without getting putting in maximum effort, very strange.

I think Eastman is just too laid back to be a top flight fighter, he's always just going to cruise to defeat against anyone who is truly world class.

He's a good fighter, just not good enough.

I agree, leopards and spots and all that. Sometimes one fight tells you all you need to know about a fighter and the Joppy one told me that about Howard Eastman.

Another example of this, for the same reason I believe that Junior Witter, when truly presented with a top line champion will revert back into a shell, basically legging it and chucking out single punches and losing every round in the process. He very nearly did this against N’dou and seems almost petrified of taking a shot.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 24 Feb 2005, 07:10

He'll still probably pick up one of the "big four" world title at some stage though.

Hop wont be around for too much longer, and we'll probably end up with the usual 4 vacant titles - that's eight boxers who'll get the call up, and I can't think of too many unbeatable middles around at the moment.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 24 Feb 2005, 07:40

Oh he may get another shot. It'll probably be Taylor, Soliman, maybe Sturm, Winky if he sticks at middle, Trinidad and a few other lesser knowns.

AlexY2K4 · Post by **AlexY2K4** » 24 Feb 2005, 07:47

Actually, I think he is good enough, to at least win one of the 3 proper alphebet titles anyway.

I just think he's too eccentric and lazy to push himself that extra gear needed.

He has tools, no doubt, though he is one dimentional as we know. Shame, I thought he was pumped up for Hopkins. Though he didn't embarrass himself, I feel he really could have made things just a little more interesting. Not beat him, but at least have a chance.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 24 Feb 2005, 08:11

It's almost like he thinks it's uncool to look like you are trying. Thing is when he lets his hands go, he looks a lot better.

What I found very bizzarre during the fight, is that he hardly used his left hand at all, not even to jab properly. I expected there to be an announcement that he'd broken his hand in the 1st round.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 24 Feb 2005, 09:03

He didnt get embarassed because Hopkins was content to do just enough to win. If Hopkins had wanted to he could have beaten him to a pulp and stopped him - no question of that in my mind. He really had him going in the last couple of rounds but had left it too late. I think a more sustained beating throughout and Eastman would have been stopped, Hopkins just couldnt miss with any power shots he threw.

That comment about losing without breaking sweat twice is all I need to know about Eastman, that is not the talk of a fighter. As I have been saying he should have just gone all out those last couple of rounds yet was happy to coast to a points loss then clamour for a rematch. NOBODY will pay to see Hopkins v Eastman again I certainly wouldnt. In fact I'll never pay for an Eastman fight again after this ridiculous comment as you know he'll never give 100% in the ring.

AlexY2K4 · Post by **AlexY2K4** » 24 Feb 2005, 09:08

nickd wrote:He didnt get embarassed because Hopkins was content to do just enough to win. If Hopkins had wanted to he could have beaten him to a pulp and stopped him - no question of that in my mind. He really had him going in the last couple of rounds but had left it too late. I think a more sustained beating throughout and Eastman would have been stopped, Hopkins just couldnt miss with any power shots he threw.

That comment about losing without breaking sweat twice is all I need to know about Eastman, that is not the talk of a fighter. As I have been saying he should have just gone all out those last couple of rounds yet was happy to coast to a points loss then clamour for a rematch. NOBODY will pay to see Hopkins v Eastman again I certainly wouldnt. In fact I'll never pay for an Eastman fight again after this ridiculous comment as you know he'll never give 100% in the ring.

Really can't disagree with that mate.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 24 Feb 2005, 09:09

That was it 'without breaking a sweat.'

I was flabberghasted by those comments, that he actually thought it was something to boast about, really quite strange. Howard is a bit of bizzare individual. He's certainly not afraid to get hit, and takes a shot well, but he just seems to lack a fire. I think that he cannot win the way he wants to win, then so be it seems to be the way he thinks.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 24 Feb 2005, 09:11

Lenny Albert wrote:Is Witter higher than Eastman p4p?

I would say they are around the same level, Witter slightly ahead I would say. Their competition level is very similar, however Witter has some better wins on his slate. This is partly due to 160 being shockingly bad and Eastman's 2 no shows in world title bouts.

Eastman is still living off the McCracken win in April 2001, who was overrated himself his best win being over Lonnie Beasley. Have a look at the rest of McCracken's record not all that impressive (in terms of who he beat) if you ask me.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=008927

McCracken basically gatecrashed the WBC rankings beating Beasley which is a good win but he was nowhere in the rankings before that. He then marked time getting to the #1 spot before getting his shot at Holmes. So he didnt really deserve to be there.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 24 Feb 2005, 13:45

I think Eastman is saying this "lose, without breaking a sweat" because there are no geniune excuses.

Its Bollocks, got to be. If not, he didn't even deserve these shots and he should be financial punished.

He surely broke a sweat vs Tatesvyan, and he looked crap there also.