jamesmcdonnell wrote:Eastman did not beat Joppy, he lost it fair and square by standing and posing when he should have been throwing punches. Joppy was too good for him, simple as. I believe Howard to be a fringe world class fighter at his peak, but always beatable by someone who wanted it more.
No! Im not hiding that fact!DG. wrote:Never seen him fight have you?.overhand_right wrote:Has everyone on this board lost their minds..? The co Howard has mixed in is leagues above Richard Williams! Who the hell is this geezer?! Why are you all so high on him? Hes 35 & has been stopped in light-middle company...
Eastman bangs this chump out regardless of how long he sticks & moves. Eastman WORLD CLASS, williams, with lowercase w, domestic class.
overhand_right wrote:No! Im not hiding that fact!DG. wrote:Never seen him fight have you?.overhand_right wrote:Has everyone on this board lost their minds..? The co Howard has mixed in is leagues above Richard Williams! Who the hell is this geezer?! Why are you all so high on him? Hes 35 & has been stopped in light-middle company...
Eastman bangs this chump out regardless of how long he sticks & moves. Eastman WORLD CLASS, williams, with lowercase w, domestic class.
Thats why im so confused. When the fight comes, im gonna bet money on The Battersea Bomber. This guy aint beating Howard.
Hellephant wrote:Sam Soliman?nickd wrote:Eastman is world class on what basis? Beating McCracken? Thats how he got the high WBC ranking. McCracken was overrated himself off the back of beating Lonnie Beasley.
That I agree with.DG. wrote:Hellephant wrote:Sam Soliman?nickd wrote:Eastman is world class on what basis? Beating McCracken? Thats how he got the high WBC ranking. McCracken was overrated himself off the back of beating Lonnie Beasley.
As someone mentioned earlier.
Sam Soliman was taking fight at very late notice those days.
I think he would out speed Howard now.
.THEBUTCH wrote:
By the way D.G., Abraham DOES have skills and he used them to good effect agaisnt Howard. But this was a competitive fight for most of the way and Abraham is exceptionally strong. Despite Richard's more polished skills you still have to have serious strength to apply then against Howard and I don't think Williams has anywhere near Abraham's strength, physical or mental.
THEBUTCH wrote:I'm not saying Richard doesn't have a chance, he does, but the question I put to you is who has Williams proved his skills against at middleweight who are in the same league as Eastman ??? You know as well as me the answer to that is..... no one.
Richard looks great on the eye and at domestic level is fairly close to a complete package. It is, however, one thing looking like your skills etc are world class when you're not actually competing at such a level and another entirely transferring those same attributes against a much tougher opponent.
THEBUTCH wrote:Yes he has. McCracken for starters, and I dare say there might be others who had a top ten rating at the time Howard beat them, possibly Soliman with the IBF.
Close losses to Joppy and Abraham, which on another night might have gone his way are clearly far superior results to that of Williams and the boxers you have just mentioned, all faded and light middles.
I agree... I rate Eastman and dont think he is shot, he has shown what he does to the 'domestic level fighters' ie Dann, ect. He will beat Richard Williams, im gonna place a big bet on it too.THEBUTCH wrote:Eastman is world class. His loses are all against very good opposition. If you overate him (becuase no, Eastman is not good enough to actually win a world title) then the fact he's lost to Joppy, Hopkins, Miranda etc would leave you to beleive he does not belong at this level. But I disagree, because these are all boxers of the highest calibre and he competed well in all cases IMO.
The manner of victory over McCracken, Dann and Cherifi (who still had something left and was boxing at his best weight) proved he was a level above them and that has to be considered world class in my view.
Regard Soliman, the fact remains Howard squeezed past him and got the win. Maybe Soliman would beat Howard now, but Soliman is world class and losing to him does not automatically mean you're not world class yourself.
Fact is, Williams has practically no meaningful form at middleweight and Howard does. I'm sure Eastman would start favourite with the bookies and with good reason.
By the way D.G., Abraham DOES have skills and he used them to good effect agaisnt Howard. But this was a competitive fight for most of the way and Abraham is exceptionally strong. Despite Richard's more polished skills you still have to have serious strength to apply then against Howard and I don't think Williams has anywhere near Abraham's strength, physical or mental.
I'm with Butch on this one. Rich was a good prospect, but he's well past his sell by date. Eastman is on the slide too, but his experience and pride will see him establishing himself as the dominant fighter. C'mon, he did beat Gary BeardsleyTHEBUTCH wrote:It's probably true to say Williams is not on everyone's list as a 1st choice, but how much will Matchroom pay the opponent? How many show's does Hearn put on that feature Williams at the top of the bill and make it an attractive proposition ?
Also Williams holds no genuine title, what's the incentive to the other domestic middleweights ?
The winner of Elcock-Blundell will box for the English title against Bendall and presumably the winner of that would be in a good position to be nominated for the British title. They all have a clear route to get where they want to be. Where does Williams fit into all all this ? No where.
.JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:I'm with Butch on this one. Rich was a good prospect, but he's well past his sell by date. Eastman is on the slide too, but his experience and pride will see him establishing himself as the dominant fighter. C'mon, he did beat Gary BeardsleyTHEBUTCH wrote:It's probably true to say Williams is not on everyone's list as a 1st choice, but how much will Matchroom pay the opponent? How many show's does Hearn put on that feature Williams at the top of the bill and make it an attractive proposition ?
Also Williams holds no genuine title, what's the incentive to the other domestic middleweights ?
The winner of Elcock-Blundell will box for the English title against Bendall and presumably the winner of that would be in a good position to be nominated for the British title. They all have a clear route to get where they want to be. Where does Williams fit into all all this ? No where.
DG, I know I can be a little 'Lockett Happy' at times, as he's a mate and I support him, but I feel your promoting of Williams is sometimes a little blinkered. Eastman has operated on a completely different level.
Rich would give alot of middles a hard time, but with no title, of marquee value.... Who does want to fight him? I like Rich, but if he's taking 8 round points decisions to beat people who are getting banged out by youngsters, I'd like to see him quit before he gets hurt.
lurkyshaka wrote:Williams/Eastman has the potential to be a very entertaining fight. Im a bit gutted they are facing each other cos i like em both. I was really looking forward to Williams smashing crap out of Scott Dann cos Dann is a big head who really isn't upto much. This fight is much harder for Williams but it s fight that will elevate his profile on the world scene so much more than giving Dann a hiding would have.
Id love to see Williams who has been one of the classiest British boxers in a long time with his slick old school ability, get a world title shot. On his day and against the right opponent he would have a great chance.