Eastman to face Ashira

Wellington · Post by **Wellington** » 11 Apr 2007, 10:00

Eastman to face Ashira

Howard Eastman continues the process of regaining his triple crown when he faces Evans Ashira for the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Title at the Dudley Concert Hall on Friday April 20th live on Sky Sports.

Former British, Commonwealth and European champion Eastman relinquished his championships in order to challenge then undisputed champion Bernard Hopkins in 2005.

Two world title eliminators followed, before he regained the domestic crown by knocking out old friend and fellow Londoner Richard Williams in December.

Former two-times world title challenger Ashira, now based in Denmark but from Kenya, is another major step back towards the top level.

Ashira took Welshman Joe Calzaghe to points for the WBO Super-Middleweight Crown in 2005 and a year earlier lost a bid for the WBA Middleweight Title against big puncher Maselino Masoe.

“It’s good to be continuing the rebuilding process and to be boxing again for another title so quickly,” said the ‘Battersea Bomber.’ “If I can get the Commonwealth title back around my waist, it will be another step towards another world title fight.

“I belong at that level and when I am fully prepared I can beat anyone. It is still very much my intention to win a genuine world title.

“At the moment I’m focussed on Ashira. He’s a top-class operator in his natural division and I will have to be at my best.”

Eastman’s promoter Mick Hennessy agrees that Ashira will bring a stiff challenge, but one that can lead to bigger things if overcome.

“Ashira is without doubt a fringe world class operator at middleweight,” said the Hennessy Sports head. “He was never big enough for 12 stone; super middleweight just wasn’t his division.”

“At this weight he is a real handful. This is an excellent standard of fight for a Commonwealth Title. It’s a tough opponent for Howard to win another of his old titles back against, but one he can use to spring himself back into contention for bigger honours.”

Eastman will be supported on the bill by Hennessy Sports team-mate Billy Corcoran and a host of local favourites, with Dean Hickman, Dean Harrison, Sam Horton, Paul Truscott, Kevin Buckley, Martin Gordon and Steve and Martin Gethin all in action.

Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com Proudly Present
Howard Eastman vs. Evans Ashira
Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Championship
@ Dudley Concert Hall – 20th April 2007
Other sponsors: EJKO Promotions and Everlast

Tickets priced £50 and £30 on 0785 226 8333.

12x3 Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Championship
Howard Eastman vs. Evans Ashira
(Battersea) (Denmark)

8x3 Featherweight
Billy Corcoran vs. Steve Gethin
(Wembley) (Walsall)

8x3 Lightweight
Dean Hickman vs. TBA
(West Bromwich) ()

6x3 Light Welterweight
Dean Harrison vs. Judex Meemea
(Wolverhampton) (London)

6x3 Lightweight
Martin Gethin vs. Carl Allen
(Walsall) (Wolverhampton)

4x3 Middleweight
Sam Horton vs. Tony Stones
(Stourbridge) (Wakefield)

4x3 Featherweight
Paul Truscott vs. Riaz Durgahead
(Middlesbrough) (London)

4x3 Super Featherweight
Kevin Buckley vs. Dez Higgison
(Chester) (Barnsley)

4x3 Light Welterweight
Martin Gordon vs. Christian Laight
(Dudley) (Nuneaton)

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 11 Apr 2007, 10:12

Sh#t the bed that one sneaked up very quietly! Only 9 days time??!!

Quality opponent too.

Eastman on points is my offical predicition, but a kayo over a guy who went 12 with Calzaghe would raise some eyebrows.

Class!!! The Battersea Bomber is BACK!!

Mukel · Post by **Mukel** » 11 Apr 2007, 10:20

Top Match, how did this cat just get out of the bag,
eastman should have enough to beat the tough ashira

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 11 Apr 2007, 10:33

Dangerous move for Eastman for taking on a supermiddleweight

Anyway, props to him for coming back after the losses to Abraham and Miranda and building up again with the Brit and Comm titles.

Is a third world title shot out of the question? He may yet be picked up for a voluntary shot against Castillejo or some such. Stranger things have happened

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 Apr 2007, 10:37

How is the Commonwealth title on the line?

Isn't Ashira a Danish Citizen now?

Anyway, a decent match as a title is on the line... although had it been a none title fight I would have liked to have seen Howard vs a higher ranked opponent at this stage.

Mukel · Post by **Mukel** » 11 Apr 2007, 10:40

Its not out of the question if he continues to win, but two tough lossess to miranda and abraham, and then the lackluster displays against Hopkins and Joppy make you wonder if he will ever reach his potential, i hope he does, but Its probably to late, though i thought he could have beat Abraham, really thought it was his own fault for not trying early on, its frustrating, but hey, thats Howard for you.

black panther · Post by **black panther** » 11 Apr 2007, 11:53

if ashira is on form he could very well beat eastman....he was very impressive in stopping jerry elliot(who afterwards went twelve with eastman and gave Brian Magee all he could handle) and really should have beaten Masoe but decided to slug it out with a banger instead of boxing. Tough fight - good match-making. Say what you want about Hennesey Sports but 9 times out of ten they have good competive matches.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 11 Apr 2007, 11:57

Howard Eastman V Evans Ashira in Dudley!! Who would have thought it

Why the frig does a top card like this appear in Dudley only after i have jumped ship, when was the last flipping Belfast card

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 11 Apr 2007, 15:18

He won his last 2, Eastman will be too good imo.

WolvesLad · Post by **WolvesLad** » 11 Apr 2007, 15:39

lol at steve! never mind son, i'll be there - nice and local !

ciscokid · Post by **ciscokid** » 11 Apr 2007, 16:00

Ideal - i look forward to this, hopefully Eastman wont be a lazy ass and turn up in body, but not mind!!!!

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 13 Apr 2007, 12:14

Then for Eastman possibly Elcock as its on board website