Eastmans fightplan

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 17 Feb 2005, 12:47

There's a reason Hopkinshasn't been hit. He doesn't allow himself to get hit. It's no coincidence. It's not like his opponents haven't been trying to hit him.

Christ, Eastman struggled to hit Tatevosyan mate. You're making it sound like Eastman is the most devastating and tricky middleweight Hopkins has ever faced. He isn't. I cannot see what Eastman has got that Hopkins won't have seen before. Laying aside my desire for a british world champion, I just cannot make a case where I can make howard favourite, aside from Hopkins ageing overnight.

I wish Howard all the best, I really do, but I think he's really just about world class, he hasn't beaten anyone of note to date, except for McCracken, who was a little past his best, and a fringe contender. Cherifi was shot to shit by the time Howard got to him, and not a puncher even in his prime.

I hope I'm wrong of course, and that Howard has got that extra gear we haven't seen his use before. My guess is that if he had it, we'd have seen it against Joppy.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 17 Feb 2005, 12:57

Too right Hopkins doesn't allow himself to get hit. Again I challenge anyone to post a pic of Hopkins with a cut or bruise of any kind.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 17 Feb 2005, 13:15

When the dust has settled on Saturday night, sadly, all I can see is a clear points decision for Hopkins. Also it could well be a messy, dirty fight. Hope I'm wrong on both accounts, and if Eastman does pull it off I'm going to need plastic surgery to remove my smile.

Here's the coverage :

SUN 20th FEB
----------------

-1am Setanta Pay Per View 1 / LIVE Howard Eastman v Bernard Hopkins. WBC Middleweight title. (channel 435 £14.95)

-1am approx. RADIO FIVE / LIVE Howard Eastman v Bernard Hopkins.

10.30pm BBC2 / Howard Eastman v Bernard Hopkins.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 17 Feb 2005, 13:42

jamesmcdonnell wrote:There's a reason Hopkinshasn't been hit. He doesn't allow himself to get hit. It's no coincidence. It's not like his opponents haven't been trying to hit him.

Christ, Eastman struggled to hit Tatevosyan mate. You're making it sound like Eastman is the most devastating and tricky middleweight Hopkins has ever faced. He isn't. I cannot see what Eastman has got that Hopkins won't have seen before. Laying aside my desire for a british world champion, I just cannot make a case where I can make howard favourite, aside from Hopkins ageing overnight.

I wish Howard all the best, I really do, but I think he's really just about world class, he hasn't beaten anyone of note to date, except for McCracken, who was a little past his best, and a fringe contender. Cherifi was shot to shit by the time Howard got to him, and not a puncher even in his prime.

I hope I'm wrong of course, and that Howard has got that extra gear we haven't seen his use before. My guess is that if he had it, we'd have seen it against Joppy.

Howard will get him in the end. I did not say Eastman was the favourite - but I say he will stop Bhop.

He falls apart this time.

If Hopkins does not run - he gets stopped.

Look how BHop was wary of Little fat Chicken DLH - he knows his resistance is going - look how he was against Allen.

Saturday will be the night Hopkins gets it!

JC · Post by JC » 17 Feb 2005, 14:47

DG. wrote:If Hopkins does not run - he gets stopped.

Look how BHop was wary of Little fat Chicken DLH - he knows his resistance is going - look how he was against Allen.

Saturday will be the night Hopkins gets it!

Little Fat Chicken? Gimme a break mate. DLH may have looked flabby against Sturm but he was in good shape for Hopkins. If there's one thing you can't accuse De La Hoya of it's being chicken, if he was he wouldn't have got in the ring with Hopkins in the first place. Also there is a difference between being wary and biding your time and waiting of the right opening Hopkins controlled the pace of that fight very effectivly.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 17 Feb 2005, 14:56

Hopkins toyed with DLH. He fought off the back foot, because he knew that oscars best chance of winning was to make Bernard chase, and use his handspeed to counter him with flurries on the way in.

what does Bernard do, uses movement and his long left jab and lead right hands to pick Oscar off at range, and force Oscar to come to him, then buries him with a left hook.

Scared my rassclat.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 17 Feb 2005, 18:06

The trouble is, whatever he tries, it won't be anything new to Hopkins, he's been in with rough tough big punchers like Echols, and that didn't bother him, he's fought stick and movers like Holmes, and combination punchers like Joppy. The only style that's really bothered him was a superhuman Jones, at middle, and Segundo Mercado at altitude, who dropped him. Aside from that, I've not heard of him having many problems. Keith Holmes produce a really boring fight, but that probably has as much to do with Hopkins trying not to look too good before the fight with Trinidad than anything else.

Eastman doesn't specialise in the rough stuff, that's Nard's territory. I say work the jab from the outside, keep moving, and try to work hard over the first 6 rounds, nick as many rounds as possible, keeping Nard at arm's length, and tying him up when he closes. Eastman has to get off to a fast start though, if he lets Hopkins get into his rhythmn early, I think it's curtains.

If he's going to try and bust Hopkins up, it should be in the mid to late rounds, and it has to be after having established some sort of dominance in the fight, or a last ditch effort.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 17 Feb 2005, 20:16

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Eastman doesn't specialise in the rough stuff, that's Nard's territory. I say work the jab from the outside, keep moving, and try to work hard over the first 6 rounds, nick as many rounds as possible, keeping Nard at arm's length, and tying him up when he closes. Eastman has to get off to a fast start though, if he lets Hopkins get into his rhythmn early, I think it's curtains.

Yep, this is the only way he even stands a chance.

Turning it into a brawl might be good in theory, old man, old legs and all that, but Hopkins is probably as good an inside fighter as I've seen. If he doesn't have to move much for the whole fight I would imagine he'd be well happy with that. Unless Hopkins ages overnight it'll be Eastman who's methodically broken up if it's that kind of fight. The defence and the variety from the champion is just too good close in.

Eastman needs to jab like he's never jabbed before. He has to start early, and just spear Hopkins constantly. I mean, that glove should be permanently affixed to Hopkins' face. It can't be a range-finder either; it needs to be a really solid, jolting punch. It's got to give Hopkins something to think about, it's got to be enough to stop him getting set. Even if most of them are taken on the gloves, they'll still do their job. If he can do that for a couple of rounds, then that would be a great starting point.

Eastman's also got to move like he's never moved before. He's got to avoid getting pinned on the ropes, or in one of the corners. I know it's not pretty, but if that looks like it's going to happen, he's got to tie Hopkins up, he's got to make sure that Hopkins can't work close in. Eastman's movement is the real key to the fight for me. Hopkins is superb at hunting down his opponents, and cornering them. Joppy, although past his best, still showed decent movement (better than Eastman's ever shown anyway), but it wasn't enough. Has Eastman got it in him to stay out of trouble?

He also needs to keep it going. It's pointless doing what he's done so often in the past. He might as well have stayed at home if he's going to have one of his patented "sleepy patches" during this one. He's got to fight for the full twelve, not the first few, the seventh, and then the tenth. I don't think he's got it in him to stop Hopkins, so he's got to compete in every round. He can't just gift three or four rounds to the champion.

Personally, I don't think that the result is already a forgone conclusion. But neither do I think Hopkins is there for the taking just yet. My best hope is that, regardless of the result, Eastman is able to put in a performance. If he does that, he still has enough time on his hands to get another shot. Whether it comes against Hopkins, or it comes after Hopkins has gone is another matter.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 17 Feb 2005, 21:04

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Hopkins toyed with DLH. He fought off the back foot, because he knew that oscars best chance of winning was to make Bernard chase, and use his handspeed to counter him with flurries on the way in.

what does Bernard do, uses movement and his long left jab and lead right hands to pick Oscar off at range, and force Oscar to come to him, then buries him with a left hook.

Scared my rassclat.

Your what?

Certain bwoy dem a try fi talk like we.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 17 Feb 2005, 21:55

I strongly believe that Hopkins carried Oscar in their fight. If he had have gone for him and mauled him like he done Joppy Oscar would not have lasted imo. Hopkins may have done this because its the opposite of what Oscar expected. It just prolonged the fight.

Im gonna be screaming at the tv come fight time for Howard to get in and start trying to hurt Hopkins. Im gonna be so pissed if he doesn't leave it all in the ring.

About Howards last few perfomances. I don't see how he could be motivated for those fights, just think about that. He was on the road to nowhere until a couple of months ago. Opponents kept pulling out. The Hopkins fight looked like it would never happen.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 17 Feb 2005, 22:05

I totally don't see any point in Howard trying to outbox Bernard. It will be a waste, he'd just get outboxed by the better boxer and be doing exactly what Bernard would want. Bernard doesn't want a rough fight these days unless its totally on his terms. Howard has got to try and fight at a high pace and go for Bernards body early.

Look out for Hopkins dirty tactics as well. Watch him throw a low blow on the refs blindside then go down and moan to the ref if Howard replys. Hopkins moans about EVERYTHING, like Sven Ottke used to. He bitches to get every advantage.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 18 Feb 2005, 04:52

Sorry guys but some of your are trippin!

No way can Eastman outbox Hopkins from the outside, and all this talk of Eastman using movement - have you seen him fight? He's not quick on his feet at all, he's hardly Michael Flatley is he? An inside fight is the way to go, if he can take Hopkins punches as everyone seems to think his chin is exceptional then he should get in and take two to land one and hope he can hurt him. That's the only way I see him winning. If he stays outside he'll get his ears boxed off. He needs to put pressure on Hopkins 3 minutes of every round and stay in his face, and hope something in the old man gives. But I've never seen Eastman work 3 minutes of a round ever so that's probably not going to happen.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 18 Feb 2005, 04:59

Southpaw Stylist wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Hopkins toyed with DLH. He fought off the back foot, because he knew that oscars best chance of winning was to make Bernard chase, and use his handspeed to counter him with flurries on the way in.

what does Bernard do, uses movement and his long left jab and lead right hands to pick Oscar off at range, and force Oscar to come to him, then buries him with a left hook.

Scared my rassclat.
Your what?

Certain bwoy dem a try fi talk like we.

Well at least one person understood.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 19 Feb 2005, 13:43

Well if your going to be influenced, be influenced by the best!

Hopkins said: "I turned 40 on January 15 and the question is, when is Bernard Hopkins going to start looking like he is 40?

"I'm looking to set a new standard which is going to last for many, many years. To keep winning and winning and winning is a very special thing. I want people to understand that this is not ordinary.

"Marvin Hagler is my idol and he is the man I took my blueprint from. He taught me how to be disciplined and how to give something back to the young fighters."]

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 19 Feb 2005, 13:49

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Southpaw Stylist wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Hopkins toyed with DLH. He fought off the back foot, because he knew that oscars best chance of winning was to make Bernard chase, and use his handspeed to counter him with flurries on the way in.

what does Bernard do, uses movement and his long left jab and lead right hands to pick Oscar off at range, and force Oscar to come to him, then buries him with a left hook.

Scared my rassclat.
Your what?

Certain bwoy dem a try fi talk like we.
Well at least one person understood.

I'm dyslexic and thought you said he was sacred.