Eastman wastes his number one ranking...

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 27 Dec 2003, 11:02

Howard Eastman, WBC number one middleweight, continues to waste his time defending his European title when he meets Spain's unknown Jorge Sendra on January 30. These two were originally supposed to meet in Derby last month, but Eastman suffered a twisted knee in training and the fight was postponed - not that anyone cared. When is Mick Hennessy going to get this guy a 'world' title shot? Can you imagine allegedly or Barry Hearn stalling a WBC number one's career!
Eastman, at 33, is no spring chicken any more.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 27 Dec 2003, 11:59

How can Eastman get a title shot if the middleweight is ruled by one person who only fights every 10 months

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 27 Dec 2003, 12:06

Exactly.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 27 Dec 2003, 12:18

Get him an interim shot then.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 27 Dec 2003, 12:29

I doubt Eastman with his promotion, will get a shot.

What does he bring to the table?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 27 Dec 2003, 13:04

To be honest, I think its starting to get to the stage that Eastman better think about the #2 ranked guy by the WBC. I mean, he's been so long now fighting guys not in the top ten surely the WBC are going to press an eliminator.

Look what happend to Witter this week, he was the #1 WBO ranked fighter, now slipped to 3.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 27 Dec 2003, 13:10

Off topic.

Has he really split with Warren?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 27 Dec 2003, 13:19

Southpaw Stylist wrote:Off topic.

Has he really split with Warren?

It wouldn't surprise me. Where did you hear this, Southpaw?

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 27 Dec 2003, 14:46

Eastman's career is rapidly becoming a waste of space. As you say 33 years old and plodding along fighting unknowns.

And there are 2 sad things about this:

1 - I doubt Eastman has made that much money from the game, one world title shot and a few Commonwealth and European title defences don't generally set fighters up for life.

2 - Eastman should have made some decent money from the sport, he's a good fighter and has a superbly eccentric personality and demeanour, the Yanks loved him after his losing effort against Joppy despite his lacadasical display.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 28 Dec 2003, 10:58

Although it has been said before, I think this thread is quite relevant to repeat that Bernard Hopkins put the Howard Eastman performance against Joppy into perspective. I believe many British viewers gave Joppy a chance, because he looked like a world beater and a big time player against Eastman (which for parts he did). However, Hopkins outclassed Joppy by a street.

Eastman may become a belt holder, but will never become the champion untill Hopkins retires (cause he aint beating Hopkins for a while still).

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 29 Dec 2003, 11:27

yeah this is a frustrating situation

on one hand u have an in-active champion (as so many r these days) who has his grubby little mits on all the belts and on the other eastman is hardly busting a guy to get a shot by fighting mandatories of his european title.

eastman needs to try and get a shot with one of the other top guys to push his claims a bit more. who knows maybe eastman might be next i mean hopkins hasn't exactly got opponents knocking his door down at the moment so eastman could be in luck

Zhuge · Post by **Zhuge** » 29 Dec 2003, 18:43

Maybe he should pursue a fight against Felix Sturm for the WBO belt. It might be the best option for him at this point.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 30 Dec 2003, 09:04

Eastman would have little trouble beating Strum, but he's not even in the WBOs top ten - he's only number 11 in their latest set of imaginitive "ratings".
You'd be hard pressed to recognise any of their top ten middleweights.
Like most WBO champs, Strum can look forward to a record breaking string of defences against a selection of assorted stumble bums.

Eastman's career is going to end up in the waste lands unless they push hard next year for an early title shot - and yes interim would have to do, if Hopkins continues to look for light Middle weights to defend against.

Howard can make some money with a WBC tag on his fights, then force a fight with Hop on the back of that.
Or move up for a fight with Calzaghe?

Jacko11 · Post by **Jacko11** » 30 Dec 2003, 09:21

I s Eastman defending against Bendall?

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » 30 Dec 2003, 09:40

Jacko,
Purse bids by 14-01-04, and match must take place by 31-03-04 according to board.
Given Eastman's Euro defence at the end of Jan, I can't see it happening.
It's then up to the board.
Strip him ?
Maybe he'll vacate. It would be nice to say he has to vacate, due to a World Title shot.
Wait and see I suppose.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 30 Dec 2003, 15:54

Eastman has no where to go at Middleweight IMO except for the top man - Bernard Hopkins and we all know he is not the first in that queue! I think he would easily beat Sturm but why not beat him and take his WBO belt to raise his stock at the weight, surely it will be just as tough of a fight as against Jorge Sendra and it may present a more meaningful outcome for Howard while keeping him tuned up. Beating his European mandatory (or whatever Sendra is) is one thing but if Eastman was to work his way around the other lesser belt holders (many of which are far from exceptional) he could really make a case to fight Hopkins, of course it's all easier said than done

Jacko11 · Post by **Jacko11** » 30 Dec 2003, 15:58

I seriously cant see him wanting to box Bendall even though he has been orderd to it would be a massive step backwards,surley Howard is just going to get as much money as he can at his age there fore the Bendall fight would bring him what-30 grand...correct me if im wrong but thats what i'd have guessed he would get to defend british and commonwealth titles

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 30 Dec 2003, 15:58

maybe eastman would even be wise to change promoter 8) u know what frank warrens like we'll never c an eastman-calzaghe fight all the time eastman is with another promoter

his big mistake was losing that joppy fight, because of that don king didn't wanna know and left him on the scrapheap instead of arranging a rematch which king probably should have done he let eastman down and washed his hands of him.

boxings a tough game u get an opportunity and don't take it and it can take ya years to get another one thats a fact of life i'm afraid :x