BoxRec

Anyone know where I can find a good interview/profile that details his early life and his early career, I'm hopefully interviewing him soon, and want to get as much background as possible.....

Anything on the net I could look at, not been anything decent thus far?

http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/0101/three.htm

has some info on his past etc in an old interview maybe something there for you.

Also he loves Birds and used to go to the same pet shop as me in lewisham opposite ladywell leisure centre...mention his love of birds and he will have a good old waffle to you he loves them.

Hope this helps

HH

Thanks a lot HH. Am i going mad, or was Eastman briefly signed with Don King, or am I thinking of Danny Williams?

He signed with him briefly and plans was for him to beat Joppy then King seemed to have big things lined up for him....I think i just saw something on it so bear with me and i will dig something up for you.

Yeah, that's what I remember, I wonder who dropped who after the Joppy loss?

I could be wrong but i think King signed him for one fight...dont quote that though cos it could be wrong then when he lost to Joppy that was it.

Anyway the below article should help.

Undefeated Howard Eastman has been Britain’s superstar-in-waiting for several years. A skilful boxer and powerful puncher, the Battersea Bomber looks to be the heir to the great British middleweights of the 1990s. But, despite annexing the British, European and Commonwealth titles en route to becoming the WBA No.1, Eastman has yet to receive anything like the plaudits afforded icons Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Michael Watson and Steve Collins a decade ago.

However, his advisor Ambrose Mendy believes yesterday’s signing with Don King will change all that, and quickly. “Howard Eastman should be a star right now,” said Mendy. “He should be the Benn or Eubank of his generation, but no-one knows him. We looked for the best deal and the best person to help us change all that and obviously we feel confident that Don King is that person to give us the opportunity.”


In his last fight, Eastman dominated former WBC title challenger Robert McCraken and sent the talented Birmingham box-fighter into retirement. The bout, held at the Wembley Conference Centre earlier this summer, was called the best “trade fight” in years. Yet that is exactly Eastman’s problem – his talents are well known and admired within the boxing industry (and not just by those in Britain), but he remains unknown to the wider public.

“It is a situation Eastman is unwilling to tolerate any longer,” Mendy explained. “That’s what Howard feels. Howard undoubtedly feels that the year he has been No.1 has effectively been a waste. He feels that his career has stagnated to the point of standstill and that’s why we took the decision we took.”

Eastman will be thrust upon the world stage at the Mandalay Bay on the November 17 when he faces the either William Joppy and Keith Holmes on the eagerly anticipated Lennox Lewis vs Hasim Rahman world heavyweight title rematch.

“It is a tremendous opportunity for Howard,” Mendy beamed. “Absolutely – whoever sees Lewis vs Rahman will also see Howard Eastman destroy a former middleweight champion of the world (both Joppy and Holmes are two-time world middleweight champions). A great opportunity which only Don King could have delivered.”

Mendy said that, prior to meeting with King on Monday, there had been no discussions between Team Eastman and the American extrovert whatsoever. “We considered all sorts of people and offers, allegedly, Lou DiBella, the Duvas, Main Events, of course Panos (Eliades, whose contract with Eastman has just expired), but we always intended to speak with Don last. He is the man who consistently delivers opportunities for fighters. We knew Don rates Howard very highly because he wanted to sign him a year ago so we met on Monday and things progressed very quickly. This has all happened this week.”

The Battersea fighter is often compared with Britain’s last great middleweight, Nigel Benn. Mendy, of course, also served as the “Dark Destroyer’s” advisor before their split in the early 1990s. Mendy believes that, while Eastman is the heir to the Illford icon’s legacy as a world-beating British middleweight, they are vastly different people and fighters.

“I don’t think I’ll ever meet another fighter who will affect me as personally as Nigel Benn did. I could wait forever and never meet another one like him. But Howard is different, although probably more thoughtful. And Howard is bigger than Nigel and will move higher up in weight than Nigel did (Benn won titles in the 160lbs and 168lbs division before retiring five years ago).

“We believe Howard can beat anyone from 160lbs to 175lbs. Look at the size of him – Jesus! He has the same body as a Thomas Hearns or a better comparison is Bob Foster. He just has everything. He has skills, he has the body, he has charisma and most importantly he has bollocks.”

Mendy added that Eastman is well prepared for fame. “I don’t believe anything will affect him. Nothing fazes him. Fame won’t affect him, I don’t believe money will affect him and I don’t see him suddenly eyeing some twitching orifice that’s walking down the road. John Fashanu (the former soccer) is his financial advisor and he’ll ensure that by the time Howard retires he will be the landlord of landlords.”

Yesterday Mendy confirmed that Eastman will, in fact, defend his European title on October 20 in Padua, Italy, against undefeated Cristian Sanavia, who will enjoy hometown advantage. It seems risky to gamble a semi-final spot on one of the biggest cards of the year by taking a difficult assignment on foreign soil. Yet Mendy insists they are making the right move.

“No, we’re confident this is the proper way to keep Howard ticking over,” Mendy explained. “All I can do is research, and my research goes to looking at every fight he has had. I’ve looked at his last six opponent’s last three fights and based on all of that I cannot see anything suggest he is capable of pulling off a surprise. It will be a way of focusing Howard on the November 17 fight.

“There is no-one in Europe, much less Britain, who can give Howard a meaningful fight. Sanavia is going to keep Howard in shape and that’s the best he can expect to do.”

So, an Italian job aside, Eastman will finally have his time in the spotlight in two month’s time. But Team Eastman realise this is only the beginning; that they have been given nothing more than an opportunity to prove themselves.

“Well, this is boxing and two and two doesn’t always make four,” said Mendy. “It can make three, two, or in some cases in boxing it actually makes zero. It was a team decision to sign with Don King and we believe 100% that is was the right one, but nothing is for certain in boxing as in life. However, with Howard Eastman and Don King, we are hoping two and two makes five.”

Had Eastman beaten Joppy, I think he would be a big star by now, he could probably have been sizing up against B-Hop some time this year.

As it is, he's having to face Sendra as a tune-up.

After the Joppy fight Eastman was desperate to break the King connection and i believe he may have had to sit and wait out the contract for a few months. A sceptic at the time of the signing suggested that King was using Eastman to "Tie him up and keep him out of the way" as King had plans for the Middleweight division involving Trinidad etc But like i say that was what an American told me a while ago and it sounds a little far fetched. Eastman needs that big fight soon or he may miss the boat.

James, don't know if it has been mentioned but both Eastman AND Williams signed for King. I think they signed at the same time.

If memory is correct, Eastman had 1 fight as a DK fighter, Williams had a few more (Robinson, Sprott and Long).