BoxRec

Robert Easter Jr., one of the fastest-rising titleholders in the sport, has an opponent for his next defense.

The Cincinnati native will put his 135-pound belt on the line against Javier Fortuna on January 20 in Brooklyn, New York, Easter announced on social media. The fight will serve as support on Showtime for the welterweight title bout between Errol Spence Jr. and Lamont Peterson.

“They ain’t gonna be able to run for long,” Easter wrote, “but for now we gotta focus on January 20th at the Barclays (Center), someone was brave enough to get this ass whooping!”

Easter (20-0, 14 knockouts) hasn’t competed since he scored a decision victory over Denis Shafikov in June in his second title defense. The 5-foot-11 puncher beat Luis Crus in his first defense after he topped Richard Commey in a thriller to claim the lightweight belt.

Now, the 26-year-old will defend against Fortuna (33-1-1, 23 KOs), who will move up from 130 pounds for his first title shot (Fortuna held the WBA’s secondary title which THE RING doesn’t recognize.)

The 28-year-old Dominican’s lone defeat came to Jason Sosa last year in Beijing, but he’s reeled off four victories since. He’ll need to score the biggest win of his career if he’s going to topple Easter, whom he’ll be conceding five inches in height to.

easter. now ive watched several of his fights and feel like he shouldve done better than he did. speed, power, size, reflexes, etc. lots of natural tools. but he doesnt always put them together in a way that makes the most. last 3 fights he hasnt looked as good as i feel he can be.

I agree with post above. Easter is big, fast, powerfull with solid boxing skills. And little Shafikov gave him very hard fight (who know what result of that match would be outsiddo of Ohio). Anyway i like him and looking forward to this fight

btw good match. haymon fghters are actually i n lots of sold matches despite what the oddly biased forum posters say

jamamb wrote: ↑14 Dec 2017, 15:50 btw good match. haymon fghters are actually i n lots of sold matches despite what the oddly biased forum posters say

Solid matches, once a year.. I think that's why..

not like others dont have stuff like that with there fighters. pbc is the best thing in us boxing right now. more good cards than the others combined.but for some reason ppl act like the good stuff isnt there and only cherry pick the less interesting fights for their selective outrage

jamamb wrote: ↑15 Dec 2017, 23:57 not like others dont have stuff like that with there fighters. pbc is the best thing in us boxing right now. more good cards than the others combined.but for some reason ppl act like the good stuff isnt there and only cherry pick the less interesting fights for their selective outrage

He probably means that PBC fighters are notoriously inactive, which is 100% true. PBC is horrible for the sport.

Javier Fortuna is a pretty good opponent. It won't be the highlight of Easter's resume, but it would be good, and I'm looking forward to it.

Fortuna's always fun to watch. I don't think his style will do him any favors here against Easter. Easter has a significant height advantage, and I don't think the additional weight will do Fortuna any favors.

Fortuna has been a gritty fighter to watch in the past though so it should be interesting regardless.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑16 Dec 2017, 04:02

jamamb wrote: ↑15 Dec 2017, 23:57 not like others dont have stuff like that with there fighters. pbc is the best thing in us boxing right now. more good cards than the others combined.but for some reason ppl act like the good stuff isnt there and only cherry pick the less interesting fights for their selective outrage

He probably means that PBC fighters are notoriously inactive, which is 100% true. PBC is horrible for the sport.

Which major promotion doesn’t leave significant parts of their roster inactive?

BAD INTENTIONS wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 23:34

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑16 Dec 2017, 04:02

jamamb wrote: ↑15 Dec 2017, 23:57 not like others dont have stuff like that with there fighters. pbc is the best thing in us boxing right now. more good cards than the others combined.but for some reason ppl act like the good stuff isnt there and only cherry pick the less interesting fights for their selective outrage

He probably means that PBC fighters are notoriously inactive, which is 100% true. PBC is horrible for the sport.

Which major promotion doesn’t leave significant parts of their roster inactive?

None. Only PBC does.

Easter is the great black hope of the lightweight division

Dwayne Rudenkoslav wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 13:06 Easter is the great black hope of the lightweight division

What's with you and that word?

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 09:23

BAD INTENTIONS wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 23:34

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑16 Dec 2017, 04:02

He probably means that PBC fighters are notoriously inactive, which is 100% true. PBC is horrible for the sport.

Which major promotion doesn’t leave significant parts of their roster inactive?

None. Only PBC does.

Are you joking?

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 18:40

Dwayne Rudenkoslav wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 13:06 Easter is the great black hope of the lightweight division

What's with you and that word?

I feel it's relevant to boxing now. in a lot of divisions. And because how black people always follow the sport by race,

Look for example here. After Lomachenko schooled Rigo, the blackboys are searching for their next hope
https://www.BS.com/forums/show ... p?t=767364

BAD INTENTIONS wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 21:06

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 09:23

BAD INTENTIONS wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 23:34
Which major promotion doesn’t leave significant parts of their roster inactive?

None. Only PBC does.

Are you joking?

No, but I can tell you are a joke.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑20 Dec 2017, 00:13

BAD INTENTIONS wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 21:06

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Dec 2017, 09:23

None. Only PBC does.

Are you joking?

No, but I can tell you are a joke.

Got hem!

I hope Fortuna upsets him.

Easter seems to get a lot of hype and I really haven't seen him do anything to warrant it.

He looked capable but hardly special in decisioning Commey and Shafikov.

Fortuna may have a questionable chin, but Easter hasn't displayed the type of power that may expose that weakness.

If Fortuna fights to his potential, he's a very live dog over Easter.

Is Garcia avoiding Easter? I very much doubt it. He would run Easter out of the ring.

I think this fight is quite fine, and I'm looking forward to it. Although, Fortuna is no better than Easter's previous conquests.

One bit of irrelevant trivia is Fortuna is on a 4-fight win streak that features some 22-0, 17-0, and 17-0 opponents. Quite a hypnotic run for anyone who puts too much stock in undefeated records.

i'm a fortuna fan... i really like the guy. but easter's gonna take care of business.

Lackeos wrote: ↑08 Jan 2018, 00:13 I think this fight is quite fine, and I'm looking forward to it. Although, Fortuna is no better than Easter's previous conquests.

One bit of irrelevant trivia is Fortuna is on a 4-fight win streak that features some 22-0, 17-0, and 17-0 opponents. Quite a hypnotic run for anyone who puts too much stock in undefeated records.

I wouldn't call Easter's wins conquests. Shafikov/Easter was razor close and so was Easter/Commey. Fortuna not all that good, but I think he's a live dog here. Probably the hardest puncher Easter has faced.

Fortuna Blames Weather for Missing Weight for Easter Fight

Javier Fortuna is the smaller man, but you wouldn’t have known it when he and Robert Easter Jr. weighed in Friday afternoon at the Brooklyn Marriott for their lightweight title fight.

The 5-feet-11 Easter, who’s unusually tall for the lightweight division, made weight comfortably for their 135-pound title fight Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Easter (20-0, 14 KOs), of Toledo, Ohio, got on the New York State Athletic Commission’s scale at 134½ pounds.

The 5-feet-6 Fortuna was nearly two pounds overweight, however, and was given the customary two hours to return to the scale. If Fortuna, who weighed a career-high 136.8 pounds on his first attempt, cannot get down to at least 135 pounds, Easter’s title would not be at stake in a fight Showtime will televise as the opener of a doubleheader (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

Fortuna (33-1-1, 23 KOs), a former title-holder at 126 pounds and 130 pounds, had not weighed in at more than 135 pounds for any of his first 35 professional fights. He weighed 135 pounds for his pro debut in March 2009, but never more than that.

When asked by Farhood why he had trouble making weight for this 12-round title fight, Fortuna alluded to the cold weather in New York.

“It’s a little difficult because I’m not used to the weather,” Fortuna said through a translator. “I’m not used to this climate. But I have two hours to rectify it.”

He had the 2 hours and he failed.
136.4
Given the 2 hours in the steam room, only losing 4 ounces is a little less than I would have expected
How badly does he want this?
I thought Fortuna was on a roll...

KiwiRider wrote: ↑19 Jan 2018, 21:34 He had the 2 hours and he failed.
136.4
Given the 2 hours in the steam room, only losing 4 ounces is a little less than I would have expected
How badly does he want this?
I thought Fortuna was on a roll...

AND he's moving UP in weight! How can you miss it and blame thr weather!

i did not see Fortuna in action, but if he is good, then he definitely have a chance, considering big problems Shafikov caused to Easter Anyway, good match, i like the whole card, including undercards