BoxRec

Am i the only one who hasn't been impressed with Howard recently?

He seems ready to just go through the motions, the jab doesn't seem to have anything on it, the last fight against Elliott was a glorified sparring session, and his defense consisted of bending at the waist to avoid getting hit, a thing i tell any new kid to the gym not to do. In America i could see him losing points for doing that.

He also seems to have lost a bit of nastyness that all top fighters need, if he does fight Taylor he will need to start in a better frame of mind than in his last 3 or 4 fights. Against Dann he seemed to think all he had to do was turn up to win, wasn't until Dann floored him that he realised he was in a fight. The knockdown wasn't called in that fight, or in the Elliott bout when i thought he touched down.

I know it sounds as if i'm not a fan, I am , I just want him to perform better

I agree, he looks very lacklustre, he seems to think it's ok to tick over whilst waiting for his big shot. I think he could have stopped Elliot, if he had been putting more on his shots and hurting him on the way in, he would have stopped him in the last 3rd of the fight, Elliot was knackered and looked out of condition judging by his breathing.

I also noted that bending from the waist, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it illegal to dip below the level of the waist? In America he would likely get penalised for that, especially if there was a sympathetic referee.

Eastman's jab was very very limp in that fight, no snap on it at all, he won't get away with that against Jermain Taylor, who has a solid jab and good solid skills and who has a higher workrate than Howard too.

Howard's workrate seems the single biggest obstacle to his ever winning a major belt, you have to 'win' those fights, you can't just turn up and hope you get the decision.

I think Howard is good enough to beat Taylor, he is slippery, and can punch, and that will definetly give Taylor problems, because he's faced a lot of washed up fighters, and former light middleweights. Despite his big rep, Taylor is a 'looks good on paper' fighter, who could well yet come a cropper.

The taylor fight will be good for eastman, provided he wins it, it will remind him of how hard you have to work to win a title.

Eastman looked just the same to me against Elliot. He struggled more than usual because for once his strength made no impression his opponent.

I have Taylor beating Eastman. He's younger, faster, looser and bangs harder. If Eastman were any other nationality than British I don't believe a single poster on here would actually pick him to win this one.

It would be a superb match to look forward to though.

I think the fight will be made, mainly because Taylor's people want to get first crack at Hopkins, who sooner or later is going to run out of motivation, he can only stay hungry so long when he's making 10 million against DLH, and probably 5 million against Tito, 3 million against Winky, or a couple against Glen Johnson. The guy is going to make some serious gravy provided he keeps winning, will Taylor be enough of a challenge for him in his own mind?

There is a chance though He will not face the winner of the fight, and fight on without the belt, he doesn't need any belts now, he's the man! WBC will surely be loathe to lose those fat sanctioning fees however.

I think Eastman can beat Taylor, but he has to push himself in a way he just hasn't done recently, and as I said, Taylor still has a lot to prove.

If Eastman wants a tough 12 rounder for preparation he need look no further than David Lopez. This guy will actually hit him not just rough him up.

Regarding Taylor though, if you were in his camp would you look at Eastman and think wow this guy is dangerous? Not really. I'll think they'll be hugely confident.

Kilburn wrote:If Eastman wants a tough 12 rounder for preparation he need look no further than David Lopez. This guy will actually hit him not just rough him up.

Regarding Taylor though, if you were in his camp would you look at Eastman and think wow this guy is dangerous? Not really. I'll think they'll be hugely confident.

I agree Taylors people wouldn't be worried if they saw a video of Eastmans last couple of fights, on current form i would lean towards Taylor, but i know that Eastman has the ability to win, having it and using it are two different things though.

David Lopez would be a excellent fight for Eastman, but can anyone tell me the last time a world class middle from overseas was here?

Probably, Keith Holmes.

Eastman is vastly overrated if you ask me. He is way too one paced to beat the top guys as Joppy showed he can be outworked pretty easily.

I think he's past his best and wouldnt give him much chance against Taylor. Hopkins would wipe the floor with him.

I really don't rate Eastman above European level.

He's laboured against a slew of Eastern European plodders, got hurt by Scott Dann, and squandered a golden opportunity against William Joppy, an eminently beatable fighter.

How does this make him champion-in-waiting?

Hopkins outsmarts him in every department.

If ever a fight was poised to be 120-108 on all three cards...

taylor is scheduled to fight on 4th dec and rumour has it that Joppy ois the favoured opponent by the tv companies.

other names being bandied are Eastman and Sam Soliman.

if eastman doesnt get this fight I dont think he will get another crack.

I see Howard Eastman as a casualty of the dwindling interest in British Boxing by the general public and the newspapers particularly.

Howard was a real talent, and could have been truly world class. I think he could have mixed with Benn, Watson, Eubank and Graham. He may not have beaten all of them or any of them but he would have been very competetive.

It is such a shame that Eastman is around when British Boxing is suffering from a lack of truly global class promoters. I mean, someone like Mickey Duff would have had Howard in with Hopkins years ago.

I think the best of Howard has been and gone, and I wouldnt favour him to beat Taylor or even Trinidad for that matter. As for Hopkins, forget it, the guy is the second coming in my opinion.

Mick Hennessy is completely devoid of international clout as a promoter. He has contributed to Howards poor progress, although Howard is not entirely blameless as he should have made more of his fight with Joppy.

A real shame as Howard oozed class even back in the SW Divs fighting guys like Peter Wilson of Heathbrook.

Your right in saying Mick Hennessy doesn't have international clout, but maybe that will come in time. It isn't easy to make contacts straight away in this sport.

Mick Hennessy will struggle to win the purse bids for Taylor v Eastman, Taylor has tv backing from the US, so that would mean Eastman going to the US to box him.

topper123 wrote:Your right in saying Mick Hennessy doesn't have international clout, but maybe that will come in time. It isn't easy to make contacts straight away in this sport.

Mick Hennessy will struggle to win the purse bids for Taylor v Eastman, Taylor has tv backing from the US, so that would mean Eastman going to the US to box him.

Remember Hennessy worked for Panos Eliades for a long time.

He should be able to deliver by now.

Fair point Knockout_Artist, forgot about that.

knockout artist wrote:
Remember Hennessy worked for Panos Eliades for a long time.

he still does doesnt he?????

So what do you rekon has gone wrong with Eastman? Wrong trainer, promoter?

If he was with Warren, he'd be hidden away on Sky doing defenses of the WBU title

topper123 wrote:So what do you rekon has gone wrong with Eastman? Wrong trainer, promoter?

If he was with Warren, he'd be hidden away on Sky doing defenses of the WBU title

Wrong promoter. He should have stayed with Don King.

knockout artist wrote:I see Howard Eastman as a casualty of the dwindling interest in British Boxing by the general public and the newspapers particularly.

Howard was a real talent, and could have been truly world class. I think he could have mixed with Benn, Watson, Eubank and Graham. He may not have beaten all of them or any of them but he would have been very competetive.

It is such a shame that Eastman is around when British Boxing is suffering from a lack of truly global class promoters. I mean, someone like Mickey Duff would have had Howard in with Hopkins years ago.

I think the best of Howard has been and gone, and I wouldnt favour him to beat Taylor or even Trinidad for that matter. As for Hopkins, forget it, the guy is the second coming in my opinion.

Mick Hennessy is completely devoid of international clout as a promoter. He has contributed to Howards poor progress, although Howard is not entirely blameless as he should have made more of his fight with Joppy.

A real shame as Howard oozed class even back in the SW Divs fighting guys like Peter Wilson of Heathbrook.

Knockout - you know Peter wilson ?.

How is he doing these days - Mark - Louis - Albert ?.

Old school friends - still living in Wandsworth ?.

DG. wrote:

knockout artist wrote:I see Howard Eastman as a casualty of the dwindling interest in British Boxing by the general public and the newspapers particularly.

Howard was a real talent, and could have been truly world class. I think he could have mixed with Benn, Watson, Eubank and Graham. He may not have beaten all of them or any of them but he would have been very competetive.

It is such a shame that Eastman is around when British Boxing is suffering from a lack of truly global class promoters. I mean, someone like Mickey Duff would have had Howard in with Hopkins years ago.

I think the best of Howard has been and gone, and I wouldnt favour him to beat Taylor or even Trinidad for that matter. As for Hopkins, forget it, the guy is the second coming in my opinion.

Mick Hennessy is completely devoid of international clout as a promoter. He has contributed to Howards poor progress, although Howard is not entirely blameless as he should have made more of his fight with Joppy.

A real shame as Howard oozed class even back in the SW Divs fighting guys like Peter Wilson of Heathbrook.

Knockout - you know Peter wilson ?.

How is he doing these days - Mark - Louis - Albert ?.

Old school friends - still living in Wandsworth ?.

I used to spar with Peter now and then although he was a couple of divisions above me at the time.

I used to knock about a bit with him and Anthony Campbell in the late 80's early 90's, we used to go up to Kingston and do a lot of Sparring with Freddie Barr's boys.

Whats your connection?

knockout artist wrote:

DG. wrote:

knockout artist wrote:I see Howard Eastman as a casualty of the dwindling interest in British Boxing by the general public and the newspapers particularly.

Howard was a real talent, and could have been truly world class. I think he could have mixed with Benn, Watson, Eubank and Graham. He may not have beaten all of them or any of them but he would have been very competetive.

It is such a shame that Eastman is around when British Boxing is suffering from a lack of truly global class promoters. I mean, someone like Mickey Duff would have had Howard in with Hopkins years ago.

I think the best of Howard has been and gone, and I wouldnt favour him to beat Taylor or even Trinidad for that matter. As for Hopkins, forget it, the guy is the second coming in my opinion.

Mick Hennessy is completely devoid of international clout as a promoter. He has contributed to Howards poor progress, although Howard is not entirely blameless as he should have made more of his fight with Joppy.

A real shame as Howard oozed class even back in the SW Divs fighting guys like Peter Wilson of Heathbrook.

Knockout - you know Peter wilson ?.

How is he doing these days - Mark - Louis - Albert ?.

Old school friends - still living in Wandsworth ?.

I used to spar with Peter now and then although he was a couple of divisions above me at the time.

I used to knock about a bit with him and Anthony Campbell in the late 80's early 90's, we used to go up to Kingston and do a lot of Sparring with Freddie Barr's boys.

Whats your connection?

I see !

I used to do a bit at heathbrook in my younger days !.

Went to School with Mark and Peter - same year - Spencer Park Wandsworth - they were both good !

Not seen them about for a good few years !.

You ever catch up with them - tell them Gibbs said Hi !.

Hennessey should fly to NY and get himself into the HBO offices quick.

Howard's on the short list, and he'd be a better fight for them than Joppy, who took a terrible beating last time out.

Taylor looks good, but he's had it all his own way so far, and finding himself in with a big, world class middle he might be in for a surprise.
Can't see him knocking over Eastman, and the Battersea Bomber will have no trouble punching right back.

I'd love to see Eastman in with Hopkins - it's well overdue and B-Hop hasn't got many other world class middles to defend against.
Sure Hopkins will be a BIG favorite, but Howard will more than hold his own I reckon.

Hold his own but still lose 12 rounds out of 12.

It wouldn't hurt to be more active either.

Some of the problem might be the quality of sparring, Eastman must be the boss in the gym, if your not being pressured or have to think to much in some of your sparring its gonna show when you step into the ring.

J wrote:taylor is scheduled to fight on 4th dec and rumour has it that Joppy ois the favoured opponent by the tv companies.

other names being bandied are Eastman and Sam Soliman.

if eastman doesnt get this fight I dont think he will get another crack.

Where did you hear this? Soliman is already fighting an eliminator though isn't he? sorry already fought one, and is highly ranked by IBF, hmm, the plot thickens.

I think that Taylor's camp would recognise that Eastman is dangerous, considering how few shots he took in his last two. He's slippery, and he can hit, and those two things aren't what I would want for taylor, it depends on whether or not they want the WBC route or not, they could go down the IBF route instead, and forget the WBC eliminator.

If Eastman doesn't get this fight, then he could end up fighting for the vacant title, as Hopkins seems unlikely to want to face him when he can face Sturm for less riss, Winky for more money, or Johnson for a crack at Tarver and fistic immortality.