Robert Easter vs. Rances Barthelemy - April 27, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

A battle of former world champions is being lined up for April 27, with Rances Barthelemy and Robert Easter Jr. colliding for the "regular" version of the lightweight title of the World Boxing Association (WBA).

The Cuban won belts in two divisions and sought to become the first of his land to win titles in three different weight categories, but for now he made a decision to temporarily move down to 135.

For this new stage in his career, Barthelemy continues in his corner with the legendary Joel Casamayor, but has added a very special person.

His brother Yan Barthelemy has become part of his team and Rancés could not be more happy with that change.

"I had to have Yan with me," Barthelemy said. "My brother is very intelligent, he sees things from the outside and he helps me a lot. I have two Olympic champions on my side. I feel very happy."

[Cent0089]

I like this fight a lot. Top fighters who suffered losses trying to get back credibility and title shot by fighting each other. 50:50 fight, i would favor Easter in this maybe

[Perseus]

I thought Easter would move up to 140 after losing his belt. Getting down to 135 has to be tough for him.
Can't be easy for Rances either, hasn't made 135 for a while.
Both are very tall for lightweight.

[Lackeos]

Both of these guys, when they were undefeated, peaked at around a top 15 p4p ranking (I think right now, few people would place them in the top 50 p4p). Both pretty tall, rangey, and skinny for their divisions. I think this is an awesome crossroads fight, and will land one fighter back in the world class of his division.

[Ruthless-RKO]

If they can both make weight okay, then why not. But if they have to kill themselves then no. They should just fight at 140. No one really has the advantage anyway.

[SenorPipino]

I like this fight too.

Tough one to call. Put a gun to my head and I'll go with Barthelemy.

Figures to be a technical matchup and Cubans usually excel in those kinds of fights.

[KiwiRider]

Good fight.
Ive never been that sold on Easter Jr. He uses his height and reach well to batter littler guys, so 135 is best for him if he can still make it.
Garcia showed him what life was like at the A level and he came up a long way short.
Barthelemy is one of the best B level contenders. Easter is in a must win situation if he wants another title at 135, because I don't.like his chances at 140.
I'm picking Bathelemy by a fairly wide decision. But still an entertaining fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Former lightweight world champion Robert Easter Jr. and former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy will meet for the vacant WBA Lightweight Title on Saturday, April 27 live on SHOWTIME from The Chelsea inside of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will also feature former super lightweight champion Viktor Postol taking on France's Mohamed Mimoune in a WBC super lightweight title eliminator, while rising heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba looks to remain unbeaten against once-beaten German Michael Wallisch in a 10-round heavyweight attraction.

Easter vs. Barthelemy pits two highly skilled and explosive former 135-pound champions against each other as they look to grab a title and vault themselves back into the top echelon of the lightweight division.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Official

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, go on sale Monday, April 1st, and can be purchased at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight week.

A true 50-50 fight.

[SenorPipino]

Fight week.

A true 50-50 fight.

I agree with you, although I slightly lean toward Barthelemy. I like Cubans in technical fights.

So do you have any explanation why oddsmakers have installed Easter as a staggering 8-1 favorite?

A completely out of whack line.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I agree with you, although I slightly lean toward Barthelemy. I like Cubans in technical fights.

So do you have any explanation why oddsmakers have installed Easter as a staggering 8-1 favorite?

A completely out of whack line.

It’s obvious they’d have him favourite.

This fight is at lightweight right?

[SenorPipino]

It’s obvious they’d have him favourite.

This fight is at lightweight right?

It is at lightweight. As a matter of fact it's for the WBA lightweight title. What happened to Lomachenko? Or is this one of those regular championships that the WBA loves?

But 8-1 odds is pretty much saying that Easter has little chance to lose.

Joshua was 8-1 over Miller also.

When Easter wins, he barely squeaks by. A big favorite over Barthelemy? I don't see it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It is at lightweight. As a matter of fact it's for the WBA lightweight title. What happened to Lomachenko? Or is this one of those regular championships that the WBA loves?

But 8-1 odds is pretty much saying that Easter has little chance to lose.

Joshua was 8-1 over Miller also.

When Easter wins, he barely squeaks by. A big favorite over Barthelemy? I don't see it.

The OP states Regular belt.

[SenorPipino]

The OP states Regular belt.

Must be vacant. Who held it last?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Must be vacant. Who held it last?

It’s vacant.

As far as I can remember, past 5 years, I think the WBA have only had 1 champion at Lightweight.

And NOW they wanna ruin it. Why don’t they just make this a mandatory fight.

[KiwiRider]

I just can't believe those odds heavily favouring Easter.
This is a close fight.

[SenorPipino]

I just can't believe those odds heavily favouring Easter.
This is a close fight.

X100

[Ruthless-RKO]

Robert Easter Jr. somehow continued to make the lightweight limit pretty easily Friday.

The 5-feet-11 Easter, unusually tall for the 135-pound division, stepped on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s scale at 133½ pounds for his fight Saturday night against Rances Barthelemy. The Cuban-born Barthelemy officially weighed 135 pounds.

Ukraine’s Postol (30-2, 12 KOs), a former WBC 140-pound champion, weighed in at 139¼ pounds. France’s Mimoune (21-2, 2 KOs) came in at 138½ pounds.

[JxhDel.]

Really balanced but i'll go with Bunny.

[oogiebe]

Really balanced but i'll go with Bunny.

I'll "hop" on board with that pick.

[SenorPipino]

I'll stay with my original pick of the Cuban, despite his somehow being an overwhelming betting underdog.

Technical boxing matches often favor the well schooled Cuban fighters.

It will be a close one (as many Easter fights often are) but I see Barthelemy squeezing out a decision here.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The show will start at 10:00 pm ET and airs on Showtime.

Easter is looking to come back from his first career defeat against Mikey Garcia in July 2018, while Barthelemy is on the comeback trail himself, following a loss to Kiryl Relikh in March 2018.

The co-feature will see Viktor Postol face Mohamed Mimoune in a WBC 140-pound eliminator, and powerful heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba opens the show against Michael Wallisch.

Here’s the running order for the broadcast:

10 Round Heavyweight Bout
Efe Ajagba (9-0, 8 KOs) vs. Michael Wallisch (19-1, 12 KOs), heavyweights, 10 rounds

12 Round Super Lightweight bout
Viktor Postol (30-2, 12 KOs) vs. Mohamed Mimoune (21-2, 2 KOs)

Vacant WBA (Regular) and IBO World Lightweight Championships
Robert Easter Jr (21-1, 14 KOs) vs. Rances Barthelemy (27-1, 14 KOs)

[Ruthless-RKO]

Time for this..

[boxing_rocks]

The suckers got what they deserved - a draw, and couldn't even get a vacant title.