BoxRec

"The World Boxing Council hereby informs that No. 1 ranked middleweight contender Howard Eastman has been confirmed as the mandatory challenger for world champion Bernard Hopkins. "During the World Boxing Council annual convention in Phuket, Thailand, a purse offer was held for a final elimination bout between Eastman and Jermain Taylor. "Taylor has since informed the WBC, however, that he will not face Eastman. Consequently, a vote was taken by the WBC Board of Governors which resulted in a unanimous ratification of Eastman as mandatory challenger."
fightnews.com

Brilliant news!

Lets just hope Eastman gets his finger out if this comes off. This must be last chance saloon for Howard on the big stage. Another perfomance like the one against Joppy then what would be the point in turning up other than to get his ass kicked.

For Eastman to have any chance in this one he has to be mentally focused and in condition to fight for the whole 3 min rounds with no stupid prancing around.

Just got the Trinidad-Mayorga DVD from Red Dragon. Top stuff. On the show is Bernard talking about how he wants to make his 20th defence against someone special.

I just can't see Eastman fitting that category, but would love it if I was wrong.

Good news is that Hopkins also said he wanted another five or six fights. That means he has to fight three times a year. I can see him taking a name on for his 20th then accommodating Howard.

It just gets weirder and weider. I hate to say anything controversial but I do wonder if Eastman's letter to the WBC saying he is looking for a new promoter has anything to do with this announcement (Hellephant provided the link on another thread).

I still think the Joppy vs Taylor fight will be an eliminator and don't rule out a high ranking for Sarnavia who will probably move back down to the weight he is more comfortable wih. Sarnavia took the first fight with Beyer on a "no lose situation" very much as McCullough took the Hamed fight (i.e. positioning in another weight would not be affective). I still think Eastman will have to face an eliminator before his title fight (thats the rules) and I cannot fathom who that person will be.

My concern is that Joppy is unranked, but that is due to a retirement. He will get a WBC rankings before he steps into the ring vs Taylor.

who cares? Hopkins will fight both Felixes and then he will retire. He gives a fornicate on Eastman.

What a surprise, Bubi weighs in to slate EAstman.

Felix Sturm's best 'win' is against a bloated and out of shape blown up Jr Welterweight, what's he done apart from that?

bubi get a grip mate, bloke has been number one contender for nearly two years, dont you think its a bit unjust? Its exaclty the same reason you are going ape shit about Wililams and your fighters arent even top five ranked Krasniq / Sam.

and if you dont care dont post mate, it only serves to antagonise.

mcdonell i wish you'd f*** off when i have somink to say people will think we are the same person

Kohl already got a concrete fight offer for January/February. the yanks like Felix so he will fight. I do not dislike Eastman. thats just the way it is.

J wrote:bubi get a grip mate, bloke has been number one contender for nearly two years, dont you think its a bit unjust? Its exaclty the same reason you are going ape shit about Wililams and your fighters arent even top five ranked Krasniq / Sam.

and if you dont care dont post mate, it only serves to antagonise.

Williams is #7 in the WBC, Luan #11. Luan is #7 in the WBO. who now deserves more a titleshot? Williams has 1 win over an outwashed big name who was overranked. Luan has been working very hard for the last two years. let´s see.

anyway i´m no fan of Sam. i only brought him in the discussion because of the KO over Williams.

you are only confirming my point mate.

you harp on about kraniq then say who cares when its eastman.

double standards ? I dont mind I understand you are shouting for your charge, Im just saying it smacks of hypocrisy.

J wrote:you are only confirming my point mate.

you harp on about kraniq then say who cares when its eastman.

double standards ? I dont mind I understand you are shouting for your charge, Im just saying it smacks of hypocrisy.

I never said that Eastman doesn´t deserve the fight but he will never get it. why hasn´t he got it in the last 2 years? Hopkins will make two fights and then retire.

GOOD POINT.

BubiScholz wrote:

J wrote:you are only confirming my point mate.

you harp on about kraniq then say who cares when its eastman.

double standards ? I dont mind I understand you are shouting for your charge, Im just saying it smacks of hypocrisy.

I never said that Eastman doesn´t deserve the fight but he will never get it. why hasn´t he got it in the last 2 years? Hopkins will make two fights and then retire.

Did you actually read my post, Bubi? Bernard is still in top shape and, importantly, money is very important to him. I think he takes more than two fights.

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

BubiScholz wrote:

J wrote:you are only confirming my point mate.

you harp on about kraniq then say who cares when its eastman.

double standards ? I dont mind I understand you are shouting for your charge, Im just saying it smacks of hypocrisy.

I never said that Eastman doesn´t deserve the fight but he will never get it. why hasn´t he got it in the last 2 years? Hopkins will make two fights and then retire.

Did you actually read my post, Bubi? Bernard is still in top shape and, importantly, money is very important to him. I think he takes more than two fights.

i read an interview somewhere that he will make 2 fights and retire. we´ll see. of course he is in such a good physical shape to make more fights. no doubt.

Bernard Hopkins will never fight Howard Eastman.

He'll dump the fornicating belt before that happens...

WHY would he forfit millions in PPV money to fight Howard "Who?" Eastman (in the eyes of the yank public) when he could fight Trinidad for example?

Won't happen. Mandatory or not.

Loftgroov wrote:Bernard Hopkins will never fight Howard Eastman.

He'll dump the fornicating belt before that happens...

WHY would he forfit millions in PPV money to fight Howard "Who?" Eastman (in the eyes of the yank public) when he could fight Trinidad for example?

Won't happen. Mandatory or not.

Hey Loftgroov, are you british?

Loftgroov wrote:Bernard Hopkins will never fight Howard Eastman.

He'll dump the fornicating belt before that happens...

WHY would he forfit millions in PPV money to fight Howard "Who?" Eastman (in the eyes of the yank public) when he could fight Trinidad for example?

Won't happen. Mandatory or not.

My view is that he will take the big fights, eg Trinidad, and if he comes out of them successfully, he will be prepared to fight the likes of Eastman AS WELL as he thinks he will be a soft touch.

Rightly or wrongly Hopkins will I assume go for the big money matches such as Tito and maybe the winner of Wright Vs Moseley.

If he comes through them ok and does fight on Eastman should (I hope) get his shot. This of course means Eastman neads to keep active and sharp. Like others have said if Eastman does fight Hopkins he will have to be 100% and ready to fight 3 minutes of every round without any of his silly clowing.

I Brought the topic up on a general boxing forum elsewhere and a boxing journalist (American) said that this is quite a simple decision for the WBC to take. Basically, because Taylor effectively pulled out of the eliminator Eastman is nowthe mandatory.

That does make alot of sense.

I think that it is touch and go whether Hopkins fights Eastman and my gut feeling is he won't BUT Hopkins is always one who enjoys a mandatory defence and/or a money spinning supposed "Soft Touch", he accomodated Daniels, Hakkar and Joppy all under one or another of those pretenses so why not Howard?

Eastman has earned his chance. It's not his fault Jermain Taylor has pulled out of a WBC ordered eliminator. If Bernard is as proud as he likes to make out he should accomadate Howard.

Like most of the sceptics out there say, it's looking unlikely.

Eastman has deserved a title-fight. no way.

but the yanks love Felix Sturm. Kohl is abroad to negotiate. rumours say that even my special friend de la Tortilla-Kournikova wants a rematch....

WHY BUBI? blokes been numero uno challenger for over a year.