BoxRec

I put on a boxing tape at randome today and it happend to be half way through the Howard Eastman vs Jerry Elliot fight. I was watching Eastman trying to punch and move against a peroson who wen all is said and done is a very limeted fighter who although powerfull didn't bring that much to the table then it hit me... Eastman will not beat Hopkins. If he could get bullied onto the ropes once or twice by Elliott then Imagen what would happen if it was the exacutioner.

Furthermore since Joppy eastman has had a very limmeted quality of fighter and only fighting twice in the last year.

I always thought that eastman was a cut above europian level but then he has not fought who I would call a top 10 fighter since Joppy.

Dose anyone think he can win or am I right to be so pessamistic?

Elliot was huge and that fight was pretty much at lightheavy. Hopkins isn't invincible. He beat Oscar. Oscar who was totally ineffective at middle. He looked really bad against Allen. I can hardly remember a worse fight, Allen did nothing. He just hung around.

Eastman can do this if he goes for it. Hopkins is 40, age catches up to everyone no matter how fit. Ive noticed a certain lack of snap in Hopkins punches recently, certainly from the Trinidad fight. Allen even said he didn't hit as hard as the last time they fought. Another thing, I don't think Hopkins will be able to hurt Eastman and thats a big advantage.

Hopkins has this new found fame. He done the talkshow circuit in the US, most people have him No.1 P4P and everyones telling him how great he is. With all this going on Eastman may be training like never before and getting his mind wright. He knows now that this is his one and only opportunity. Maybe this is his time.

Age catching up with Hopkins aside (and don't forget, Eastman's no spring chicken either)... you can't tell me a guy who had his ears boxed off for the majority of the fight against William Joppy, is going to beat a guy who spent 12 rounds comfortably dissecting Joppy as he pleased?

Eastman is going to get smashed to bits. Hopkins wins in 8-9 rounds rubbish Hopkins wont be able to hurt him.

I think it's been quite obvious for years....

It's hardly an epiphany to believe that Eastman won't win seeing as Hopkins is a top 1 or 2 p4p fighter.

josh fg wrote:I put on a boxing tape at randome today and it happend to be half way through the Howard Eastman vs Jerry Elliot fight. I was watching Eastman trying to punch and move against a peroson who wen all is said and done is a very limeted fighter who although powerfull didn't bring that much to the table then it hit me... Eastman will not beat Hopkins.

You do seem to overlook one thing, and that is motivation, and I think Howard very much thrives on it. He isn't going to fight the same way against Hopkins as he did against Jerry Elliot...

Think how many times in post-fight interviews we've heard Eastman go on about Hopkins and how much he wants the fight and the titles? He'll come out all guns blazing I reckon, and with that absolutely rock solid chin of his he's in with a shout. There is a good chance Hopkins might mistakenly take the fight lightly too... seeing as he isn't fighting a "big name"...

In Bernard Hopkins we're talking about a man who came in 2 pounds inside the limit against Morrade Hakkar. Anyone who believes he's going to lose a fight because of poor preparation is living in cloud cuckoo land.

Eastman will probably get through the fight without getting too hurt, but what quality does he have that Hopkins doesn't top? There's nothing there for him to win this fight with. Absolutely nowt.

I've always thought Eastman would have a great chance against Hopkins, and I really think he is a classy fighter. Granted Hopkins is p4p one of the best in the world, but I just think Eastman might be seriously motivated for this one.

I can't see Hopkins having the power to take Eastman out, so I can't see anything but a points decision. If Eastman doesn't pick up his work rate, he'll be UD'd, but if he comes in hungry and motivated, I think he might have a chance.

If I were to bet my house on it, I'd go with Hopkins, but don't discount Eastman, and don't underestimate him, he's a classy fighter.

Oh and did you see the size of Elliot in that fight?!?! He looked like bloody Tyson!

What worries me is the fact that Eastman cruised to a loss over Joppy. Even if he believed he won that fight, which I don't, did he think he'd won clearly enough to take such a laid back approach in many of the rounds?

If he cannot get motivated for this fight, he can't get motivated for anything, I hope I am wrong, and that he really takes the bull by the horns, he has the tools at his disposal to really give Hopkins a hard fight, and he will never have a better chance of being the man than right now.

I think Eastman really needs to throw caution to the wind and go for Hopkins and try and rough him up, that may not have an effect on Hopkins who is a rough and dirty fighter himself anyway but it will give him a better chance than if he cruises to a points defeat like he did against Joppy, a fight that was there for the taking with a little more application and effort.

Howard should just go for it IMO he is always well conditioned so stamina isn't a major problem, he will NEVER get another chance like this so i think he should plant his feet early and smash away at the old man...fornicate it!!! Look how far running got Morrade Hakkar.

With Eastman and Hopkins we are dealing with two well schooled and intelligent fighters. They both have good chins, both have good power, but not one punch KO in the Jackson, McClellen, Hearns league.

Therefore I see this as a distance fight, maybe even a bit of a chess match, at least to start with anyway.

IMO the key to this fight is that we are dealing with two fighters who are very stubborn with a great deal of pride, whom both like to set their own pace and stick to it. This will be more of a tactical and mental fight as much as a physical fight IMO.

Therefore if Eastman is to win this fight, it is vital that he sets the pace at a high level and sticks to it with no breathers or mentaly 'switching off' and cruising. He must make the older fighter fight at his pace at all times, make the old man tire etc.

This fight even more than most is all about mental concentration and setting the pace and rythum of the fight. IMO.

howard's workrate will lose it for him. I don't see him shaking off his ponderous style, he's just going to wander into big counter shots time and again.

does howard have height and reach advantages?

Eastman has a good punchers chance. He gives away too many advantages for this to be a 50-50 fight though. For a start, the post-Trinidad 'boxer' Hopkins will be unlikely to mix it up as much wtih Eastman, giving him less chance of landing the regular big shots that he would need to make an effect on B-Hop. Both are intelligent fighters, but Hopkins is a professor to Eastman's degree level.

There's a chance of a one-punch knockout for Eastman, but it's extremely slim. If Howard takes time off and arses around showing off his chin etc, like he did against Joppy, it will be akin to suicide. I think Hopkins will use his workrate, mixing it to head and body, for an accumulation stoppage around the 10th or 11th.

007 wrote:Eastman is going to get smashed to bits. Hopkins wins in 8-9 rounds rubbish Hopkins wont be able to hurt him.

hopkins will win a wide points decision but i for one dont think hopkins can hurt eastman howard is extremly tough he will outbox eastman though.

Eastman by Ko. hopkins has the EA curse on him now

Fair enough, but I really think people are overrating Eastman. He was supposedly motivated for the Joppy fight - his big break and fighting on a big show and he blew it big time. I really dont see it being competitive at all sorry.

Keep in mind the pressure he must have been under for the Joppy fight. His first big American bill with the biggest promoter in the world and against a useful fighter. He has nothing to lose here. He should just go for it. Throw and bash that old man around.

No Eastman will defo last the distance, I don't think I've ever seen him react to a punch in 40 fights. He's tough no doubt.

People dig Hatton for having a terrible padded record well Eastmans is not much better. It worries me that his highest achievment was loosing to WIlliam Joppy who has since been mullered big time by hopkins.

Hopkins will take eastman apart over 12 rounds.... another fighter put into semi-retirement by the executioner.

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Keep in mind the pressure he must have been under for the Joppy fight. His first big American bill with the biggest promoter in the world and against a useful fighter. He has nothing to lose here. He should just go for it. Throw and bash that old man around.

In that case surely he'll feel under the same pressure if not greater when he fights Hopkins? I see him losing the first few rounds then becoming disinterested and coasting to a wide points defeat. Or if he goes for it I see him getting stopped.

People dig Hatton for having a terrible padded record well Eastmans is not much better. It worries me that his highest achievment was loosing to WIlliam Joppy who has since been mullered big time by hopkins.

Eastman's record is not brilliant I agree what genuine world class fighters has he beaten? McCracken arguably but he was well on the downward slope when they fought.

No Eastman will defo last the distance, I don't think I've ever seen him react to a punch in 40 fights. He's tough no doubt.

True but as above who has he fought? I dont think anyone can definitely say Eastman will DEFO last the distance when the only world class fighter he has faced is Joppy who couldnt crack an egg.

Hopkins isn't a real banger for all his quality, and if Eastman really did have a weakness around the whiskers I'm sure we'd have seen at least one sign of it by now considering the amount of fights he's had. As it is I can't think of a single instance where his legs have dipped or anything close to it.

I'm not saying if Tito landed flush Howard would just laugh about it, but Hopkins doesn't punch like Tito.

If you can take a punch from Jerry Elliot then you can take one from Bernard Hopkins.

Never been too sure about the plaudits Bernard Hopkins has received and think Eastman has at least a 50/50 chance.

Only thing holding him back is his concentration as has been mentioned already.

Unfortunately I predict a Hopkins points win as you have to win rounds clearly in the US if you are a challenger and I expect most of them to be fairly even.

I'm not saying Eastman has a weak chin but in all honesty he has never been in with anyone remotely in Hopkins class - nowhere near. The nearest was a shopworn Joppy who beat him. Hopkins isnt a huge puncher but its quite possible he could land enough to overwhelm and stop Eastman I have no doubt about that. Anyone who thinks this fight is going to be close is in dreamland. Eastman has one pace - very slow and he'll be outworked so easily its untrue.

Matchfixer wrote:If you can take a punch from Jerry Elliot then you can take one from Bernard Hopkins.

Body types can be decieving. Elliot looks like a monster, but might not punch that hard. Look at all the toothpick one-punch knockout artists in boxing history. Hopkins likes to punch in regular bursts at a pace Eastman is uncomfortable with - he won't just be taking 'a punch' from Hopkins, he will be taking many, well into the double digits every round.

Matchfixer wrote:Never been too sure about the plaudits Bernard Hopkins has received and think Eastman has at least a 50/50 chance.

Ignore the hype, watch his fights, this guy's the real deal. No way is Eastman not an underdog.

Matchfixer wrote:Only thing holding him back is his concentration as has been mentioned already.

True. But he also has a lack of experience being in that particular ring, not to mention being in it with someone remotely the same class as Hopkins. He will have to concentrate 100% just to survive.

Matchfixer wrote:Unfortunately I predict a Hopkins points win as you have to win rounds clearly in the US if you are a challenger and I expect most of them to be fairly even.

Hopkins points win is a good prediction. I doubt very highly that most of them will be fairly even.

Sorry to pick apart your post like this Matchfixer, but I just disagreed with most it. :P