Eastmans fightplan

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 16 Feb 2005, 10:00

I keep reading that Eastman is predicting a 5th round KO, do you think he's serious and going to come out loading up on the shots to catch Hopkins by surprise?

I see it starting out slowly, with Hopkins getting the upper hand through the middle rounds and stopping Eastman late on.

hope i'm wrong

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 16 Feb 2005, 10:06

A few stiff shots from Hopkins and Eastman's much talked about gameplan will probably go straight out of the window.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Feb 2005, 10:16

It's a shame this fight is being held in LA, where the crowds are worse than Las Vegans for demanding action. Eastman needs to essentially run to stand any kind of a chance of winning the title - stick and move. But the crowd will get on his back if he does that and will force him to walk into Hopkins - and the champion's counters.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 16 Feb 2005, 10:20

bennie wrote:It's a shame this fight is being held in LA, where the crowds are worse than Las Vegans for demanding action. Eastman needs to essentially run to stand any kind of a chance of winning the title - stick and move. But the crowd will get on his back if he does that and will force him to walk into Hopkins - and the champion's counters.

Eastman has to make it a WAR to win.

He is as tough as Hopkins - younger - arguably stronger - hits hard and has a good chin and good stamina.

War is the answer...for once !

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2005, 10:22

I don't believe it for a second. Either he doesn't have a gameplan judging by the lengths he's gone to to make out that he hasn't studied Hopkins' style (yet somehow saw him fight Trinidad), or he's not letting anything on.

The 5th round thing is just a bit of hooplah, and also to try and make Hopkins think.

All in all in the psychological buildup. Eastman has done pretty well, he doesn't seem at all intimidated, but what worries me is his delusional talk about how he's a hard guy to beat and how he's faced all styles. Howard hasn't faced all styles at all, and he's struggled with the likes of Tatevosyan, if he really believes that the fights he has had thus far have really prepared him for Hopkins

I'd love to know who he has been sparring with. I know Froch has been helping him, but Froch is an inexperienced fighter. I'd have liked to have seen Eastman in with the likes of a Soliman or that type of fighter, an experienced fighter who isn't just in sparring partner mode who is tough and experienced with some ambition of their own. I'm not saying those are easy to find, just hope that Eastman is getting some tough sparring to prepare him.

The stuff about Joppy and how King led him to believe all he had to do with Joppy was play with him, I just don't buy. If he was so sure he could have taken him apart, then do it, he never looked like he could have taken Joppy apart at all, until Joppy tired over the last couple he was more than giving Howard something to think about.

Even if Eastman doesn't have a game plan, which wouldn't surprise me, you can bet your arse Robert McCracken will have studied Bernard and tried to formulate something, I don't think McCracken is going to believe for one minute that Eastman is good enough to just turn up and outthink Hopkins.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Feb 2005, 11:20

I don't think anyone is taking Eastman's 5th round prediction seriously, not even Howard himself.
On the plus side, it's encouraging to hear Hop admit he's feeling his age these days - running at 6am instead of 4.30am like he used to.

If Eastman really believes he can win - and that's a big IF - there's a real chance he could pull this off. At 40 years of age, strange things can happen to a fighter - even one as good as Hopkins.

He's a slow starter, and if Eastman gets off to a good start, Hop might suddenly start feeling his age - wondering why the hell he's bothering to put himself through all this at his age: he's proved everything already, and doesn't have any real goals to achieve anymore, you'd think.

Anyway, like I said, it's a big IF.

Always interesting to hear what the respected Charles Jay has to say when it comes to big fight betting -

http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-a ... ave-title/

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2005, 11:57

Pretty astute reading of the situation.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:11

DG. wrote:
bennie wrote:It's a shame this fight is being held in LA, where the crowds are worse than Las Vegans for demanding action. Eastman needs to essentially run to stand any kind of a chance of winning the title - stick and move. But the crowd will get on his back if he does that and will force him to walk into Hopkins - and the champion's counters.
Eastman has to make it a WAR to win.

He is as tough as Hopkins - younger - arguably stronger - hits hard and has a good chin and good stamina.

War is the answer...for once !

Like Felix Trinidad (a better fighter than Eastman) went to war with Hopkins...and played right into the master counterpuncher's hands.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:14

TALE OF THE TAPE

Hopkins . . . . .v . . . . Eastman
40 . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . . . . 34
6'2. . . . . . . Height . . . . . . 5'11
85'. . . . . . . Reach . . . . . . . 74'
Orthodox. . .Stance . . Orthodox
45(32)-2-1 . Record. . . 40(34)-1

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:18

11ins in reach for Hopkins, thats alot.

I just can't see that Hopkins will fall apart all of a sudden, which is what alot of people are hopeing on. He just seems above Eastman in every department.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:22

MightyWarrior wrote:TALE OF THE TAPE

Hopkins . . . . .v . . . . Eastman
40 . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . . . . 34
6'2. . . . . . . Height . . . . . . 5'11
85'. . . . . . . Reach . . . . . . . 74'
Orthodox. . .Stance . . Orthodox
45(32)-2-1 . Record. . . 40(34)-1

fornicating hell! never knew Hopkins reach was so long! That's the same as Lennox Lewis! In fact, it's an inch longer. That must be an error....

I'm sure Eastman is more than 5'11" too.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:23

That is an error, he's listed at 75" on boxrec. Someone somewhere made a boo-boo.

J · Post by J » 16 Feb 2005, 12:23

SHOULD BE 75 SURELY.
never noticed him dragging his hands on the floor.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:24

bennie wrote:
DG. wrote:
bennie wrote:It's a shame this fight is being held in LA, where the crowds are worse than Las Vegans for demanding action. Eastman needs to essentially run to stand any kind of a chance of winning the title - stick and move. But the crowd will get on his back if he does that and will force him to walk into Hopkins - and the champion's counters.
Eastman has to make it a WAR to win.

He is as tough as Hopkins - younger - arguably stronger - hits hard and has a good chin and good stamina.

War is the answer...for once !

Like Felix Trinidad (a better fighter than Eastman) went to war with Hopkins...and played right into the master counterpuncher's hands.

Eastman is better equiped to beat Hopkins in a war than Trinidad.

Trinidad chin is not solid. Howards IS
Trinidad was not a middleweight - Howard IS
Trinidad was not as strong as Hopkins Howard IS
Trindad Fought a 37 year old hopkins hungry as hell - Howard is fighting a 40 Year old Multi Millionaire - Howard was avoided for 2 years to boot - HOWARD IS HUNGRY !

Who knows how hard trinidad really hits - especially since the hands are wrapped differently these days.

Trinidad took an age to fall and he has a weak chin.

Howard has never fallen !

War is the answer!

J · Post by J » 16 Feb 2005, 12:27

reach is 75 according to box rec.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:34

jamesmcdonnell wrote:That is an error, he's listed at 75" on boxrec. Someone somewhere made a boo-boo.

That was from the BBC.........should have known they'd cock it up somehow.

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:34

Damn i cant wait

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:38

DG. wrote:
bennie wrote:
DG. wrote: Eastman has to make it a WAR to win.

He is as tough as Hopkins - younger - arguably stronger - hits hard and has a good chin and good stamina.

War is the answer...for once !

Like Felix Trinidad (a better fighter than Eastman) went to war with Hopkins...and played right into the master counterpuncher's hands.
Eastman is better equiped to beat Hopkins in a war than Trinidad.

Trinidad chin is not solid. Howards IS
Trinidad was not a middleweight - Howard IS
Trinidad was not as strong as Hopkins Howard IS
Trindad Fought a 37 year old hopkins hungry as hell - Howard is fighting a 40 Year old Multi Millionaire - Howard was avoided for 2 years to boot - HOWARD IS HUNGRY !

Who knows how hard trinidad really hits - especially since the hands are wrapped differently these days.

Trinidad took an age to fall and he has a weak chin.

Howard has never fallen !

War is the answer!

Eastman was shook and took a knee against Dann, but the referee never called it, He also seemed shook a little by Elliot , and was outboxed by Tatevosyan. I just don't see him winning against Hopkins, but like i said earlier i don't mind being wrong this time

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 16 Feb 2005, 14:20

topper123 wrote: Eastman was shook and took a knee against Dann, but the referee never called it, He also seemed shook a little by Elliot , and was outboxed by Tatevosyan. I just don't see him winning against Hopkins, but like i said earlier i don't mind being wrong this time

Being shaken by someone Elliot's size is hardly a surprise - the guy is built like a tank.

Eastman was not outboxed by Tatevosyan - the guy ran away from Eastman all night long.

JC · Post by JC » 16 Feb 2005, 15:09

DG. wrote:Trindad Fought a 37 year old hopkins hungry as hell - Howard is fighting a 40 Year old Multi Millionaire - Howard was avoided for 2 years to boot - HOWARD IS HUNGRY !

I don't think Hopkins has changed that much, I just heard a piece on the radio about Hopkins where they said he still goes to bed at 8 every night and gets up at 4.30 every day to start training regardless of whether he has an upcoming fight. I've read he maintains something like 2% bodyfat. I'm not saying Eastman has no chance in fact I've had some money on him on the off chance. I don't think you can expect Hopkins to come in out of shape or unfocussed, he's just not that kind of fighter.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2005, 15:11

Matchfixer wrote:
topper123 wrote: Eastman was shook and took a knee against Dann, but the referee never called it, He also seemed shook a little by Elliot , and was outboxed by Tatevosyan. I just don't see him winning against Hopkins, but like i said earlier i don't mind being wrong this time
Being shaken by someone Elliot's size is hardly a surprise - the guy is built like a tank.

Eastman was not outboxed by Tatevosyan - the guy ran away from Eastman all night long.

I actually thought the fight was pretty close, tatevosyan was landing shots of his own. howard didn't look at all comfortable that night.

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 16 Feb 2005, 15:40

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Matchfixer wrote:
topper123 wrote: Eastman was shook and took a knee against Dann, but the referee never called it, He also seemed shook a little by Elliot , and was outboxed by Tatevosyan. I just don't see him winning against Hopkins, but like i said earlier i don't mind being wrong this time
Being shaken by someone Elliot's size is hardly a surprise - the guy is built like a tank.

Eastman was not outboxed by Tatevosyan - the guy ran away from Eastman all night long.
I actually thought the fight was pretty close, tatevosyan was landing shots of his own. howard didn't look at all comfortable that night.

I agree the fighte was quite close (points wise) but tate was in defensive mode. I wouldn't really say Eastman was ever troubled, perhaps just a little frustated.

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 16 Feb 2005, 16:01

If the Fight Night curse lives then Eastmans prediction of KO 5 sounds about right.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 16 Feb 2005, 16:03

bennie wrote:It's a shame this fight is being held in LA, where the crowds are worse than Las Vegans for demanding action. Eastman needs to essentially run to stand any kind of a chance of winning the title - stick and move. But the crowd will get on his back if he does that and will force him to walk into Hopkins - and the champion's counters.

Eastman has to go to war with Hopkins. Try and fight at a high pace, start banging that old body and muscle that old guy around. I don't think he could outbox Hopkins. He fights like that and he will forever regret not going for it and leaving it all in the ring. Eastman needs to show him no respect, just go out and beat him up remembering how old he is. He must NOT let Hopkins dictate the pace. I'd be amazed if Hopkins was able to hurt Howard. I don't think he can. I want to see Howard come flying out of the traps and try to take Hopkins head off. I'd be interested to see Hopkins reaction to a body attack as well. It could be the key to stopping him.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2005, 16:17

Matchfixer wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Matchfixer wrote: Being shaken by someone Elliot's size is hardly a surprise - the guy is built like a tank.

Eastman was not outboxed by Tatevosyan - the guy ran away from Eastman all night long.
I actually thought the fight was pretty close, tatevosyan was landing shots of his own. howard didn't look at all comfortable that night.
I agree the fighte was quite close (points wise) but tate was in defensive mode. I wouldn't really say Eastman was ever troubled, perhaps just a little frustated.

Yes, agreed, but what was worrying was just how frustrated Howard got. Hopkins is a different fighter, but a much better boxer than Tatevosyan.