BoxRec

"A champion is supposed to fight like a champion. I'm in his backyard. He's running and he's countering, and he hasn't really hit me with that many punches. The man is a good fighter, you know what I mean? But given the respect and the admiration that I have for him I expected him to stick it to me more.'

"All I'm asking for is a rematch show I can show what I can do in the ring"

Hardly landed any shots? Eastman himself landed about 90 punches over 12 rounds what planet is he on? Who the hell wants to see a rematch of that so Eastman can stand there doing fornicate all yet again as he has done in both his world title shots.

Eastman is just not that good. He's a top 10 middleweight by default as the division is in a shocking state - worse than the heavyweights. If Eastman was a light welter for example he'd barely make the top 10 if at all.

You have to question his heart and desire, I cant imagine Hatton will succumb so easily against Tszyu whatever you say about Hatton he will give 110% to the bitter end Eastman just does not have it.

Yup. Eastman also cracked me up with his delusional rantings "Let's have a rematch, I'll win that, we can have a rubber and then worry about the others".

Like he's placing himself on a pedastal with Hopkins above the rest!

Sorry Howard, you did ok mate but were well beaten. At 34 years old you better start looking elsewhere pronto be it a b-level title or another weight division, better start thinking of retirement pay-days.

Unfortunatly Eastman does seem to have a problem with finding another gear in his losses to Joppy and Hopkins you feel when watching the fights that he should be stepping it up a bit , putting more work in.

Seems he just can't do it. And don't forget he's 34 now so no spring chicken, i really don't know where he goes from here, intresting to see that De La Hoya signed Witter and Froch, but not Eastman

topper123 wrote: Seems he just can't do it. And don't forget he's 34 now so no spring chicken, i really don't know where he goes from here, intresting to see that De La Hoya signed Witter and Froch, but not Eastman

Interesting that Froch did not fight yet ODH still signed him.

I gather he has seen him fight or at least spar?

I think Howard has hurt pride after a lacklustre performance, the champion doesn't have to do anything but win the fight. A rematch is a none starter.

Eastman needs to stick around till Hopkins quits and fight for one of the vacant belts (if he's lucky).
Then he can choke it a third time.

007 wrote:

You have to question his heart and desire, I cant imagine Hatton will succumb so easily against Tszyu whatever you say about Hatton he will give 110% to the bitter end Eastman just does not have it.

You speak the truth.

hilarious from eastman!

007 wrote:

"A champion is supposed to fight like a champion. I'm in his backyard. He's running and he's countering, and he hasn't really hit me with that many punches. The man is a good fighter, you know what I mean? But given the respect and the admiration that I have for him I expected him to stick it to me more.'

"All I'm asking for is a rematch show I can show what I can do in the ring"

Hardly landed any shots? Eastman himself landed about 90 punches over 12 rounds what planet is he on? Who the hell wants to see a rematch of that so Eastman can stand there doing fornicate all yet again as he has done in both his world title shots.

Eastman is just not that good. He's a top 10 middleweight by default as the division is in a shocking state - worse than the heavyweights. If Eastman was a light welter for example he'd barely make the top 10 if at all.

You have to question his heart and desire, I cant imagine Hatton will succumb so easily against Tszyu whatever you say about Hatton he will give 110% to the bitter end Eastman just does not have it.

I think Ricky, if he does lose, which I think he will, will go down all guns blazing.

No doubt about it, at the end of the fight win or lose Hatton will be completely spent - can Eastman say he was? I'm pretty sure he had plenty left in the tank. I just dont think he has the right mental attitude. I think some of the big shots stunned him and he was content to coast to a loss rather than laying it on the line and probably getting sparked out. I had money on Hopkins in rounds 9-12, all the pre fight talk that Hopkins couldnt stop Eastman was bollocks he would have if he'd wanted to or if Eastman had gone down blazing himself.

I wonder how Eastman would do if he moved up and took on Calzaghe. Regardless, if he stays at 160, he'll get another title shot once Hopkins retires based on the limited contendors there.

I favoured Eastman over Calzaghe a while back but with his none existant workrate can he get in close and do Calzaghe any damage...Calzaghe might have his flaws but punch output isn't one of them and with him slapping away all night i see a comfortable points decision over the lethargic Eastman.

steve689 wrote:I favoured Eastman over Calzaghe a while back but with his none existant workrate can he get in close and do Calzaghe any damage...Calzaghe might have his flaws but punch output isn't one of them and with him slapping away all night i see a comfortable points decision over the lethargic Eastman.

You're probably right about that -- I've only seen Eastman a few times (a couple through Internet download), so it's hard to judge for me. If he fights like he did against Joppy or Bhops, I can see him potentially landing some hurtful blows, but getting outworked for a UD.

No way can Eastman beat Calzaghe, he'd be easily outworked and he's slow as shit at 160 never mind 168.

Seeing as how Eastman cant seem to get out of first gear Id say it would play out like Calzaghe-Eubank. Eubank was tough and still had ability but he was old and weak from weight draining and just couldnt get going. Calzaghe just buried him with his work rate. Eastman would have a similar problem.

Calzaghe throws so many punches that he may even stop Eastman.

Also Calzaghe is a southpaw and Eastman has always looked a lot worse against them. I always felt this would be a nightmare fight for Howard, a very busy southpaw with a good chin. Calzaghe UD no question. I think he might be in the mix for a vacant title though if Hopkins goes after Tarver or Johnson at the end of the year. Who else is going to be in the mix? Trinidad or Wright, Taylor, Strum and Soliman anyone else? Vargas or Quartey maybe, there are still good fights out there for Howard at middleweight.

Surely Hopkins will want to fight Winky first, Taylor, THEN move up. Of course he may choose to come in around 160 against Johnson and not bulk up, not sure how wise that would be. Of course if Tarver wins the rematch, that upsets the applecart.

I don't see Hopkins v Johnson II as such a big fight. Certainly nothing like the event that a rematch with Tito would be.

I don't see Hopkins vs Johnson II happening, I'm afraid. I think Tarver will win the rematch - it was close, close, close last time. I think Tarver can improve on that performance, Johnson probably cannot.

Johnson is hungry though, and as they say A hungry man is an angry man.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Johnson is hungry though, and as they say A hungry man is an angry man.

If that's the case, judging by the latest pictures, Ricky Hatton must be very, very angry indeed.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Johnson is hungry though, and as they say A hungry man is an angry man.

Why would Johnson be any more hungerier than Tarver this time around who feels he got jobbed last time?

These two a pretty inseperable, but I think this time the close rounds might go Tarver's way as they went Johnson's in the first bout. Might have another LL vs EH rematch scenerio.

Onto Eastman, after the first Joppy fight - I'm not convinced he is particularly good. I don't think it is far from a certainty that Eastman would claim a version of the world title even with Hopkins out of the equation.

Sturm, Trinidad, Taylor I think will DEFINATELY be too much for him. Not even convinced he would beat Joppy again, Joppy has slipped but he lost wide to two very accomplished fighters. I think if DLH decides to give it one more go at Middle (and by the looks of him, it looks like either Middleweight or retirement for him) he would be too slick for Howard.

Would Howard beat Raul Marquez? and what even about this "new" version of Sam Solimiman. Not forgone conclusions.

Infact is a Soliman rematch what I would like to see next.

So DLH isn't going back for a fight at welter then?

He is supposed to be Kilburn, but it didn't look like that on the weekend. Infact, I'm tempted to say we might have seen the last of DLH the boxer. He was the ultimate pro but he looked like a promoter on the Weekend - if DLH wins a world title at Welter again, we should never criticise Hatton's weight gain.

If you thought he looked overweight when he fought Sturm......