BoxRec

FFS.

We have a situation where Arthur Abraham and Edison Miranda seem to be spending all of 2007 heading towards fighting each other, and Jermain Taylor seriously lacking in good challengers to face, yet our colourful & enigmatic Eastman is nowhere to be seen.

Guys 36 and could be at the end, he should have some sort of fight lined up now, but nowt. He's not gonna breeze into a world title shot for knocking out our buddy Richard Williams in December. He needs to keep his name out there but seems to want to sun it up on the beach in Guyana, probably until the money from Williams runs out.

I like Eastman but fook me he's frustrating. Any one have any inside info, am i just over reacting?

Just looking, Fightnews have Howard ranked #14, under some seriously inferior fighters.

John Duddy and Kelly Pavlik seem good routes back into the top 10, as does this Amin Asinken fella who holds the European belt.

But instead of going over old ground, Duddy or Pavlik anyone?

In a vacuum nobody can hear you scream.

To be honest Howard could probably earn for another five years at British level.

His style leands itself to longevity, he's never been battered, Miranda aside.

Personnally, Eastman v Mora would be my preferred course of action. Eastman could beat him. He wouldn't, he be inactive and dropa SD but....

Haha. Looking closer, not ONE of the 3 sanctioning cowboys (or the WBOllocks) rank Howard in their top 15.

Many cynics round here will say 'good, he doesn't deserve to be there', but if you look at the guys they DO rank.... Howard should be right up there.

Grrrr...

I doubt that Howard is going to find it easy to get another crack. If you have a young prospect, are you going to want him to face someone like eastman? Seeing as Howard isn't in the top 15, the contenders aren't going to have to face him either. Think that unless he starts fighting more often he's got little chance of another title shot.

He could probably be British and European champ for another couple of years yet, British for god knows how long, Howard looks like he stays in good shape between fights, and seems to have good genetics, because he's in fantastic physical shape.

Well Eastman with his name and his age, theoretically you would think someone with a contender who needs to reach the 'legit challenger' level would see lazy ageing Eastman as ideal fodder.... and of course thats where the Battersea Bomber throws a spanner in the works!!!

Seriously though, most people round here have such little regard for him, surely the US match makers have even less an opinion of him.

Nah, Howard don't fit the profile. Lazy he might be, but anyone below world level is likely to get spanked, or at the least embarrassed, win or lose. If I had a young prospect, I wouldn't be putting them in with Howard until it looked like his legs had gone, which right now, they certainly haven't, he was very spry against Williams in his last fight.

I think European is probably out of his reach now as well, at least whilst Asikainen is holding the belt. The Williams win was a good one but Howard has never been good enough for a world title, the likes or Abraham and Miranda are only going to get better, and that's too good for Eastman.

I would try and get a fight with Lockett, Frankie might see it as a good way of getting Gary up the rankings against a name opponent and Eastman will get a good payday and most probably win

I really cannot see Frank putting Lockett in with Eastman. Not without options, anyway.

Lockett seems to be getting quite publically annoyed at his lack of progress though. Eastman would be a chance to establish himself in rankings. Feel there are a few fighters at SN annoyed at not getting bigger fights (Cook, Arthur, Lockett, surely Enzo Mac isn't thrilled at getting Gunn after talking about Haye and Bell). If only everyone was like Calzaghe

states wrote:I really cannot see Frank putting Lockett in with Eastman. Not without options, anyway.

Me Either. Eastman, whilst Lazy sometimes, tends only to be lazy against top class talent, when he thinks he might be made to look stupid if he tries too hard. Agaisnt people he knows he can beat, he steps up a gear quite easily and batters them.

Don't think there's anyone in the UK who could beat him.

Whats the crack with this Asikainen fella? Whats his story, why are some people high on him?

'Crack'...'High' something you're not telling us overhand?

Eastman had Miranda and just gased out!
Miranda's profile was raised 500% after that win, so you know the pro boxing world knows Eastman is class!
In shape he would beat him 9 out of 10 times.
It's so hard to be a fan of Eastman, we know he is World class but turns up in bad shape, what's he thinking?

overhand_right wrote:Whats the crack with this Asikainen fella? Whats his story, why are some people high on him?

He's good - not amazing, but good. Solidly beat Sylvester - although I suspect Sylvester under-estimated him.

Asikainen also looked good against that Italian in his last fight, although the Italain (I forget his name), wasn't amazing...

I thought that he was going to be fighting Sylvester again this month for the EU, but guess that has now been cancled...

I think that Eastman would do him.

Asikanin is a bit hot and cold, I thought he looked excellent beating Sylvester and beating Tendill before that.

Since though, I haven't been as impressed. Had one or two struggles (never heard but sometimes outboxed) vs Sipos who is decent, but not really EBU class.

However, I do like him - I like his jab come hook and he seems powerful. I would favour him over Eastman if he chin is okay.