Bernard Hopkins Vs Howard Eastman

[CLOONEY]

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

I seem to barely predict a fight wrong these days.

This match-up is interesting. BHOP is finally in (after a long long time), with someone of his own strength, who hits hard, and is only a little smaller. Eastman has some skills and could give the aging BHOP problems.

I think BHOP will probably win, but I am going to predict the upset (and this will be a HUGE upset)!! I will take Eastman to win this one, landing his right hand on BHOP and shaking him while working just enough behind the jab to win the fight.

BHOPS reflexes have slown down, thus his speed, and so has his punch output with age.

Thoughts?

 

[Reyaj]

BHOP by decision.


When he fights Tito again, he will get KO'd.

 

[Gangster Of Love]

Yeah, this fight will take place in my backyard here in LA, about 7 miles from where I live.

Haven't seen Eastman fight, but should be interesting, since Hopkins is aging, and definitely slowing down. A rematch with Trinidad should be more competitive than the first fight.

 

[CLOONEY]

Jayer, I agree, I think Tito will win a rematch.

Eastman is a decent boxer, nothing flashy, just decent at everything. His punch output is not that high either (this is where Joppy outworked him). Some say Eastman has improved much since the Joppy fight, and he appears to have improved, but then again, look at his opposition. Eastman is yet to beat ANY big name. This is the only thing that gives me great doubt, looking good against C level opponents is not nearly as impressive as just looking OK against B level opponents (Allen, an inflated DLH etc for BHOP).

I hope Eastman wins, as I am sick of BHOP and his fighting smaller guys and bums. Should be good to watch Junior witter dance circles around Ndou as well as watching Taylor in with a decent puncher on the undercard.

 

[CLOONEY]

Well, I seem to be basically writing to myself, lol. But there we have it, BHOP looks more impressive this fight than his last couple of outings. His reflexes and speed seem to have increased, but that punch-output is still dangerously low.

I personally had the fight a boring slop. I had BHOP showing his skills and defence (he is very very hard to hit), and Eastmans footwork pathetic. He did work behind the jab and land the big right hand as I thought, but didnt land it too often (although he seemed to stun BHOP on one occassion).

I had BHOP winning 3 rounds convincingly, and the rest being too close to call. I would probably give a few of the other 9 to Eastman simply for being the aggressor (BHOP was only working in some rounds for about 30 seconds of the round).

I didnt score it exactly, but would probably have it 7-5 to BHOP, maybe 8-4.

Poor, boring fight, BHOP has given us his usual.

 

[Reyaj]

I called this one right.


The only thing you can hope against Hopkins is that father time catches up with him. Until it does, there is no one in his class.

Nard is a very smart figher. He did start out very slow and it seemed as if he were old, but then he picked it up later just as he did against De La Hoya and his opponent could not compete. Howard Eastman takes a good punch, but that is the only positive thing I can say about him.

BHOP has talked about perhaps fighting Jermain Taylor. Unless BHOP gets old, I pick him in this one as well.

 

[CLOONEY]

BHOP V Jermain could be close, but I see Jermain winning. BHOP needs badly to raise that punch-output against top fighters. This was one big thing that led him to be schooled against Roy.

BHOP from what I have heard, is talking about going up to light-heavy and fight Johnson. (Something Ray Robinson could not do, as BHOP says). LOL. I think BHOP has many big fights that will be close, against Tito (rematch, now that BHOP is older), Taylor, Lacy, Green, Tarver or Glencoffe. Any of these fights could be real close.

One thing I give BHOP though, is he is REAL damn hard to hit. But then again, put him in with a BIGGER, taller man, a natural light heavy, with a pressure style such as Johnson, and you have a very dangerous task for this version of BHOP who does not punch enough to keep a hard fighter like that off him. The Johnson that fought BHOP all those years ago was nowhere near the same class he is now!

Talking about that, did anyone see Witter? Man, that dude is a true hitter now! He used to be a pigeon puncher. Give him a rematch with Zab and he could close the show early, something he could have NEVER done in the early days. Witter reminds me of Hearns, once upon a time couldnt break an egg, now a HUGE puncher. Putting Ndou down twice is a real hard thing to do, big props to Witter! The junior welter, welter divisions are DAMN hot right now! Cant wait for the next couple of years!