"The World Boxing Council hereby informs that No. 1 ranked middleweight contender Howard Eastman has been confirmed as the mandatory challenger for world champion Bernard Hopkins. "During the World Boxing Council annual convention in Phuket, Thailand, a purse offer was held for a final elimination bout between Eastman and Jermain Taylor. "Taylor has since informed the WBC, however, that he will not face Eastman. Consequently, a vote was taken by the WBC Board of Governors which resulted in a unanimous ratification of Eastman as mandatory challenger."
Wednesday, October 27 2004

After Eastman loss to Joppy, I loss interest in seeing him fight Hopkins.

i really want to see this fight than any other, why did taylor back out? that punk *****, once Hopkins gets thru eastman hes going to tear lil ole ***** tito up, like before :cool:

Hopkins #1 P4P Undisputed Middleweight Champ of the World

After Eastman loss to Joppy, I loss interest in seeing him fight Hopkins.

i think i remember that fight, wasn't eastman robbed in that fight?

nice colors on ur username great1

i honestly see eastman as a threat to Hopkins, no joke, but non the less Hopkins gonna come thru. eastman really deserves a title shot, IMO he'll kick lil ole tito's ass

I would rather watch Hop take on Ikeke...Eastman deserves his shot at the top dog though.

Great1 haven't seen you in awhile where ya been? Nice name graphic btw.

i guess taylor's still not ready to step up. he could take out eastman and be hopkins mandatory, i wonder what taylor's next move is now that he blew this oppurtunity.

when did u hear naseem say that to Mayweather, just because he is not fighting now does not mean he was not a great fighter. If he was not with Frank Warren he would have been a legend. He tried to do the same with Hatton but u cannot fool the public twice over.
Eastman is okay but will lose to Hopkins

eastman isnt with frank warren, he is promoted by mick hennessey on the BBC. Nor was Naz he was promoted by Prince promotions not FW and Sports network so what the heck are you going on about? I also i dont see the relevance to Naz?

i think i remember that fight, wasn't eastman robbed in that fight?

it was a clsoe fight mate, howard was just behind but knocked joppy la la in the last round, if he had pounced on him it wouldnt have even got to the cards but he posed and prowled instead of finsihing his man off.

only got himslef to blame, howard doesnt have the work rate to beat Nard in my opinion.

I doubt that Hopkins will fight him. He'd rather get stripped by the WBC and retain the other two titles (he said he was giving up the WBO to avoid the sanctioning fees) while fighting an easier fighter in Sturm than keep the WBC and possibly lose to Eastman.

My only guess can be my signature. Anyways. Hopkins will stop Eastman, I think.

This isn't a bad match. Eastman will probably provide a more spirited contest than Felix Sturm.

eastman will go down none the less...i mean he didnt take joppy well..and joppy aint all that good(he got made into a ***** by tito and owned-whichi is worst-by hopkins)..so i don think he will take someone of hopkins ability well...

wait does this mean no sturm fight???this better not be a ppv

besides trinidad, eastman is the true middleweight #1 contender!!

Things have gotta be fair, Eastman deserves a shot and if Hopkins ducks him(for whatever reason) i'll be pissed off!!

I know Hopkins is a lot better than Eastman and would probably beat him up but fighters shouldnt be allowed duck manatorys, its bad for the sport!!

I would respect Hopkins for taking the Eastman fight. the same way I respect Mosley for taking the Winky fight when nobody else would give him a chance