From *********:
Eastman mandatory for Hopkins!
"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

Hopkins should be able to keep his titles no matter who he decides to fight. They're pulling what they pulled on Lewis, with that bullsh*t John Ruiz ranking. He's won every belt and defended for every sanctioning body. If he wants to fight Felix Sturm, Kingsley Ikeke, or Winky Wright he should be allowed to. Eastman's only claim to fame was holding his own with William Joppy, a guy Hopkins slaughtered. If Eastman fought Taylor, it would have made a good mandatory, but Taylor's a puss that isn't ready to fight. That doesn't make Eastman anybody special. Bernard, if you wanna give up that belt, let 'em have it.

Hopkins owes the consistant mandatory challenger a fight. I would hate to be a good fighter and get ruled out of championship fights because of stupid boxing politics.Eastman is the most deserving out of all the middleweights as he has been waiting for an opportunity for years.

Eastman should be the manditory challenger and I think he should of got his shot a few years ago. Most people I have talked to have said Eastman should of won his fight against Joppy but I can't say. Eastman will more than likely lose against Hopkins but he deserves his shot more than Sturm or Ikeke.

Eastman will get beat by Hopkins but he deserves his shot, he is a good fighter!!

i agree eastman is better than anyone hopkins has faced since he fought trinidad. he is there on merit so if morad hakkar gets a shot then why shouldn't eastman. And i'll tell you something else it is not a straight forward fight for nard.....eastamn is strong as hell and has skills!

Eastman is garbage. He had his shot to prove he was legit when he got the Joppy fight and he couldn't do it.

Eastman is garbage. He had his shot to prove he was legit when he got the Joppy fight and he couldn't do it.

I wouldnt go as far as saying he was garbage, he's a good fighter but nothing special.

I'm gonna have to watch the full Eastman vs Joppy fight because a lot of people said Eastman was robbed!?

I dont even care if Eastman is lost to Joppy because Hopkins has been ducking this fight, Eastman has been in line for a shot for some time now and Hopkins knows its no money, no win situation!

Hopkins will probably give Eastman a good beating!

Eastman has been avoided by Hopkins and i think the reason is that Eastman`s style is all wrong for Hopkins`s. I think Hopkins wins a comfy points dec but it will be like the Keith Holmes fight in 2001.
Ugly and foul filled. But Eastman deserves his shot and Hopkins should honor it!