By Ryan Burton
Robert Easter Jr. (21-0) is down in South Florida working with world class trainer Kevin Cunningham who has been added to his team for his next fight.
Easter, who holds the IBF lightweight belt, was last in action in January when he won a split decision over Javier Fortuna in Brooklyn. The fight was the second tough fight in a row for the Toledo, Ohio native who beat Denis Shafikov via unanimous decision last June. He won his title in 2016 when he defeated Richard Commey via split decision.
Cunningham is the long time trainer of former two-division champion Devon Alexander and also recently started working with WBA super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis who blasted out Jesus Cuéllar in three rounds last month in their first fight together. Cunningham is also now working with AdrienBroner who battled Jessie Vargas to a draw on the same card as Davis-Cuéllar.
BoxingScene.com’s Keith Idec recently reported that a unification bout between Easter and WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia will likely take place in late July or August.
IN OTHER NEWS: BoxingScene.com has been advised that bantamweight prospect Shawn Simpson (7-0) is now a promotional free agent. According to his adviser Antoine Gooch, they are still on good terms with their former promoter Warriors Boxing and were officially given their release on May 15th.
Simpson turned pro in June, 2015 with a 4th round knockout of Damon Simon in what was his only fight of the year. He was more active last year, going 4-0 in his 2017 campaign and plans on being back in the ring in the near future.
The 24-year-old Chicago native was a highly decorated amateur and won several Golden Gloves and PAL championships. His bid to make the 2012 US Olympic team came to an end at the Olympic Trials when he lost on points to the much more experienced three-time Olympian Rau'shee Warren.
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