Robert Easter: record, next fight and profile →
Unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter (20-0, 14 KOs) successfully defended his title for the second time Friday night with a victory over top contender Denis Shafikov (38-3, 20 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
By Keith Idec - Robert Easter Jr. didn’t deliver the knockout he promised Friday night, but he still sent his hometown fans home happy. The much taller, quicker Easter used his skill and athleticism to fend off determined mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov in their 12-round fight for Easter’s IBF lightweight title. Easter won a unanimous decision over Russia’s Shafikov in a competitive...
The question is cliché but it is the question nonetheless: Is the third time the charm for Denis Shafikov? The Russian challenger for the IBF lightweight title this Friday (Bounce TV, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST) has already had two cracks at the belt. In both attempts he fell short but gave game effort. Slick boxers Miguel Vazquez and Rances Barthelemy were perhaps less willing to engage then the man he faces this time.
Robert Easter Jr. was as surprised as anyone when he learned Mikey Garcia was willing to move up to 140 pounds to fight Adrien Broner. Easter thought that he would be the About Billions Promotions boxer to get a shot at Garcia, the unbeaten WBC lightweight champion. The undefeated IBF 135-pound champion hopes he still gets a chance to face Garcia, but he expects that Garcia will have a loss on his record when that happens.
Robert Easter and top contender Denis Shafikov made weight for their world title showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce this Friday, June 30 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Robert Easter Jr. doesn’t expect to just defeat Denis Shafikov on Friday night. The unbeaten IBF lightweight champion anticipates becoming the first fighter to knock out the Russian southpaw. Whatever occurs during their scheduled 12-round fight in Toledo, Ohio, if Easter beats his mandatory challenger he wants his following fight to come against another lightweight titleholder.
TOLEDO, OH. - Unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter and top contender Denis Shafikov discussed their world title showdown with media Wednesday in advance of their bout that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce this Friday, June 30 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. Televised coverage on Bounce begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features super welterweight contender Julian Williams taking on once-beaten Joshua Conley. Both fighters were also in attendance Wednesday to discuss their 154-pound matchup.
Robert Easter Jr. and Denis Shafikov have both beaten Richard Commey by split decision within the past nine months. That, according to Easter, might be the only thing they have in common. Easter told BoxingScene.com that he’ll make defeating Shafikov look easy Friday night and predicted he’ll become the first fighter to knock out the Russian southpaw.
Denis Shafikov gets his third crack at a lightweight title this Friday night at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, when he faces IBF lightweight belt-holder Robert Easter. And after falling short against the likes Miguel Vazquez and Rances Barthelemy, Easter might be Shafikov's most difficult assignment to date.
Coming off his March 18th defeat of Bryant Cruz at the Madison Square Garden in New York, young lightweight contender Ryan Martin has gotten back to work. To both prepare himself and others for upcoming bouts, Martin arrived in Big Bear yesterday to help Denis Shafikov prepare for IBF lightweight titlist, Robert Easter.