Hopkins Risks WBC Title Only.

British promoter Mick Hennessy made a statement today concerning the status of his fighter, Howard Eastman’s challenge to undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins next month. Hennessy stated that as far as he is aware, Hopkins is only willing to put his WBC middleweight title at stake against Eastman, the only title that he is mandated by the organization to defend in their fight. Hopkins has previously dismissed Eastman’s challenge as mediocre but has become a lot more respectful of Eastman as the fight became more of a reality. Industry people and knowledgeable boxing fans know that Eastman is the genuine article despite what his loss to William Joppy showed. A loss for Hopkins against Eastman would assure that he remains the WBA, IBF and WBO middleweight champion.