Boxing Preview: Howard Eastman – Evans Ashira

ByLee Bellfield

Britain’s Howard Eastman attempts to continue his winning ways when he fights this Friday in Dudley, England.

The bout is for the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight championship and is a must win fight for the Battesea Bomber if he wishes to get back in the World Championship fold and have a third title challenge.

Opposing him is a man well known to fight fans in the UK. Evans Ashira from Kenya but based in Denmark gave Super Middleweight number 1 Joe Calzaghe a decent argument back in September 2005 before losing on points. He has also only lost 2 bouts in 28.

Eastman is an enigma. Brilliant against Robert McCracken in April 2001 he lost a golden opportunity to win the vacant WBA Middleweight Championship aganist William Joppy in a fight that all the way through he seemed capable of winning. On that night in November 2001 he lost a close points decision.

After winning 8 more bouts he was pitched in against outstanding middleweight king Bernard Hopkins for the Undisputed Title. In Hopkins 20th defence Eastman made a valiant showing before losing a unanimous decision to the cagey champion in February 2005.

Since that night 2 years ago Eastman has only fought sporadically. A controversial loss to current IBF champion Arthur Abraham followed in July 2005 and after another loss in 7 rounds against Colombian Edison Miranda things looked over for the Londoner.

Eastman revived his career with a last round knockout of good friend Richard Williams for the British title in December last year but can he be a threat again on the world stage.

One must give credit to Eastman for still plugging away trying to get that elusive world title. With a faint possibility of number 1 Jermain Taylor moving up to 168 pounds to fight Joe Calzaghe this could be Eastmans best chance yet to capture the world title but first he must defeat the obstacle of Ashira.

I dont think he will have things all his own way this Friday but I feel Eastman can battle his way to a 12 rounds points decison thus leeping the world title dream alive.