In a highly anticipated slugfest, Hardy will do well not to underrate Eastman

May 30, 2012 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
When Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy signed to fight Iwan “Pure Gold’ Azore for the Caribbean Boxing

Federation (CABOFE) title his focus was so intense that disparaging remarks from Azore sparked a brawl in the Avenue of the Republic office of Abdool and Abdool Insurance Brokers, and acrimonious feelings that overlapped into fight night where Hardy prevailed.
Few would forget the brutal sixty seconds exchange between the two boxers that left Azore sporting a deep gash over his left eye. Hardy later completed the task with a stunning 9th round knockout of his nemesis.
The feat strengthened Hardy’s claim of being a knockout artist with a patented left hook he dubbed as the ‘chin check’ which meant that after delivering the blow he would be able to gauge his opponent’s resistance capacity.
To date, all but one of Hardy’s opponents, Troy Lewis, have failed the test with Patrick Boston suffering the worst fate after he was knocked out in just 20 seconds in their October 2010 bout.  While Hardy’s record appears flattering, one is tempted to question the quality of his opponents in order to arrive at an informed choice. Closer examination reveals that the March encounter with Mark Austin was the toughest and it took the ‘Chin Checker’ all of 8 rounds to complete his mission.
Currently preparing for the imminent World Boxing Council (WBC) 50th Anniversary tournament, Hardy is contracted to fight Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman on June 1 next, in what is undoubtedly the sternest test of his fledgling professional career. Eastman is no slouch but his career has seen better days. He is depending on his vast experience, garnered after years of practicing his trade in Europe and North America.
The ‘Battersea Bomber’ started his career on a similar note as Hardy and at the end of his 8th fight, the stage Hardy is now at, he had also chalked up seven knockouts. As a matter of fact, at the end of his 15th bout, Eastman had defeated all comers and only British fighter, Andy Peach, could have boasted of hearing the final bell.
It was only when Eastman ventured into the big league, fighting William Joppy, in November 2001, for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight title, that he suffered his first loss. Despite the hue and cry of the pundits that he was ‘done in’ Eastman would have realized that fighting in the big leagues was a total different scenario. He was to suffer back to back losses to Bernard ‘Executioner’ Hopkins, Edison Miranda and Arthur Abraham.
Eastman resumed his winning ways, winning thrice in Great Britain, before returning to Guyana where he distinguished himself among former WBA welterweight king, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Denny Dalton, Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes and Trinidadian, Kevin Placide before his career hit another brick wall with losses to local light/heavyweight king, Kwesi Jones, local middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou and Trinidadian, Kurt Sinnette. Maybe these losses have convinced Hardy that he too could join the bandwagon and hand Eastman his 10th loss from 37 fights.
The biggest mistake that Hardy could make is to believe that Eastman is ‘over the hill’ and an easy proposition. At present the former European champion is preparing ardently at the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, St Magdalene and Strand New Amsterdam under the tutelage of Orland ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers. His coach intimated that Eastman is in the best shape of his life and is currently engaged in sparring sessions with Kelsie George, who fights James Walcott on the same card. Eastman is also utilizing the services of a few amateur boxers including Richard Williamson, Kishon Simon and Travis Fraser.
When contacted yesterday afternoon, Rogers exuded confidence saying that Eastman plans to take Hardy into the late rounds where he (Hardy) is most uncomfortable. Indeed, this ploy seems sound especially since Hardy is yet to prove that he is capable of delivering the ‘chin checker’ with equal force in the late rounds.
It must also be noted that Eastman is a decent puncher after disposing of 36 of his opponents. He boasts a knockout ratio of 65.45 percent as against Hardy’s 87.5 percent. However, to his credit, Eastman would have fought more qualitative opponents. Hardy remains unperturbed and confident that Eastman, despite his most ardent application, will miserably fail the ‘chin check’ test. We will just have to wait and see!
The two other professional bouts will see Barbadian, Miguel Antoine, up against Trinidad based Guyanese, Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore and Rudy Fraser versus Cassius Matthews. There are also four amateur bouts among some of the nation’s top pugilists.
The bouts will be taped by National Communications Network (NCN) for a later showing and as usual the admission fee remains at $1,000 for adults and half that amount for children.   Bell time is 20:00hrs sharp.

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