EASTMAN’S FUMES AT POINTS LOSS

Sportinglife.com, UK
July 17 2005

Howard Eastman fell victim to the rising talents of Arthur Abraham
as the WBA inter-continental champion claimed a unanimous points
decision in Nuremberg.

After a hard-fought brawl, the unbeaten Armenian was ahead on all
three scorecards (116-112, 115-113 and 119-110) – but Eastman was
left fuming at the decision.

Hard-punching Abraham took command in the middle of the fight when he
kept punishing Eastman with a variety of strong shots to head and body.

The 34-year-old Briton, in his first bout after falling to undisputed
champion Bernard Hopkins in Los Angeles, proved a great chin towards
the end of the fight but landed too few shots to impress his opponent.

Eastman carried a big smile on his face when the Armenian approached
the ring with his trademark Smurf hat and music.

Neither fighter made significant impact early out before Abraham
started the third round with a fast combination to the head, but
‘the Battersea Bomber’ kept his composure with shots to the body.

Eastman looked in trouble at the end of the fourth after finding
himself on the receiving end of two thunderous lefts to the head.

The bell kept Eastman out of further trouble, and he looked unaffected
in the fifth, where both landed several clean shots.

It was a rather dirty affair throughout, with a lot of late punching
and questionable holding, and both men kept battling it out.

Just when Eastman began to find range with his left hook, which he
bombed in three times in the seventh, Abraham landed a heavy right
towards the end of the round which trapped the Briton on the ropes.

Abraham remained on the front foot in following, forcing Eastman to
prove his strong chin especially at the end of the ninth. Several
combinations certainly left a lasting impression on the Battersea
bomb who still managed to either duck or clinch into safety.

Abraham was in complete control in the tenth as he connected with a
flurry of crushing punches.

Eastman was again wobbled by a straight left near the end of the
penultimate round. His experience of 41 fights, however, helped him
to survive another daunting combination.

Abraham then felt he had done enough to secure his 17th victory in
as many fights as he danced into safety with time running down.

Although the Armenian looked completely in control throughout,
Eastman felt “robbed” by the decision.

The Londoner said as he left the ring: “I don?t know what fight you
were watching but I did not feel I lost the fight.

“I am ashamed of the officials. I came to Germany as an amateur and
I was robbed and I have been robbed again tonight. What is wrong with
you guys?”