Eastman to tackle Richmond for super middleweight title on January 26

FORMER national and European middleweight champion Howard Eastman will tackle Derrick Richmond on January 26 for the super middleweight title of Guyana at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.The 12-round bout, which is the feature on a four-fight professional card that will also have four amateur fights, has already attracted much attention among the boxing fraternity and boxing fans.
Fresh from his fourth-round stoppage of James `Sacks’ Walcott on Boxing night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Richmond should be beaming with confidence ahead of his bout against an opponent who has literally ‘passed through the mill’ having fought some real world-raters and champions over a period of time.
Both Richmond and Eastman hail from the Ancient County of Berbice, so whichever boxer wins, the glory of having a National super middleweight champion among the populace will remain in Berbice.
Richmond won the-then vacant super middleweight title last December 26 after cornering Walcott and unleashing a barrage of combinations to his head and body.
One vicious right hook caught Walcott flush to his head and referee Eion Jardine called a halt to the proceedings.
Earlier in the fight, Richmond used the first round to feel out Walcott, but in the second round, Walcott had caught Richmond with several combinations which caused referee Jardine to issue an eight-count to Richmond.
However, it was at two minutes 56 seconds of the fourth round that Richmond’s artillery landed on target and in the process, claimed the super middleweight belt.
It must be remembered also that it was Richmond who broke the jaw of Edmond DeClou a few months ago which saw him (Richmond) win the bout by a third round stoppage.
The January 26 card will also see Lindener Cassius Matthews match gloves with Laured Stewart in a four-round welterweight contest.
Matthews is fresh from a four-round victory over Kesley Simon also on Boxing Night at the MSC venue.
Another four-rounder brings together Richard Williamson and David Thomas in a junior lightweight contest, while the main supporting bout is a six-round middleweight contest between Gladwyn Dorway and Kelsie George.
Apart from Richmond and Eastman, Dorway, George and Williamson are also from the Ancient County of Berbice.