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WHEN the two met on the June 1 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC)/Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight champion Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy survived several unsportsmanlike tactics from Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman, to come away with a unanimous decision victory. Many in the boxing fraternity felt that the 41-year-old Eastman was about to turn on the heat in the 10-round contest – even though he lost a point for hitting his opponent behind the head – when the action was brought to a close, with some calling for a rematch.
Those who wanted a rematch have gotten their heart’s desire, as both pugilists will headline the upcoming Hurry Up Promotions’ (HUP) 36 rounds of fistic fury dubbed ‘Foreign Invasion’, scheduled to punch off at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground on Saturday, October 13.
Yesterday they met at the office of Abdool and Abdool to affix their signatures to the respective contracts for the night’s action, will which also see Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore, make his debut as a solo promoter, taking on Juan Carlos Pena in a six-round featherweight matchup.
Eastman (46-10) will do battle with Hardy (8-0) in an eight-round middleweight contest and this time around, he promises to teach his opponent, for whom he has a lot of respect outside of the ring and not in it, a boxing lesson as he seeks to avenge his loss the first time around.
“I feel good and optimistic about the timing of the rematch. The opponent is on record to have beaten me so this is for me to put things right and I am looking forward to this bout, in as much as I was looking forward to take on my previous scheduled opponent,” stated Eastman.
He was referring to Frank Galarza (7-0-1), who was forced to pull out of the contest, having been engaged in a bruising battle with Alantez Fox at the Resorts World Casino, Queens, New York last Saturday, a contest that ended in a draw.
According to Moore, Galarza’s promoter and manager with whom he shares a close relationship informed him of his client’s inability to recuperate in time to keep the ring date with Eastman, hence a replacement was sought, with Hardy being the ideal opponent.
“I was forced to turn to the only fighter whom I felt could give Eastman a good battle and that boxer is Hardy, since Edmond De Clou, who would fit the bill anytime, is unavailable since he is contracted to fight on the card as well,” said Moore.
When asked to respond to Eastman, Hardy started off by saying “If I had a “dice” with me right now and I rolled it, irrespective of the side it landed on, it would read, victory, repeat, win again. In fact it would be the same result.
“Eastman, from June 1 to now September and later on October 13, is much older, slower and weaker and from June 1 to now, I can only be smarter, stronger and increase my ability in my craft and I think I will be giving him a chance to call it a day, as he’s had a long career and it was good.”
Those were the words that saw Eastman issuing a warning to Hardy, saying he will be taught a boxing lesson on the night of the contest, as he has no intentions of retiring from the sport, despite his age.
Meanwhile, Moore will be looking to put aside his lackadaisical showing to Breilor Teran, whom he defeated by a majority decision at the Princess Hotel two years ago, when he steps into the ring to take on Carlos Pena who hails from the Dominican Republic.
“I intend to campaign in the featherweight division at the international level, as I am preparing to fight as a featherweight on the WBC’s Showbox,” stated Moore who was once ranked as high as number 3 by the WBC, where he was scheduled to face Johnny Gonzalez for his title.
“Looking back at Teran fight, the referee erred wherein he gave Teran a standing eight-count early in the contest, something that is unheard of in professional fights, while I was given a count after I went down from a low blow.
“Even though I won the fight, I must say that I was mentally fatigued since I had lots to do hours before the fight, including arranging the setting up of chairs at ringside. But that’s a lesson I have learnt and this time around, Team Hurry Up have the necessary individuals in place that will take care of certain things, hence I will be able to focus on my fight.”
Moore showered praise on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) monthly organised Friday Night Fights, which he says give boxers in Guyana and even the Caribbean, a chance to hone their skills and improve their records.
“When I look at the faces of those fighters who will be in action on this card, I see intensity and this only came about because of the action they have been seeing in the ring in recent times, thanks to the GBBC, whom I would like to say thanks to as well, for giving me the opportunity to promote this card as well,” said Moore.
Other fights on the card which is being sponsored by LIAT, Delta Airlines and Banks DIH Limited will see Charlton Skeete and Allan Phallen from the USA meet in a four-round featherweight clash, Orland Rogers face Clive Atwell in a six-round catchweight contest and De Clou face Jermine King over six rounds in a super middleweight matchup.
Following the completion of negotiations today, Anthony Augustine and Mitchell Rogers are expected to do battle in a heavyweight contest that is scheduled to last six rounds.
Those who wanted a rematch have gotten their heart’s desire, as both pugilists will headline the upcoming Hurry Up Promotions’ (HUP) 36 rounds of fistic fury dubbed ‘Foreign Invasion’, scheduled to punch off at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground on Saturday, October 13.
Yesterday they met at the office of Abdool and Abdool to affix their signatures to the respective contracts for the night’s action, will which also see Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore, make his debut as a solo promoter, taking on Juan Carlos Pena in a six-round featherweight matchup.
Eastman (46-10) will do battle with Hardy (8-0) in an eight-round middleweight contest and this time around, he promises to teach his opponent, for whom he has a lot of respect outside of the ring and not in it, a boxing lesson as he seeks to avenge his loss the first time around.
“I feel good and optimistic about the timing of the rematch. The opponent is on record to have beaten me so this is for me to put things right and I am looking forward to this bout, in as much as I was looking forward to take on my previous scheduled opponent,” stated Eastman.
He was referring to Frank Galarza (7-0-1), who was forced to pull out of the contest, having been engaged in a bruising battle with Alantez Fox at the Resorts World Casino, Queens, New York last Saturday, a contest that ended in a draw.
According to Moore, Galarza’s promoter and manager with whom he shares a close relationship informed him of his client’s inability to recuperate in time to keep the ring date with Eastman, hence a replacement was sought, with Hardy being the ideal opponent.
“I was forced to turn to the only fighter whom I felt could give Eastman a good battle and that boxer is Hardy, since Edmond De Clou, who would fit the bill anytime, is unavailable since he is contracted to fight on the card as well,” said Moore.
When asked to respond to Eastman, Hardy started off by saying “If I had a “dice” with me right now and I rolled it, irrespective of the side it landed on, it would read, victory, repeat, win again. In fact it would be the same result.
“Eastman, from June 1 to now September and later on October 13, is much older, slower and weaker and from June 1 to now, I can only be smarter, stronger and increase my ability in my craft and I think I will be giving him a chance to call it a day, as he’s had a long career and it was good.”
Those were the words that saw Eastman issuing a warning to Hardy, saying he will be taught a boxing lesson on the night of the contest, as he has no intentions of retiring from the sport, despite his age.
Meanwhile, Moore will be looking to put aside his lackadaisical showing to Breilor Teran, whom he defeated by a majority decision at the Princess Hotel two years ago, when he steps into the ring to take on Carlos Pena who hails from the Dominican Republic.
“I intend to campaign in the featherweight division at the international level, as I am preparing to fight as a featherweight on the WBC’s Showbox,” stated Moore who was once ranked as high as number 3 by the WBC, where he was scheduled to face Johnny Gonzalez for his title.
“Looking back at Teran fight, the referee erred wherein he gave Teran a standing eight-count early in the contest, something that is unheard of in professional fights, while I was given a count after I went down from a low blow.
“Even though I won the fight, I must say that I was mentally fatigued since I had lots to do hours before the fight, including arranging the setting up of chairs at ringside. But that’s a lesson I have learnt and this time around, Team Hurry Up have the necessary individuals in place that will take care of certain things, hence I will be able to focus on my fight.”
Moore showered praise on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) monthly organised Friday Night Fights, which he says give boxers in Guyana and even the Caribbean, a chance to hone their skills and improve their records.
“When I look at the faces of those fighters who will be in action on this card, I see intensity and this only came about because of the action they have been seeing in the ring in recent times, thanks to the GBBC, whom I would like to say thanks to as well, for giving me the opportunity to promote this card as well,” said Moore.
Other fights on the card which is being sponsored by LIAT, Delta Airlines and Banks DIH Limited will see Charlton Skeete and Allan Phallen from the USA meet in a four-round featherweight clash, Orland Rogers face Clive Atwell in a six-round catchweight contest and De Clou face Jermine King over six rounds in a super middleweight matchup.
Following the completion of negotiations today, Anthony Augustine and Mitchell Rogers are expected to do battle in a heavyweight contest that is scheduled to last six rounds.
