(Jamaica Observer) Howard ‘Batter Tea’ Eastman, one of the major attractions at the 2014 Wray & Nephew Contender Boxing series, will head into the second quarter-final bout of the series seeking win number two against Kevin ‘Bus Boy’ Hylton at the Chinese Benevolent Association tonight.
The usual pre-main bout attractions will open the night’s proceedings about 7:30 and will include two amateur fights and a spontaneous hilarious variety show, heading into the Eastman/Hylton main event scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30.
It is a bout that is not expected to last as long as ‘miss janey fire’, as Eastman is not likely to give the ‘Bus Boy’ as much close quarters room to operate as did Prince-Lee Isadore, who never made it beyond the third round after leading on points up to one minute 33 seconds before being decked and then helped out of his misery by the timely intervention of referee Ian Jardine.
Both advanced to this stage of the contest by way of the knockout route. Eastman’s destruction of Derrick ‘Guts’ Spencer in the preliminaries was even more clinical, as after toying with Spencer for the first round, he rescued the once promising amateur from himself by putting him down to be counted out.
Eastman, a Guyanese representing Team Caribbean — aged 43 and stands at 6′ 2″ — is a journeyman of 60 professional fights with a ring record of 48 wins as against 12 losses.
“I’m looking forward to fighting ‘Bus Boy’. I’ve never seen any of his fights apart from the one against Prince-Lee Isadore in the Contender series, but I’m actually excited about this match and looking forward to the challenge,” said Eastman.
Hylton, a Jamaican representing Team Jamaica, is eight years younger than Eastman and stands at 5′ 6″. He has a professional ring record of eight bouts with five wins and three losses.
Following his fine piece of finishing against Prince-Lee Isadore to reach this stage of the contest, Hylton appeared confident ahead of tonight’s engagement.
“I’m confident about this fight. I’m positive I’ll give him a fight he’ll never expect. I hope he comes prepared because I’m so focused on that J$2 million and trust me, nothing, nothing can stop me from getting that.”
