Easter retains lightweight crown with decision over Shafikov

Robert Easter, Jr. retained the IBF Lightweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov at The Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

It was a hard fought battle that was fought mostly on the inside. Easter’s handspeed was the difference in the bout as he was more adept with quick combinations inside.

Somehow two judges gave Easter every round to the tune of 120-108. A third judge was more in line with what actually happened in the ring and saw it 116-112.

Easter, 134 lbs of Toledo, OH is 20-0. Shafikov, 134 lbs of Miass, RIS is 38-3.

“I’m thankful for my team preparing me for this victory,” said Easter. “I give my performance a B- tonight. I could have done a lot better. I fought on the inside more at the beginning of the fight but my team wanted me to box so I was able to do that late and get the win.”

“I know a lot of guys’ weakness is their gas tank so I wanted to go after him and test him early,” said Easter. “Shafikov proved that’s he’s a tough opponent but we were able to get the job done.”

“I thought that’d I’d be the first guy to be able to break Shafikov down,” said Easter. “I was able to get the win and I’m going to be ready for everybody out there.”

Julian Williams stopped Joshua Conley in round seven over their scheduled ten round super welterweight bout.

In round six, Williams was cut around the right eye.  Williams, who dominated the fight, landed a hard left that sent Conley to a knee.  When the fight resumed, Williams turned it up with a hard flurry of punches, and Conley’s corner threw in the towel at 58 seconds.

Williams, 157 lbs of Philadelphia is 23-1-1 with 15 knockouts.  Conley, 156 lbs of San Bernadino, CA is 14-2-1.

Jamontay Clark won a debatable eight-round unanimous decision over Ivan Golub in a super welterweight bout.

The bout was entertaining with hard shots landed by both fighters.  Golub stunned Clark twice in round three.

Clark, 148.5 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 79-73 and 77-75 twice, and is now 12-0.  Golubm 148.5 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 13-1.