Review by AllTheBestFights.com: 2017-02-10, disappointing fight between Robert Easter Jr and Luis Cruz: it gets two stars.The undefeated Robert Easter Jr entered this fight with a perfect boxing record of 18-0-0 (14 KOs=78%) and he is ranked as the No.1 lightweight in the world. He fought twice last year beating Argenis Mendez (=Mendez vs Easter Jr) and Richard Commey (=Easter Jr vs Commey).
His opponent, Luis Cruz, has an official record of 22-4-1 (16 knockouts) but he won just one out of his last four bouts, against Roberto Acevedo in 2015, after this fight he drew with Ivan Redkach. Robert Easter Jr vs Luis Cruz is valid for the IBF World lightweight title (Easter’s first defense). Watch the video and rate this fight!
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Date: 2017-02-10
Where: Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio, USA
Division: lightweight (135 lbs, 61.2 kg)
Title: IBF World lightweight title
Easter’s previous fight: Robert Easter Jr vs Richard Commey
Easter’s next fight: Robert Easter Jr vs Denis Shafikov
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Easter vs Cruz Fight Video:
(Free embeddable video hosted on Youtube and not uploaded by AllTheBestFights)
Easter has a body type and style reminiscent of Hearns but without the finesse or power. This fight proves that if you have a longer reach than the other guy that you can nullify his attack. In retrospect Cruz should have swallowed a few jabs early and fought on the inside attacking the body and at other times been a runner like May weather. Would have been a much more interesting fight and may have had a different outcome. You simply cant keep the same style for different opponents and rxpect to win.
Easter Jr is not at an A level fighter at this point in time.
Nor do I think he ever will be given his current team and surroundings. If Emanuel Lewis were alive they would make a great pair. And it will take something like that for Easter to get to the A level. TMT and Ohio will not cultivate it.
Easter lacks discipline and it will cost him in his big fights – when he
finally has them. Right now I see Garcia beating him pretty easily. Think Crawford vs Postol.