Brooklyn, NY (January 22) – Undefeated 135-pound world champion Robert Easter (21-0, 14 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio was given a split decision victory over former world champion Javier Fortuna (33-2-1, 23 KOs) in the co-main event of the SHOWTIME telecast. The judges scored the bout 114-113, 113-114 and 115-112. www.cboxinginfo.com scored the fight 117 – 110 for Fortuna.
The back-and-forth bout saw two skilled fighters stay in the pocket and look to do damage from the inside. A second round point deduction from Fortuna proved costly when the Dominican was warned and then penalized for hitting Easter behind the head. Without the one point deduction, the fight would have been scored a draw. Fortuna landed the more powerful punches while Easter fought in spurts and was not very busy. Easter Jr., who held a significant height advantage, out landed Fortuna, connecting on 120 of 383 (31 percent) power punches while Fortuna connected on 113 of 441 (26 percent).
“It was a tough fight, he’s a former world champion for a reason,” Easter told Gray. “We made it tough trying to counter punch. He wasn’t throwing much and it made it difficult for me to chase this guy around.
“I couldn’t get the knockout but we got the win and that’s all that matters. I knew he was going to run once he felt my power. He just wanted to grab and hold the whole fight.”
Looking ahead, Easter made his intentions clear as he seeks unification bouts in the near future, “I want to fight the champions and unify these belts. Fights like these aren’t in my game plan. I’m ready for Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares to sign the contract.”
A disgruntled Fortuna also spoke to Gray, “the public knows what happened here. They booed because they know that I won this fight.
“If he’s a man let’s fight again at 135-pounds,” said Fortuna, who failed to make weight on two attempts Friday, which meant that Easter’s belt would not be on the line. “I will definitely make the weight. I didn’t give myself enough time to train.”
Quotes from Easter and Fortuna:
ROBERT EASTER
“He tried to run and counter punch and hold the whole fight. He wasn’t giving me much of an option. I couldn’t really take it to him because he didn’t want that kind of fight.
“I thought it was a close fight. He didn’t give me many opening. But all he did was hold and run for 12 rounds.
“It means a lot to fight on this stage. I wish I could have scored the knockout but it wasn’t happening tonight.”
“It was a tough fight, he’s a former world champion for a reason. We made it tough trying to counter punch. He wasn’t throwing much and it made it difficult for me to chase this guy around.
“I couldn’t get the knockout but we got the win and that’s all that matter. I knew he was going to run once he felt my power. He just wanted to grab and hold the whole fight.
“I want to fight the champions and unify this belt. Fights like these aren’t in my game plan. I’m ready for Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares to sign the contract.
“No one can beat me. He just ran and held all fight. I apologize that I didn’t get the knockout but the win is all that matters.”
JAVIER FORTUNA
“I felt very good about the way I fought tonight
“The first couple of rounds I checked the way I was fighting and then I just took over the fight.
“I did not know that the referee was deducting a point. He took the point but never advised me.
“If we rematch I will knock [Easter] out but I want to see if he is man enough to take a rematch.”
“The public knows what happened here. They booed because they know that I won this fight.
“If he’s a man let’s fight again at 135-pounds. I will definitely make the weight. I didn’t give myself enough time to train.”
