Easter, Barthelemy ends in split draw
Former lightweight world titleholders Robert Easter Jr. and Rances Barthelemy squared off for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) World Lightweight Title last night at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
After this scrap, we still do not have a new champion as it ended in a split decision draw.
The fight itself is easily the front runner for everyone’s “Worst Fight of the Year” category amongst boxing fans and media, as both seemed to be looking to pick their spots in a contest that over twelve rounds and thirty-six minutes didn’t yield any.
It was not very good even to the point that Showtime broadcast commentator Al Bernstein said that it was “rough to watch.”
Judges Tim Cheatham scored it 115-113 for Easter. Judge Eric Cheek scored it 115-113 for Barthelemy. While judge, Glenn Trowbridge had it even at 114 Resulting in a split draw.
Wait, were Easter and Barthelemy boxing or playing golf? pic.twitter.com/ibVJHWLqQr
— Tom Craze (@TomCraze) April 28, 2019
Despite the fact that both fighters landed a total of 106 total punches, 6 total in the final round made this truly was a very uneventful main event. Of course when asked after the fight as expected each fighter thought they won the fight.
Easter (21-1-1, 14 KOs) stated after the fight, “I feel I did enough to win this fight, but the judges saw it differently,” Easter said. “They saw it a different way.”
“Rances is a crafty fighter, an elusive fighter,” Easter said. “I tried to take the fight to him, but he wouldn’t take it. It was hard to land my shots.”
.@RobertEaster_Jr and @RealKidBlast trade shots in round 5. #EasterBarthelemy pic.twitter.com/MW5ZyLXPhm
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 28, 2019
Barthelemy (27-1-1, 14 KOs, 1 NC) had the same mindset after the fight.
“We were prepared for a different Robert Easter, the one that attacks,” Barthelemy said after the fight. “But he didn’t show up, so I couldn’t deliver my strategy.”
“I landed the cleaner and more accurate shots,” Barthelemy said. “I feel I threw more punches. I was the busier fighter. I won the fight. I think this was a missed opportunity for me. I really feel I won this fight.”
So in terms of a new Lightweight Champion for the WBA, we still don’t have one.Let’s all hope they don’t plan for Easter-Barthelemy 2 anytime soon.
Tough fight to score. #EasterBarthelemy wraps up as a draw. pic.twitter.com/Bjy1xFUswF
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 28, 2019
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
