LAS VEGAS -- There are too many titles up for grabs in boxing but don't tell that to Robert Easter Jr. and Ranches Barthelemy. The two fighters will meet on April 27 on Showtime for a vacant WBA "regular" lightweight title. While winning that title could open more doors for either fighter it's just a secondary title and, at least in the minds of boxing fans, doesn't mean much.
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| Easter catching Javier Fortuna with an uppercut |
At 5-feet, 11-inches and with a reach of 76-inches, Easter (21-1, 14 KOs) is a massive lightweight. Unfortunately he doesn't use that height to his advantage as well as he could. Part of that is because he stands with his legs so far apart that it nullifies his height advantage. Easter does have quick hands though and with them, flashes a nice jab and straight right hand. Not using his height properly isn't Easter's only flaw though. He isn't great defensively and often reaches with his punches, leaving himself out of position and vulnerable. His right hand remains dangerous though and it can catch opponents from a safe distance when Easter is really on his game.
Easter is fresh off a lopsided loss to Mikey Garcia where he was dropped and severely out boxed. He's lucky he isn't coming off back-to-back losses because he was lucky to escape with the victory against Javier Fortuna. Actually if it wasn't for a point deduction against Fortuna the fight would have ended in a split draw. The 28-year-old does have some notable wins though against fighters like Denis Shafikov, Richard Commey, and Argenis Mendez. Now Easter, a former IBF champion, will look to climb his way back to becoming a world champion but first he will have to beat Barthelemy for a secondary title.
If Easter is the tallest and longest lightweight than Barthelemy (27-1, 14 KOs) isn't far behind, standing at 5-feet 10-inches and with a reach of just under 73-inches. At times Barthelemy looks like a sharp boxer but far too often he gets drawn into a firefight and when that happens he can get very wild. He does have a sharp jab and straight right hand and on the inside he does a good job of pounding the body. Barthelemy can also switch to the southpaw stance at times, but doesn't do so as often or with as much success as a fighter like Terence Crawford. The left hook is another good weapon for Barthelemy and he loves to load up on that punch. Defensively he isn't good though and his lack of footwork means he usually just puts the earmuffs on and waits for his opponent to stop throwing punches.
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| Barthelemy landing an uppercut on Kiryl Relikh |
Barthelemy has now been fighting professionally for a decade. Along the way he has racked up wins over fighters like Mendez, Arash Usmanee, Antonio DeMarco, Shafikov, and Mickey Bey, and Kiryl Relikh. His lone loss came in a rematch against Relikh and since that loss Barthelemy has only fought once, getting stoppage win over an outclassed opponent.
While this fight could be an even one it could also end up looking very sloppy. Both Easter and Barthelemy have plenty of skills but both can get a bit careless and Barthelemy can get very wild at times. Easter won't have the massive height advantage he usually enjoys but he should still look to stay on the outside and keep Barthelemy at the end of his punches. Look for Barthelemy to try and get inside and make this a fight about trading heavy leather. If he can get to the body of Easter he could do damage.
PREDICTION: This won't be an easy fight for Robert Easter Jr. and he's certainly not taking a soft touch after losing to Mikey Garcia. Rances Barthelemy makes every fight close and he will have plenty of good moments in this fight. Those moments won't add up to enough though and Easter will get the split decision win.
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