By Keith Idec
Robert Easter Jr. didn’t deliver the knockout he promised Friday night, but he still sent his hometown fans home happy.
The much taller, quicker Easter used his skill and athleticism to fend off determined mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov in their 12-round fight for Easter’s IBF lightweight title. Easter won a unanimous decision over Russia’s Shafikov in a competitive main event of a six-bout card at Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, Easter’s hometown.
The fight included several difficult rounds to score, but two of the judges – Eugene Grant and Jamie Garayua – strangely scored each of the 12 rounds for Easter (120-108). The third judge, Carlos Ortiz Jr., credited Easter with a 116-112 win.
2023-10-18 20:42:11
