A HIP-HOPKINS SHOW MIDDLEWEIGHT DEFENDS TITLES FOR 20TH TIME.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

Saturday's undisputed world middleweight championship fight between champion Bernard Hopkins and Howard Eastman did not leave spectators standing and screaming in appreciation.

At the end, there were even boos from the crowd of 12,828 at Staples Center.

Although Hopkins did not give them a toe-to-toe classic, he was nevertheless brilliant in winning a lopsided decision over Eastman to retain his four championship belts.

Hopkins, 40, of Philadelphia, became the sixth fighter in history - and first in the middleweight division - to make 20 successful title defenses.

``No other middleweight has accomplished that,'' Hopkins said. ``It was something I wanted to do ever since I got to 11 or 12.''

Hopkins defended his World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization belts by scores of 119-110, 117-111 and 116-112. The Daily News had Hopkins winning 118-111.

According to statistics, Hopkins landed 43 percent of his punches compared to just 13 percent for Eastman. There were no knockdowns, but Hopkins appeared to stun Eastman several times with short, crisp punches.

Hopkins (46-2-1) spent a good part of the fight circling Eastman (40-2), who was trying to make the champion engage him in a slugfest. Thanks to a stiff jab that snapped back Eastman's head several times and some beautiful straight rights, Hopkins put on a boxing clinic.

``I think there were more cheers than boos,'' Hopkins said. ``I think they wanted to see an Arturo Gatti-(Micky) Ward fight, but I don't fight like that.''

Eastman, 34, had a different perspective on the fight.

``(Hopkins) didn't fight like the champion,'' said Eastman, a Guyana-born Englishman. ``He is not as great as I thought he was. He didn't win that fight. He has to give me a rematch. He ran from me the whole time and didn't land a lot of punches.

``He was a champion in his backyard, and I dictated the pace. He never hurt me, and I feel that I was hurting him.''

Eastman landed a few hard punches, but they were few and far between. He appeared to stun Hopkins a couple of times, if only slightly, but the champion was too slick and Eastman never landed anything in the aftermath.

The eighth round was arguably the most exciting. In the last minute, Eastman landed two nice right hands to Hopkins' head, and Hopkins shook Eastman's head with a vicious left jab. The fighters then stood chest to chest, both landing punches well after the bell.

Near the end of the 10th round, Eastman landed a right uppercut and a left hand, but Hopkins came back with a huge right hand to Eastman's head at the bell.

Hopkins also landed several solid shots to the head in the 12th round.

``I knew he was tough,'' Hopkins said. ``He took a hell of a punch, and he gave a pretty good one, too.''

Hopkins was making his first start for Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, which promoted the card. Because he is 40, there will be only a few more opponents in Hopkins' career. The way Jermain Taylor fought on the undercard, many would want to see them square off.

Taylor, 26, looked spectacular while stopping Daniel Edouard with a third-round technical knockout.

``I have my sights on a few people, and one of them is Jermain Taylor,'' Hopkins said of the 2000 U.S. Olympian. ``He is on Bernard Hopkins' death-row list. Am I ready, willing and able to take on the task of a young lion? Yes, I am.''

There was virtually no action in the first round; in the second round, Eastman was almost chasing Hopkins. Few punches were landed, but Eastman did find the mark a couple of times.

The crowd began to jeer in the third round as Hopkins circled Eastman, trying to find an angle. Slowly but surely, Hopkins began to find the range. Once he did, he was masterful in landing short, clean punches to Eastman's head.

Eastman began to miss more and more as Hopkins fought with defensive precision. Hopkins was so sharp at times that he hurt Eastman with a short right uppercut in the seventh round while moving backward.

This was Eastman's second shot at a world championship. He lost a majority decision to William Joppy for the vacant WBA title in November 2001.

The victory gives Hopkins a record of 21-1-1 in title fights. He has not lost since May 1993.

Robert Morales, [phone], Ext. 2213

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Bernard Hopkins, left, trades punches with Howard Eastman during his unanimous victory at Staples Center.

(2) Howard Eastman, left, landed a few hard punches against Bernard Hopkins in the middleweight title bout.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News