EASTMAN PLANS TO SHOCK THE WEST BRIT CROSSES POND FOR SHOT AT HOPKINS.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

When Howard Eastman speaks, he doesn't sound like someone from Battersea, England, but there is a good reason: He didn't move there from his native Guyana until he was a week shy of his 15th birthday.

It was in Guyana, at the tender age of 6, Eastman discovered the fighting instinct he hopes will give him the advantage over Bernard Hopkins on Saturday at Staples Center.

Hopkins' World Boxing Council middleweight belt will be on the line and he will be making his 20th consecutive title defense.

Nicknamed ``The Battersea Bomber,'' Eastman is 40-1 with 34 knockouts. Although most of his fights have taken place in England and his ring record does not include many big names, Eastman was impressive in losing a majority decision to William Joppy in November 2001 for the vacant World Boxing Association title.

``When I was 6 years old, I was in Guyana in the Caribbean and I was bullied in school,'' said Eastman, 34. ``And this bullying went on for a long time. One day I just had enough. I got frustrated and, out of this frustration, I swung and I knocked out the champ, the guy that was doing all the bullying.

``Ever since then, I wanted to be a fighter. I wanted to be a champion.''

It was never easy. He grew up facing the many hardships that come with living in Guyana. But he comes off as a dedicated sort, something that helped him get through the hard times as he began to polish his boxing skills prior to his move to England.

``If you know Guyana, then you know that's ghetto,'' Eastman said. ``And it's so hard to be there. It's tough, it's hard, but that's what I'm about. I can't run away from that. I love that. I love Guyana.''

That's why Eastman has a residence there, which he shares with his wife, Nicole, and their two daughters. It was in Guyana just a few months ago that Eastman escaped a motorcycle accident with just one large laceration.

``Man, I faced death right in the face,'' he said. ``I was in an accident that people would seldom walk away from. I just had a big gash on my knee.''

Oscar De La Hoya, who promotes Hopkins under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, was there the night Eastman nearly beat Joppy.

``I was doing research on Howard Eastman and his last four opponents have a combined record of 107-13, so Howard Eastman is obviously a very worthy opponent,'' De La Hoya said.

No question. One look at him against Joppy, and it was evident Eastman was no pretender. He has since won eight consecutive fights and the European and British Commonwealth middleweight championships.

``He is a sleeper,'' Hopkins said of the WBC's No. 2-ranked challenger. ``I went back and looked at 10 tapes, and this guy is a good fighter.''

Eastman said the trials and tribulations he has endured have made him strong enough to shock the world Saturday. He is predicting a fifth-round knockout.

``The number five is in my head, you understand?'' Eastman said. ``How it got there, I don't know. Number five is in my head, so number five is what I'm going to take him out in.''

If that happens, Eastman will more than live up to his nickname.

That he doesn't speak with a British accent won't mean a thing, if that happens.

Robert Morales, [phone]

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

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