As confirmed by Robert Easter Sr, IBF lightweight titlist Robert Easter Jr (19-0, 14 KOs) will have hometown advantage June 30th when he defends against mandatory challenger Russian Denis Shafikov (38-2-1, 20 KOs). The fight will take place in Toledo, Ohio, Easter’s second consecutive defense at home.

This will be Shafikov’s third shot at the IBF title. His first was a horrific fight against Miguel Vasquez in 2014. It was just a terrible, terrible fight and I don’t care to ever talk about it again. In December of 2015 Shafikov had a much better showing against Rances Barthelemy. Not to say the Vasquez fight was his fault as many Vasquez fights are just as terrible, but Shafikov looked really good for the first half of the Barthelemy fight. Barthelemy and his Cuban pedigree took over in the last third and I scored the fight a draw. Ultimately the Cuban got the decision on two 116-112s and a really confusing 119-109 card. Barthelemy winning was not a robbery, but that last card was just plain not good. 2016 brought Shafikov a dominant win over previously unbeaten Jamal Herring before he returned home to Russia to win a narrow, fairly scored split decision with over a very good fighter in Ghana’s Richard Commey.

Commey is the same fighter Easter Jr won the title against in another super close, very entertaining fight. Personally I was really hoping for a rematch, but Shafikov in with Easter should be an equally good fight. Easter Jr has defended the belt once in an soft defense against Luis Cruz. Cruz did not deserve to be in that fight and never stood a chance. Honestly the fight was a waste of time, but Easter is still a bit of a prospect even though he has the belt given that it was just his nineteenth fight. Now he is back in the deep end with Shafikov. This should be a great fight.

No word on TV yet, but I imagine a PBC card of some kind.