HOWARD Eastman has been offered an all-British European middleweight title fight against Worcester's Robert McCracken.
Battersea's British and Commonwealth champion has moved into title contention following the decision of Erland Betare, of France, to give up the European Boxing Union belt.
To fight McCracken for the vacant championship, Eastman would be putting a great deal on the line as the official leading contender for the World Boxing Association title of America's William Joppy.
He recently told promoter Panos Eliades: "I want to fight McCracken for the European championship before I fight Joppy for the world crown. I feel if I cannot beat McCracken I have no business fighting for the world title."
Eliades has signed International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Vassily Jirov, of Kazakhstan, on a two-year promotional deal -- and that could bring closer a unification contest with Shef-field's World Boxing Organisation holder Johnny Nelson.
"Jirov says he'll fight Nelson, now let's see if Nelson wants to take the fight," said Eliades.
Jirov, a punishing body-puncher who is based in America, not only won the 1996 Olympic light-heavyweight gold medal in Atlanta but also the award for the best boxer of the tournament.
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