Robert Easter, Jr., will re-enter the ring with a new opponent — and a new division.
The Toledo native will make his debut at super lightweight (140 pounds) against Adrian Granados on Oct. 26 in 10-round bout in Reading, Pa. The fight will be televised by Showtime along with a WBC 154-pound title eliminator between Erickson Lubin and Terrell Gausha.
Easter, 28, turned professional at lightweight (135 pounds) in late 2012, and spent nearly seven years in the division, going 21-1-1 with 14 knockouts and winning a world championship.
Granados (20-7-2, 14 knockouts), a 30-year-old native of Mexico, most recently lost by knockout to Danny Garcia at welterweight.
"I'm moving up to 140 pounds, and I've been preparing really hard for this fight,” Easter said in a release announcing the fight. "Expect me to come out and be very explosive on Oct. 26."
Easter earned the International Boxing Federation belt at lightweight by defeating the previously unbeaten Richard Commey in 2016. That fight took place at Santander Arena in Reading, where Easter also is scheduled to match up with Granados.
Easter successfully defended his title three times — including twice at the Huntington Center — before losing the IBF title in a unification bout against Mikey Garcia in July, 2018.
Most recently, Easter drew with Rances Barthelemy in a split decision in April. Easter most recently was ranked the No. 4 lightweight by the WBA.
At 5-foot-11 with a reach of 76 inches, Easter’s size was a rarity in the lightweight division, and his frame had many in boxing suspecting he would eventually move up in weight classes.
Conversely, Granados has had previous success at 140 pounds and said he is looking forward to facing off against Easter.
“Our styles mesh well,” Granados said in a release. “Easter is a sharp fighter, and that's why I'm giving it everything I have in training camp. I'm looking to bounce back from my last fight and show everyone that I still have a lot to give the sport of boxing.”
The two men have a common opponent in Javier Fortuna, who faced Easter and Granados five months apart in 2018. Easter defeated Fortuna in a split decision to keep hold of the IBF lightweight title.
Fortuna’s fight with Granados was scored a no decision when Granados pushed Fortuna out of the ring in the fourth round.
Granados will serve as Easter’s first test at 140 pounds, a new class and a new beginning for the former champion.
“I anticipate Granados coming to fight like he always does,” Easter said. “He's a fighter who always comes prepared and puts his heart into it, but I'm going to do the same thing and show that I'm ready to make a statement in this division.”
First Published September 26, 2019, 8:07 p.m.
