By Journal Staff Writer
Fresh off the heels of knocking out Algeni Mendez, a former world boxing champion, who prior to that night, had never been knocked out, Toledo’s own son, Robert Easter Jr. achieved what so many thought was impossible; he knocked out Mendez in the first round.
On Tuesday, June 7, Toledo City Council recognized, and honored the accomplishments of Robert Easter Jr. by presenting him with a resolution.
LeRonya Drayton, childhood friend to Robert Easter Sr., who was also a former professional boxer, was instrumental behind getting Toledo City Council to recognize the young boxer’s accomplishments.
“Robert Easter Jr. has already accomplished a lot, and so I wanted to get city council to recognize those accomplishments,” she told The Toledo Journal.
“People say you can’t succeed in Toledo, but Robert Easter Jr. is a good example that you can succeed,” she said.
Tyrone Riley, councilman, sponsored the resolution. “He, Robert Easter Jr. is a young man that has done a lot in the boxing world, and will do more and greater things in his sport. So we wanted to recognize his accomplishments by presenting him with a resolution,” Mr. Riley said.
He added that, “We want Mr. Easter, as well as other young people, to know that we support our youth, and we’re here to rally behind them on their road to success,” he said.
When it was time for Robert Easter Jr. to say a few words at the podium, after the presenting of the resolution, the potentially, next IBF World Champion, was obviously touched by the presentation. He thanked Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, Councilman Tyrone Riley, as well as the other members of city council, and he thanked his parents and family, and Toledo, “Who has always had my back.”
“I’m really honored today,” he told The Toledo Journal. “I was really moved,” he said.
“When I was a kid, I always wanted to know what it felt like to be important, and today, I know that feeling,” Robert Easter Jr. said.
Robert Easter Jr. role models included Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his biggest, and most influential role model, his father, Robert Easter Sr.
“It’s such an honor to see the city recognize my son for his accomplishments,” he said. “I’m so proud of what he is doing. It makes me feel proud about what I instilled in him. I’m just so proud of him,” Robert Easter Sr. said.
Robert Easter Jr. next fight is for the International Boxing Federation, IBF, World Title. There hasn’t been a schedule date as of yet.
