Former World Lightweight Champion Robert Easter Shot Three Times in The Back in Cincinnati
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Cincinnati, OH (February 8, 2022)– In a boxing shocker, former International Boxing Federation World Lightweight champion Robert “E. Bunny” Easter Jr., a veteran of six world lightweight title bouts, was shot three times in an armed robbery attempt in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sunday night, February 6, 2021, at approximately 6:30 P.M. in the 110 block of Sycamore Street, in which Easter was robbed and shot. According to his father Robert Easter Jr, the suspects stole Easter’s gold jewelry, three diamond rings, cellphone, and demanded money, as told to Cincinnati News 11 TV.
Easter was shot three times in the back as he attempted to run away, and remains hospitalized in serious condition. As of February 8th, Easter successfully completed surgery according to his team on social media.
Advised by Al Haymon, Easter, 23-1-1 with 14 knockouts, Toledo, Ohio, went into surgery Monday at a Cincinnati hospital to remove bullet fragments, and is expected to survive the shooting. Easter, 31, graduated from Bowsher High School in Toledo in 2008. Easter was an alternate on the 2012 United States Olympic Boxing Team.
Easter came off the canvas in round eight to win the vacant International Boxing Federation World Lightweight championship by 12 round split decision won the IBF lightweight championship over Richard Comney at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania in September 9, 2016, and defending it three times, winning 12 round decisions over Luis Cruz, Javier Fortuna, and Denis Shafikov, before losing it by 12 round decision to then 38-0 Mikey Garcia at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on July 28, 2018.
A comeback attempt by Easter against Rances Barthelemy at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas in an attempt to win the vacant World Boxing Association and International Boxing Organization World Lightweight titles ended in a 12 round draw on April 27, 2019. Easter has won two comeback attempts since then, a 10 round decision win over Adrian Granados in October 2019, and a 12 round decision win over Ryan Martin in February 2021.
According to police records, in November 2021, Easter pled No Contest in an Ohio to misdemeanor assault, after punching a pregnant woman in the face unconscious at Bucks Rack City Strip Club. Easter got two years’ probation, anger management coursework, and has to maintain good behavior. The woman suffered a split lip and chipped tooth.
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