BOXER Sakima Mullings was delighted on his return to the island yesterday after his unanimous decision against the experienced Howard Eastman for the WBC CABOFE welterweight title in Guyana.

The three judges saw the 30-year-old Mullings winning 11 of the 12 rounds at the Princess Hotel, located on the outskirts of the capital Georgetown.

The victory means Mullings could be ranked in the top 20 in the world in the WBC welterweight division.

Armed with his newly claimed WBC CABOFE welterweight belt and the Commonwealth Zonal middleweight belt won in June 2011, Mullings told the Jamaica Observer he felt ecstatic at toppling a fighter with the boxing credentials of the 42-year-old Eastman.

“I am pleased I was able to fight and defeat a pedigree boxer and one with the credentials of Howard Eastman… I’m ecstatic at winning,” the Jamaican said yesterday.

Mullings’ record moved to 12-1 in his short professional career, while the veteran Eastman, dubbed the ‘Battersea Bomber’, dropped to 46-12.

Despite the win, Mullings, who was a semi-finalist in the middleweight edition of the Wray & Nephew Contender Boxing Series, two years ago, said he will be looking back over areas in which he can improve.

“I’m my worst critic, so I will go and look back on the tape of the fight,” he said in a sober tone.

Mullings added that he was not disappointed at not knocking out his opponent despite dominating the encounter. He instead suggested that it was a major feat pulling out such a performance in an atmosphere which he believes was initially far from welcoming.

“No, I’m not disappointed at not knocking him out. I’m the smaller fighter and I’m stronger at the welterweight class, though I’ve fought at the middleweight division.

“He has plenty of experience at a heavier weight class and battled against many fighters with huge punches. He has hardly been knocked out in over 50 bouts.

“I beat him and I fought in front of a hostile home crowd at the beginning. It was great because at the end some of them were behind me,” Mullings reasoned, while adding “the win gives us options and has opened many doors, so that is a beautiful thing”.

Eastman, the Guyana-born, England-based fighter, has fought many top boxers throughout his illustrious career, including United States former middleweight standout Bernard Hopkins.

Mullings’ manager and trainer Chris Brown praised his fighter for the display against such a journeyed opponent. He said Mullings has “stepped it up a notch” with such a dominant performance.

“It (the fight) went the distance, but Sakima beat him up every round. Apparently he (Eastman) has a strategy to allow boxers to punch themselves out, but at the end Sakima was just as strong or was stronger than him.

“He (Eastman) got one round, but I think it could have gone either way. He is 42, but don’t think he is finished. This guy is rough, he is tough as nails and he hits hard. Remember Eastman has won European and Commonwealth titles and fought twice for world titles.

“This belt puts Sakima on the world stage. People will be looking at him, so he won’t be like a regular fighter anymore… he has stepped it up a notch,” Brown said excitedly.