By Frank Gonzalez Jr. January 27th, 2008 – Congratulations to the still undefeated, newly deemed IBF top Heavyweight contender, Alexander Povetkin for a solid victory over “Fast” Eddie Chambers, a man with quick hands and quality boxing skills, who brought his undefeated record to the ring when they met Saturday night in Berlin Germany. Povetkin won a twelve round decision by scores of 117-111, 119-109 and 116-112..
It started out an exciting fight with Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11 KO’s) applying the pressure and Eddie Chambers (30-1, 16 KO’s) taking his time, landing clean punches at will and showing superior boxing skills. I had Chambers winning the first three rounds with little effort against Povetkin, who just keep coming forward and punching. In the second round, Chambers caught Povetkin with a combination left jab followed by a straight right to the jaw. Povetkin, stunned a bit, kept coming forward. At the bell, the right eye of Povetkin was quickly swelling.
Povetkin listened well to the advice of his corner, who constantly reminded him to be first with the punches. Povetkin continually pressured Chambers, occasionally breaking Chamber’s guard. For all of his work, Povetkin didn’t land anything flush.
Chambers got into a groove on defense and with good timing, unleashed his offense, which was effective, especially with the right hand. Povetkin managed to land many of his punches to the body but again, nothing flush. Povetkin was doing most of the work but it was Chambers who landed the more impressive punches, even if he seemed to be on offense for only ten percent of the rounds.
In the fourth round, Chambers landed a nice right hook. Povetkin continued to pressure him. While Chambers was the precision puncher, Povetkin was more determined and never let up on the gas, even late in the fight when he had to be tired. At times, I thought Povetkin might ‘punch himself out’ with all the energy he was using to sustain his pressing attack. He landed a few respectable shots and dictated the pace. Chambers landed whenever he threw punches but he was being too economical and I had to give round four to Povetkin for outworking Chambers.
The fifth round was more of the same, with Povetkin leading the charge and Chambers waiting for a big opening and committing to defense instead of offense. Povetkin kept punching and pressing and ultimately, doing more and racking up the rounds while Chambers fought in meditation mode.
By the sixth round, it was de ja vu all over again. The corner of Chambers was getting agitated with his patient approach against a busy fighter fighting on his home turf. Suddenly, Buddy McGirt was barking instructions, asking Chambers to do more. But the more his corner asked him to do, the less he did. This continued for another six rounds, with Chambers rarely punching and Povetkin constantly punching. Even when Chambers did punch and land, he wouldn’t ever follow through. Povetkin always came back and was the only guy making it a fight.
What was curious at first became aggravating to watch. Chambers had the potential to do so much better but for some strange reason, he didn’t show any initiative. From rounds eight through twelve, Chambers was giving the fight away, just standing there, blocking Povetkin’s shots but offering nothing in return.
Chambers corner was losing it with him between rounds, asking him, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you doing anything? You’re giving him the fight!” Chambers sat in his stool, his mind a million miles away from where he was, disregarding the importance of a fight that would make the winner the IBF number one contender at Heavyweight.
In Povetkin’s corner, he looked spent, gasping for air on his stool, eye all blackened and exhausted. But when the bell sounded to start the next round, he came out with fire and gave everything he had.
Chambers didn’t appear to want it. Povetkin wanted it and took it. It was strange because Povetkin never hurt Chambers, who blocked most of his shots, rendering the ones that landed to reduced effect. Why didn’t he fight? Was he afraid? Did someone pay him to throw the fight? It was mysterious.
By the time the Championship rounds were underway, Chambers corner told him he needed a KO to win. Chambers continued to show listlessness and no trace of wanting to win. The blank look on his face summed up the disgraceful effort he put forth Saturday night in Germany.
With this victory, Povetkin is lined up to face the winner of Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov, scheduled for February 23rd. Povetkin showed a lot of heart and that could be the ingredient that gives him a chance against Wladimir Klitschko, who I expect to beat Ibragimov, only because Klitschko is too fast, too strong and has a jab that he uses religiously that’s too long for Sultan to deal with (in my estimation). However, anything can happen. We all recall what happened when Wladimir faced major underdogs in Corrie Sanders in 2003 and Lamon Brewster in 2004.
As for “Fast” Eddie Chambers, he needs to dig down deep and ask himself if boxing is what he wants to do with his life, lest he follow in the footsteps of many others who showed great promise and then suddenly lost the desire to fight, like Dominick Guinn. Chambers has very fast hands for a Heavyweight and very good boxing skills. He needs desire to compliment his skills. If he can unite those elements, he has to potential to be a World Titleist in this continually anemic era of Heavyweights.
* * *
Comments can be sent to dshark87@hotmail.com