by James Slater – 27-year-old Philly big man Eddie Chambers will become the latest in a fairly long line of recent American heavyweight title challengers next March, when he will travel to Germany to face Ring magazine, IBF and WBO ruler Wladimir Klitschko. Should the man known as “Fast” Eddie lose, U.S fight fans will be left scratching their heads when it comes to who they can turn to who has any chance of bringing a world heavyweight title back home. The pressure on the softly-spoken and always friendly Chambers will be quite something as a result.
Because, but for the 35-1(18) contender, who else is there with any real chance of bringing a belt back to the States any time soon? Chris Arreola and Tony Thompson, two of the highest ranked U.S heavyweights according to the ratings of BoxRec, have already been beaten by a Klitschko, James Toney and the recently returned Shannon Briggs are seen as too old, as is the stubborn Evander Holyfield. While Kevin Johnson, who can talk a whole lot better than he can fight, was a major letdown against Vitali Klitschko recently. No, aside from Puerto Rican John Ruiz (who was born and resides in the U.S) who faces WBA champ David Haye some time early next year, Chambers is America’s best bet to bring home a belt..
To my mind, 37-year-old Ruiz, though still durable, will not beat Haye; and that leaves just the Philly nice guy when it comes to valid U.S heavyweight championship challengers capable of ending America’s drought. Can Chambers beat Wladimir?
Most fans seem to be giving the man who slimmed down to the 208-pound mark for his most recent, and most impressive victory – the points win over the previously unbeaten Alexander Dimitrenko – next to no chance. Chambers knows this, yet he is sure he will, as he puts it, “drop a lot of jaws” by causing the upset on March 20th. And let’s face it, as good as he is, Wladimir is not invincible. The 33-year-old has been beaten before, and he has also been stopped. “Dr. Steel Hammer” will also be entering the Chambers fight having recently undergone shoulder surgery. Klitschko may also be suffering from a touch of ring-rust when he faces the slickster who has only been beaten once, as a result of him having had just one fight this year. Could it be that the timing is almost perfect for “Fast” Eddie?
Winning via the kind of TKO’s Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster scored over Klitschko isn’t how those few who think Chambers can win will do so. Not a massive puncher (but also no feather fist), Chambers’ best shot is to use his quite beautiful boxing skills to win a decision next year. And, southpaw Chris Byrd aside, Klitschko has never met anyone as fast, as clever and as slick as Chambers. Many fans have compared Chambers to Byrd – who Wladimir stopped in 2006 and out-pointed in an earlier, 2000 meeting – but the man from Philly hits harder than Byrd did and he is also right at his peak; whereas Byrd had had a lot of tough fights before going into the rematch with Klitschko.
Chambers, a better inside fighter than Byrd, has made it clear he will give it a massive effort in March. Of course, Byrd gave it his best when he met the heavyweight ruler, but feeling Chambers will meet the same fate simply because he reminds them of Byrd is a mistake being made by the fans. Though both guys are small for the heavyweight division, Byrd had come all the way up from 169-pounds, whereas Chambers turned pro at heavyweight and he is and always will be a heavyweight.
In the best condition of his life, coming in off the best performance of his life and going in against a champion who has had surgery and who has been inactive; Eddie Chambers will have a lot going for him on March 20th. If – and it is a big if – he can get inside Klitschko’s superb left jab and make the champion work harder than he is accustomed, Chambers could get into his groove and shock us all by winning a close decision.
He’ll have to fight a near perfect fight to do it, but “Fast” Eddie is looking forward to the challenge!