By James Slater: According to promoter Dan Goossen, it is likely the IBF heavyweight elimination bout between “Fast” Eddie Chambers and Tony Thompson will go ahead in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 29th; on the under-card of the “Super Six” grand final between Andre Ward and Carl Froch.
Speaking with Ringtv.com, Goossen said he is hoping to get the heavyweight bout onto live T.V. Thompson, known as “The Tiger” has already signed the contract for the fight, while Chambers is expected to sign over the weekend. An interesting fight, between the two men many fans look at as amongst the top two or three best heavyweights in America today, Chambers-Thompson could go either way. But will the fight be exciting?
Chambers, 36-2(18) and younger than Thompson by a decade at age 29, has won one fight since his failed attempt at taking Wladimir Klitschko’s belts. While Thompson, 36-2(24) has won five straight since his own late-rounds KO loss to “Dr. Steel Hammer.” Now the two slick boxers meet in an effort to earn another crack at the mighty Ukrainian.
Southpaw Thompson has the edge in punching power, while Chambers has the faster hands and maybe the faster reflexes period. A chess-match-type affair is an extreme possibility, with the purists, if not the slugfest lovers, being in for an enjoyable fight. Both men have a good chin (with each guy being stopped only by Wlad) and both fighters are well practiced in going 10 or 12 complete rounds – Thompson having gone ten or more on four occasions, Chambers on eleven occasions. As such, no-one will be remotely surprised if October’s bout goes the limit.
I have to give the younger, faster man from Philly an overall edge over the veteran from Washington D.C. Neither guy has been overly active as of late: with Thompson having boxed just once this year and Chambers having done the same. The southpaw stance of Thompson isn’t likely to trouble Chambers, seeing as how Eddie has so much experience; picked up in the gym and in the ring, but Thompson’s significant height and reach advantages may give him an upper hand (Thompson stands 6’5” and has a reach of 81”, Chambers is 6’1” and 75”). Then again, Chambers has seen off giants before: see his impressive win over Alexander Dimitrenko.
Thompson is adept at throwing good, downward chopping blows that can trouble a shorter man, and his southpaw jab is formidable. But Chambers is as slick as they come and I just can’t see a Thompson win, unless “The Tiger” manages to land something big, pretty much out of the blue. I see Chambers boxing and moving, picking up points with nice combinations and lots of jabs, and emerging as a fairly wide decision winner.
But will the fans get excited over the idea of a Klitschko-Chambers II?