IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine world heavyweight champion Wladimir “Dr. Steel Hammer” Klitschko successfully defended his titles by knocking out “Fast” Eddie Chambers in the 12th round Saturday in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs), who has won twelve consecutive bouts since he suffered a fifth round TKO loss to Lamon Brewster in April 2004, thoroughly dominated the entire contest with a steady dose of effective jabs.
Regardless of the fact that he was in utter control, Klitschko’s trainer, Emanuel Steward, was displeased with his fighter’s aggressiveness and he urged “Dr. Steel Hammer” to knockout the overwhelmed native of Philadelphia.
Finally, Klitschko accepted Steward’s advice and he landed a vicious left hook that rendered Chambers (35-2, 18 KOs) unconscious with only moments remaining in the final round.
“I have to give him credit, he was very fast,” said Klitschko, 33, a Ukrainian national. “He doesn’t have much punching power and his game plan was gone by round six.”
Klitschko’s methodical style of fighting is not popular among boxing fans who yearn for ferocious and savage punchers in the heavyweight division.
For many onlookers, Klitschko’s approach is further frustrating because he is hesitant to throw powerful bombs despite the enormous size advantage that he has owned over all of his professional opponents to date.
“Unwatchable,” said Brad Sherwood, 29, a resident of South Boston who is a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym in Medford. “Boxing is basically a fistfight. Klitschko makes it a match of pawing.”
Granted, Wladimir Klitschko is not exactly the definition of excitement as a prizefighter.
Nevertheless, as previously noted, he hasn’t lost since George W. Bush’s first term and, considering his relatively young age and the dearth of quality fighter’s presently competing in the heavyweight division, he likely won’t lose in Barack Obama’s first term either.
Comments