So where in the Bay Area can we see the Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers heavyweight title fight Saturday afternoon? That’s probably your first question. And it’s a good one, because we’re not on course to receive it.
There was some last-minute talk it would be available On Demand via Virgin and Sky Channel 480, so try to find those around noon, but don’t count on it. ESPN has come to the rescue in the past by putting the live feed from Europe on ESPN Classic, but apparently the Klitschko brothers’ drawing power in the United States is declining. Here’s some excellent background on that from Don Bernstein for ESPN.com.
Your second question is probably “Who is Eddie Chambers?” He’s certainly one of the five or six best heavyweights (but then Joshua Clottey is one of the best half-dozen welterweights), although he’s a bit smallish at 6-foot-one and about 220 pounds. He’s one of the best all-around boxers in the division, but certainly not among the most devastating punchers.
If he were a bit faster, that would be the one reason to pick Chambers. Instead, he’s not going to be able to penetrate Klitschko’s ubiquitous left jabs.
Chambers is a slicker version of Calvin Brock, the loser in one of Klitschko’s best fights, in 2006. Brock, a bit larger than Chambers, entered the match unbeaten and held his own in the point-scoring for a while, but Klitschko’s power wore him down and eventually the Ukrainian’s right hammer finished Brock.
Although Chambers outpointed Brock in 2007, it was a narrow victory. Chambers’ loss came against Alexander Povetkin, generally thought the No. 3 heavyweight behind the Klitschkos. Chambers has probably improved since then, notably defeating Samuel Peter worse than Wlad did, but this one will strongly resemble Brock-Klitschko. Klitschko will stop Chambers in round 11.
Getting back to the Klitschkos’ lack of popularity, as I invariably do, Bernstein echoes a lot of points I’ve made previously. In summation, I cite my headline for this December 2008 link, “Pacquiao, Klitschko brothers deserve greater admiration from Americans”
Comments
Let's face it, if the Klitschko's were American they'd be the biggest thing in boxing. American's just don't like the fact the heavyweight is completely dominated by 2 Europeans, plain and simple. They've virtually cleaned out the entire division.
People call them boring, but let's be honest here, whenever you have to fight chumps like Kevin Johnson who have no interest in fighting, what more can you do?? At least Arreola gave it a go and fought his heart out.
Eddie Chambers is just another top heavyweight with an excellent record, coming in confident, but as soon as he steps in the ring he's goina realise that he's way out of his depth.
It's goina be an all-you-can-eat left jab buffet for Chambers, finished with a right straight.
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