Why “Fast” Eddie Chambers is the best American Heavyweight.

Why “Fast” Eddie Chambers is the best American Heavyweight.

Mike Cassell The Philadelphia Boxing Report 7/11/09

 “Fast” Eddie Chambers is 34 – 1 (18KO’s) is not a big heavyweight, standing at just about 6’1”.  He doesn’t fit the profile HBO and Showtime are looking for. He started fighting as a child, not to become a professional, but to learn how to protect himself from bullies. Something he noticed almost immediately as an amateur was that he had greasy fast natural speed. It’s something that can’t be taught. You either have it, or you don’t.  Some fighters find comfort in their power, and never develop the skills needed to create longevity. Although Chambers has a better than 50% KO ratio, he finds comfort in his speed. His hand speed and movement above the waist is unmatched in the Glamour division. He can become very hard to hit, and the 6’7” very “Ivan Drago” like Alexander Dimentrenko found that out the hard way in Germany on the fourth of July. Chambers once again thoroughly dominated a top rated contender, this time for the WBO title eliminator. He once again does what most of these so called superior former Eastern European block fighters do not, and that’s travel across the pond. Rewind to 2008 when he lost his chance at a win to solidify a shot at Wladimir Klitschko, against Alexander Povetkin, most experts began to write him off as a top contender. That was obviously a big mistake.

I think they should call it “Mike Tysonitis”. Fans and the media together, are waiting for some young American Heavyweight to emerge who will just tear through the heavyweight division, and slay the heavyweight division’s version of the two headed monster, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. They are holding out for a hero. HBO triumphs fighters that fit the profile. Mexican American Heavyweight Chris Areola has been anointed the next big thing. He fills the bill with his furious style of fighting, the only trouble is, can he fulfill that role, or will it be more like casting Chris Farley in Braveheart. Areola is a bit pudgy and awkward, and although he packs a hell of a punch, he lacks the technical proficiency to defeat either of Klitschko brothers. HBO needs a bit more vision, because if we learned anything over the past few years, longevity and skill go much further than hype and will. It’s like comparing Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins. Kelly is a fantastic fighter, but he fights in one dimension. Hopkins is a chameleon who can change with his surroundings.  His total dominance of Pavlik showed that “will” sells tickets, but “skill” wins fights. One dimension is easy to translate, and easy to sell, but it is also very easy to exploit when you have real boxing talent. Eddie Chambers has that. It may be harder to translate the complicated beauty of his technique, but that shouldn’t diminish his accomplishments.  

Truth be told, Alexander Povetkin is probably the best young prospect out of Eastern Europe in years, and I’m including both Klitschko’s. Who stepped up and flew to Germany to fight Alexander Povetkin? An undefeated Eddie Chambers, who had nearly double the wins of Povetkin, and who had also faced tougher opposition.  After that disappointing decision lost, Chambers went on a string of wins including a big win over the Nigerian nightmare, Sam Peter. Peter has only lost three fights. Both Klitschko brothers and Eddie Chambers. After that fight, instead of being praised, ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas bashed him on national television for not being aggressive enough, in a fight he clearly won. Again, Chambers doesn’t get the credit for another convincing win, and now it is reported that Teddy Atlas is working in the Povetkin camp. I personally think he picked the wrong camp. I do not think there is another Heavyweight in the division with the heart of Eddie Chambers, except maybe Chris Arreola. Chambers never seems to have a convenient injury before big fights like David Haye, Alexander Povetkin, Ruslan Chagev, Sultan Imbrigimov, you get my point. He is a true warrior that is undersized in stature, but oversized in ability and heart. If the world gives this man a chance, you will get to see what we already have seen in the fighting city of Philadelphia. Eddie Chambers is the most dynamic heavyweight in 20 years.

A message for HBO:

Home Box Office has consistently delivered some of the greatest programming in the history of cable television. It is no surprise that HBO sports is the gold standard of sports programming, especially the sport of boxing. Their production and attention to detail is unmatched. They possess the single most recognizable boxing program in the world. But what got them there? Was it the thundering explosion Mike Tyson made? Or was it the longevity and brilliance of Evander Holyfield? Was it the punching power of “already retired” Fernando Vargas? Or the multidimensional Oscar De La Hoya? You see where I’m heading. Fast Eddie Chambers is a flame, not a flash. His skill and ability will enable him to be around for a long time and entertain a heavyweight fan base that is yearning for the consistency they have not seen. HBO’s infatuation with Chris Arreola, may lead them to same place Mike Grant and Lance Whitaker went, backwards. Ross Greenberg, the president of HBO sports needs to look at next year, not next month. Eddie Chambers will be around a long time. If you match him up correctly and give me incentive, he can be very exciting. You loved Floyd Mayweather and Roy Jones didn’t you?  You have the Heavyweight equivalent standing in front of you right now. He may be a bit smaller than big you guys you like so much, and maybe he doesn’t have the mouth or the style that makes for the reality television you want. He does have the talent, and a hell of a lot of wins. That should be more than enough.