Alas, the heavyweight division is once again slowly tinkering its way into our minds with an upcoming matchup. Two big fighters battling it out for a championship and pound for pound supremacy. However, what makes a good heavyweight fight? Is it the sheer size, knockouts, punching power of an individual? Or could it potentially be the adrenaline rush as blood pumps through our body quickly that helps us determine; rather, that we may have the ability to see two fighters exchange blows for the ultimate goal…the heavyweight championship of the world.
Either way, two great fighters are slated to face each other in March of 2010. Wladimir Klitschko is the current WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight champion of the world. Of course, Wladimir Klitschko is much more than that. Wladimir Klitschko’s championship presence is felt all over the entire world. More importantly, most defeated fighters of Klitschko would tell you he is most felt in the ring with his crushing blows and still jabs.
On the other hand, WBO contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers is a heavyweight fighter ready to perform the greater good; stepping into the ring against Wladimir Klitschko on March 20, 2010. “Fast” Eddie Chambers is coming of a recent majority decision win against 6’7 Alexander Dimitrenko. “Fast” Eddie is a poised, yet smart fighter who has plenty of hand speed to affect his victims in the ring. However, is this enough ammunition for Chambers to overcome the obstacles that Big Wladimir has to offer?
There is always one major question, when anyone steps into the ring against the heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko. Is the challenger going to be able to overcome Klitschko’s size and power deficit? Wladimir Klitschko has an enormous reach at 81 inches, sporting a 6’6 frame and plenty of power behind each punch. Eddie Chambers is a 6’1 fighter packing 75 inches of reach. Although Chambers has plenty of hand speed, will he be able to land clean effective punches against big Wlad?
Eddie Chambers has showed in his last fight against the giant 6’7 Alexander Dimitrenko that he could deal with the size deficit, and the power behind such a large frame. Not to mention, Dimitrenko posed a 2 inch larger reach at 83 inches opposed to Wladimir’s 81 inches of reach. However, Wladimir Klitschko provides a different yet tactical problem for “Fast” Eddie. Klitschko not only has much more power than Alexander Dimitrenko, he has better hand speed and plenty of weaponry to adjust and knockout his opponents.
Many of the tactical aspects that Eddie Chambers was able to perform against Alexander Dimitrenko: such as landing clean shots on the inside, throwing hooks and uppercuts, will not be quite as effective against WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. With this said, you can expect Wladimir to adjust quickly against the faster opponent in Eddie Chambers and land heavy punches as “Fast” Eddie ducks inside. Consequently, Chambers will have to take his chance on landing the heavier shots when the chance permits. While this may seem logical or illogical, it’s simply the best chance Eddie Chambers has to win the fight.
Many fans of Wladimir Klitschko are all too familiar with his pawing jabs. This aspect is clearly shown in the majority of Wladimir Klitschko’s fights. Klitschko’s most recent victim was former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev. Ruslan Chagaev is a very patient fighter; who a few years back broke the “Russian Giant’s” Nikolay Valuev undefeated record by winning a majority decision. Clearly, Ruslan Chagaev was unable to land the clean and effective blows against Klitschko. In turn, Wladimir Klitschko pawed, and landed several heavy shots to the head of Ruslan, earning him a TKO victory in the ninth round.
While it’s logical to be patient, and pick your shots, Eddie Chambers cannot rely on these tactics. His superior hand speed is definitely a plus combined with his ring intelligence; he will need to be the busier fighter landing when he can, and not give anything away. Wladimir Klitschko is known for taking advantage of his opponent’s mistakes. A prime example would be against Tony Thompson, and Calvin Brock. Wladimir Klitschko was able to land several heavy shots when they were out of sync, tired, and frustrated…and so it goes!
The hopeful, including myself would love to see a Chambers victory. “Fast” Eddie is a busy, yet tactical fighter who’s earned his name in the heavyweight division. However, is this alone enough to dismantle the Ukrainian Giant? For once, it may be a pleasant treat for the United States to bring the belts back once and for all. Most of the boxing community has a plethora of mixed feelings when it comes to the Klitschko brothers. Ultimately, Wlad and his brother Vitali are highly polished, superior fighters. So we ask, what’s the point of all this blabbering? Well…If Eddie Chambers can take away the height and reach deficit that Wladimir poses; we may see a victory in the hands of our United States counterpart. Then again this is just speculation, but most see the fight playing out in favor of Wladimir Klitschko.
Recently, I had an in-depth discussion with former top contender Calvin Brock whose bout back in 2006 ended with an early 7th round TKO victory in Favor of Wladimir. The bout itself, Brock managed to throw 28 percent of the time opposed to Klitschko's 30 percent. Brock then went on to tell me, it’s hard to gauge Wladimir, because he will catch you coming in, and has excellent counter punching ability. Calvin the continued that Chambers needs to be the aggressor, land effectively, and get out of harm’s way. “Eddie needs to be the aggressor, and keep him (Wladimir) off balance. “
There is no doubt; each fighter has their own rendition of how the fight should pan out. Calvin Brocks information seems like a great start for the younger fighter in Eddie Chambers. There’s no question, Eddie is mentally prepared, as he hopes to de-rail Wladimir. With Eddie getting in his punches when he can, and evading punishment, the fight should become one for the history books. However, with the voice of reason systematically pushing statistics over the community, it’s hard not to see a late round TKO victory in favor of Wladimir Klitschko.
As the fight nears, and game plans arise and change; hype is what brings up closer to another heavyweight championship. Wladimir Klitschko will prepare for his upcoming bout with precision and highly accurate training. Eddie Chambers will do the same, with a little more training from the logical standpoint. I believe Eddie Chambers has a good chance like any other fighter that faced WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. However once again, the key role will be how quickly Eddie Chambers can adapt to the power, size, and tactical aspect of Wladimir Klitschko. Come fight night all these preliminary talks will be put to rest as two great fighters will embark on continuing success for the heavyweight championship of the world.
