Sharkie’s Machine
By Frank Gonzalez Jr.
January 27th, 2008
“Alex Povetkin Neuters Eddie Chambers”
Congratulations to the still undefeated, newly deemed IBF top Heavyweight
contender, Alexander Povetkin for a solid victory over “Fast” Eddie Chambers, a
man with quick hands and quality boxing skills, who brought his undefeated
record to the ring when they met Saturday night in Berlin Germany. Povetkin won
a twelve round decision by scores of 117-111, 119-109 and 116-112.
It started out an exciting fight with Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11 KO’s)
applying the pressure and Eddie Chambers (30-1, 16 KO’s) taking his time,
landing clean punches at will and showing superior boxing skills. I had Chambers
winning the first three rounds with little effort against Povetkin, who just
keep coming forward and punching. In the second round, Chambers caught Povetkin
with a combination left jab followed by a straight right to the jaw. Povetkin,
stunned a bit, kept coming forward. At the bell, the right eye of Povetkin was
quickly swelling.
Povetkin listened well to the advice of his corner, who constantly reminded him
to be first with the punches. Povetkin continually pressured Chambers,
occasionally breaking Chamber’s guard. For all of his work, Povetkin didn’t land
anything flush.
Chambers got into a groove on defense and with good timing, unleashed his
offense, which was effective, especially with the right hand. Povetkin managed
to land many of his punches to the body but again, nothing flush. Povetkin was
doing most of the work but it was Chambers who landed the more impressive
punches, even if he seemed to be on offense for only ten percent of the rounds.
In the fourth round, Chambers landed a nice right hook. Povetkin continued to
pressure him. While Chambers was the precision puncher, Povetkin was more
determined and never let up on the gas, even late in the fight when he had to be
tired. At times, I thought Povetkin might ‘punch himself out’ with all the
energy he was using to sustain his pressing attack. He landed a few respectable
shots and dictated the pace. Chambers landed whenever he threw punches but he
was being too economical and I had to give round four to Povetkin for outworking
Chambers.
The fifth round was more of the same, with Povetkin leading the charge and
Chambers waiting for a big opening and committing to defense instead of offense.
Povetkin kept punching and pressing and ultimately, doing more and racking up
the rounds while Chambers fought in meditation mode.
By the sixth round, it was de ja vu all over again. The corner of Chambers was
getting agitated with his patient approach against a busy fighter fighting on
his home turf. Suddenly, Buddy McGirt was barking instructions, asking Chambers
to do more. But the more his corner asked him to do, the less he did. This
continued for another six rounds, with Chambers rarely punching and Povetkin
constantly punching. Even when Chambers did punch and land, he wouldn’t ever
follow through. Povetkin always came back and was the only guy making it a
fight.
What was curious at first became aggravating to watch. Chambers had the
potential to do so much better but for some strange reason, he didn’t show any
initiative. From rounds eight through twelve, Chambers was giving the fight
away, just standing there, blocking Povetkin’s shots but offering nothing in
return.
Chambers corner was losing it with him between rounds, asking him, “What’s
wrong? Why aren’t you doing anything? You’re giving him the fight!” Chambers sat
in his stool, his mind a million miles away from where he was, disregarding the
importance of a fight that would make the winner the IBF number one contender at
Heavyweight.
In Povetkin’s corner, he looked spent, gasping for air on his stool, eye all
blackened and exhausted. But when the bell sounded to start the next round, he
came out with fire and gave everything he had.
Chambers didn’t appear to want it. Povetkin wanted it and took it. It was
strange because Povetkin never hurt Chambers, who blocked most of his shots,
rendering the ones that landed to reduced effect. Why didn’t he fight? Was he
afraid? Did someone pay him to throw the fight? It was mysterious.
By the time the Championship rounds were underway, Chambers corner told him he
needed a KO to win. Chambers continued to show listlessness and no trace of
wanting to win. The blank look on his face summed up the disgraceful effort he
put forth Saturday night in Germany.
With this victory, Povetkin is lined up to face the winner of Wladimir Klitschko
vs. Sultan Ibragimov, scheduled for February 23rd. Povetkin showed a lot of
heart and that could be the ingredient that gives him a chance against Wladimir
Klitschko, who I expect to beat Ibragimov, only because Klitschko is too fast,
too strong and has a jab that he uses religiously that’s too long for Sultan to
deal with (in my estimation). However, anything can happen. We all recall what
happened when Wladimir faced major underdogs in Corrie Sanders in 2003 and Lamon
Brewster in 2004.
As for “Fast” Eddie Chambers, he needs to dig down deep and ask himself if
boxing is what he wants to do with his life, lest he follow in the footsteps of
many others who showed great promise and then suddenly lost the desire to fight,
like Dominick Guinn. Chambers has very fast hands for a Heavyweight and very
good boxing skills. He needs desire to compliment his skills. If he can unite
those elements, he has to potential to be a World Titleist in this continually
anemic era of Heavyweights.
* * *
Comments can be sent to dshark87@hotmail.com
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