By Cliff Rold
Photo (c) Jan Sanders/HBO
Do not attempt to adjust your computer screen today or your television on Saturday. It really is what it looks like. This weekend, there is going to be a Heavyweight fight that matters.
I know. It seems like it’s been awhile. After a 2007 that featured classic matchups everywhere but, the sports most celebrated weight class appears ready to catch the wave in 2008. Already in the books was last weekends fairly entertaining twelve rounder between WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev and Matt Skelton, but American fans didn’t see that one for the most part. No, stateside, the fun starts here.
Tape delayed on HBO’s Boxing After Dark (10 PM EST/PST) from the Tempodrom in Berlin, Germany, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Alexander Povetkin (14-0, 11 KO) of Russia squares off with Eddie Chambers (30-0, 16 KO) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with two prizes at stake. The first prize will be recognition as the sports preeminent new Heavyweight contender. The other prize, the one that can lead to the new tax bracket, is a guaranteed shot at the IBF Heavyweight belt currently held by the number one contender to the vacant World Heavyweight championship, Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KO).
Are either of these fighters up to that task? Are they ready to make the grade against the best Heavyweight in the land? They won’t know until after they step into the ring against each other.
Let’s go to the report card.
Speed: Neither man is Muhammad Ali or Floyd Patterson, but in this category Chambers can be favored by a slim margin. Povetkin has quick hands and his speed is accentuated by the shortness of his shots. Povetkin throws beautifully on the inside with an assortment of jabs, left hooks and sharp rights. He gets to the inside with a jab that he uses both with measure and snap. Chambers also throws well on the inside and is able to create punching room with his jab. From the outside, his accurate straight right hand gets there before most opponents, particularly among big men, can react and it often originates from unexpected angles, allowing him to slide out of harms reach. Speed alone isn’t much of an advantage for either man. The tactical application of the speed they have will make all the difference. Pre-Fight Grade: Povetkin B+; Chambers A-
Power: What is a slim margin in speed is a gulf in power. Chambers is not a power puncher. Certainly he is able to keep opponents honest, but he has posted only three stoppages in his last eight bouts and none of those who fell required an abundance of smelling salts after the finish. Chambers, like Chris Bryd and Jimmy Young in the past, gets it done with volume, accuracy and guts. Povetkin just gets guys done. His eleven knockouts have been a combination of one-punch whacks, combination closures and destruction by accumulation. The first two types came against wayward fare so his one-punch stuff is still open to debate. The third is not. Through volume and explosion, Povetkin battered Chris Byrd in a competitive affair that ended with Byrd’s corner throwing in the towel in the 11th. Pre-Fight Grade: Povetkin B+; Chambers C
Defense: Povetkin’s defense is of an orthodox variety, reflective of his former amateur status. He blocks well with his gloves, shows decent head movement and utilizes his left shoulder well in defense off the jab. There are holes though and he is hittable. He sometimes drags his right foot when throwing his right hand, leaving him square and open for counters. Against Byrd, he was hit more than he had been in any of his previous fights, a result of both those holes and the fact that the much more experienced Byrd retains two of the division’s fastest hands. Chambers defense is all arms. Literally. He holds his hands high with his elbows in tight and never seems to punch without one glove in position to block the incoming. Punching out of that shell, he sometimes appears awkward in counter, with his back completely straight and body leaning at angles, but his chin is usually tucked even then. Calvin Brock, his last and best opponent, was able to jab at Chambers, drawing him out of that shell and creating punching opportunities. Like Povetkin, Chambers is hittable but no one has hit him consistently in any of his 30 wins. Pre-Fight Grade: Povetkin B; Chambers B+
Intangibles: The best thing anyone can say about a fighter in terms of intangibles is that they respond positively when challenged. With perfect goose eggs on their records and logical progression bouts to this point, both Chambers and Povetkin can say that much. Not much else is known just yet and we turn to Saturday looking for more answers. Each is in with potentially their toughest fight so far. The 25-year old Chambers will likely get answers about his chin; Povetkin answers about how he handles a crafty young boxer whose legs can stay for twelve rounds. In total, there’s no way to really know what’s in a well until someone drops a pail into it. Pre-Fight Grades: Incomplete for both
Overall Pre-Fight Report Card: Povetkin B+; Chambers B
There are some, perhaps many, in and around boxing who believe Povetkin might be the future of the Heavyweight division. Count me among them. His combination of balance, speed and power will make him formidable for the foreseeable future. That does not mean Chambers will be an easy night.
While lacking power, Chambers is no runner. He stands in the pocket for long stretches, able to block and counter. Unfortunately for him, his effective defense could work against him as the fight goes long. With his hands always tight against his face, he’ll be able to absorb a lot of Povetkin hooks but that won’t stop those hooks from smashing Chamber’s hands back into his face. Over twelve rounds, that could result in sore arms and swelling eyes.
Each man throws accurately, and that could lead to some thrilling exchanges in a bout that may be highly tactical through its first half. Look for that to change in the later rounds with Povetkin’s activity and power slowly overwhelming Chambers. It should go to the cards, and should be close when it gets there, but look for Povetkin in a come from behind decision win over Chambers.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
