By Cliff Rold

Much has been made in recent days about a fight for the real Heavyweight championship going unaired in the United States.  Will anyone feel like they missed anything come Monday morning though?

It’s worth asking because, too often in his last few fights, Wladimir Klitschko leaves some viewers feeling like they missed out on doing anything else after one of his performances.  That’s what they are lately after all: performances.  Safe, technically efficient, but so tedious that it’s easy for some to feel like they tuned into the fights and didn’t see one.

That’s not all Klitschko’s fault.  He’s found a way to win, and keep winning, for eleven fights dating back to 2004.  If there is to be anyone feeling an actual fight was missed after Saturday’s final bell, it will be up to Eddie Chambers to make it so.

Can he?

Let’s go the report card.

The Ledgers

Wladimir Klitschko
Age: 33
Championships: Lineal/Ring World Heavyweight (2009-Present, 1st Defense)
Current and Previous Belts: IBF/WBO (2008-Present, 3 Defenses); IBF (2006-08, 4 Defenses); WBO (2000-03, 5 Defenses)
Height: 6’6 ½
Weight: 244 lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 241.5 lbs.
Hails from: Kiev, Ukraine
Record: 53-3, 47 KO
Record in Major Title Fights: 14-2, 12 KO, 2 KOBY
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 7 (Chris Byrd, Ray Mercer, Samuel Peter, Lamon Brewster, Sultan Ibragimov, Hasim Rahman, Ruslan Chagaev)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat: 2 (Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster)

Vs.
 
Eddie Chambers
Age: 27
Title: None (1st Title Fight)
Height: 6’1
Weight: 209 lbs.
Average Weight - Five Most Recent Fights:  217.65 lbs.
Hails from: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Record: 35-1, 18 KO
BoxingScene Rank: #3
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 1 (Samuel Peter)
 
Let’s go to the report card.

Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed - Klitschko B+; Chambers A-
Pre-Fight: Power - Klitschko A; Chambers C+
Pre-Fight: Defense - Klitschko B+; Chambers B+
Pre-Fight: Intangibles - Klitschko B+; Chambers B

It’s the world’s most accomplished active Heavyweight, and the man who has done the most to earn the crown as the legitimate World Champion (even if most acknowledge big brother Vitali is a little more of a bad ass), against the best contender America has to offer these days.  While Wladimir has built a bit of a reputation for dull outings, one thing that can’t be said is that it’s American’s driving the dull.

Since winning the IBF belt in a rematch with Chris Byrd in 2006, the two fighters who provided the most spirited challenges to Klitschko have been Americans Calvin Brock and Tony Thompson.  Both went home on their faces by night’s end, but Chambers can say he’s better than both (even having posted a win over Brock in 2007).

How much better remains to be seen but sound hand speed and good balance give Chambers a solid foundation.  He’ll be confronted with those same traits in a much bigger form across the ring.  Wladimir is a bear to deal with and while not always entertaining to some, his technical package is admirable.  Wladimir’s jab is one of the most important weapons in the sport and, allowed to fight at a pace of his desire, is a carver with the right hand. 

While his brother may have the higher knockout percentage, it is Wladimir who is the better puncher, able to end things with a crisp right or an underrated left hook.  The difference between the two is temperament and education.  Wladimir is the more cerebral, less naturally aggressive of the pair and has learned that getting too into his offense can hurt him.  The knockout loss to Sanders in 2003, and exhausted failures to finish against Purrity and Brewster, taught Wladimir lessons about dictating tempo which sometimes result in lopsided but uninspiring decisions where knockouts appear available.

That said, his reluctance to take risks has seen an improvement in Klitschko’s defense.  His more erect stance under trainer Emanuel Steward, and steady jab, make it easy for him to deflect blows with his arms and to avoid blows with just simple backwards steps.  Chambers is no defensive slouch either.  He employs slick head movement, and a high arm defense which can be tough to get through for most but might be tailor made for the straight, long shots of Klitschko.  Chambers hopes for an effective defense will be slipping the jab and coming forward with lead left hooks and flurries, followed by steps to the side and resets, all night long.  It worked against the more robotic, but equally huge, Alexander Dimitrenko, in Chambers last fight.  It worked in the early rounds against the only man to defeat Chambers, 2004 Russian Olympic Gold Medalist Alexander Povetkin, in early 2008. 

It didn’t work all of the fight because Chambers wasn’t in the sort of best shape he needed to win against a Povetkin who required a full night’s work.  Obviously outsized, Chambers proves some of his intangible simply by competing with modern Heavyweights.  His chin has stood up to men who have outweighed him by between 30-50 pounds multiple times (or, more importantly, his ability to cover that chin effectively). 

However, prior to Dimitrenko, he seemed to be settling into the pit of mediocrity which has swallowed most of the Heavyweight division not named Klitschko.  Chambers, having reached the point where a little income was coming in, started showing up just a little too heavy, started throwing just a little less.  In a win against the limited Sam Peter last year, Chambers made an easy night hard by showing up at 223 lbs. and didn’t impress anyone.

A light bulb must have gone off because against Dimitrenko he was below 210 for the first time since 2004 and the dedication showed (even if he’s still a little fleshy).  Chambers was more active, his combinations more fluid, and he was stunning and dropping a sturdy monster.  It matters because he is again below 210 here, and if he could stun Dimitrenko it’s not impossible that he could do the same to the questionable chin of Klitschko.

When was the last time Klitschko took a real solid shot from anyone?  Sam Peter?  Were those really solid?  If Klitschko is forced to fight Saturday, really fight, will he remember how?  Can Chambers even get past the brilliant Klitschko jab to make it an issue?    

The Pick

One thing that must be said for Klitschko: he knows what his weaknesses are and addresses them with a style that wins for him.  For weeks, this scribe has though that, if Chambers shows up under 210, this fight is worth a look.  He did.  It is.  Chambers probably doesn’t have the fire power to win, but he’s got the fire to try.

That’s really all that can be asked.

When one is challenging for the most storied title in all the sport (T.V. blackouts this weekend be damned), showing up giving one’s self the best possible chance to win is a must.  Against WBC titlist Vitali last year, Kevin Johnson talked such a good game, to go with a world class jab and quick hands, this scribe was convinced he’d make it interesting in a loss.  He didn’t.  The feeling is Chambers will against Wlad.

It would be fun to pick Chambers, and an upset isn’t too farfetched, but until this latest run is ended Klitschko (hell, either one) remains the safest picks in the sport.  The feeling here is that, if Wlad is to be beaten this year, it will be at the hands of Chambers lone conqueror Povetkin, not Chambers.  Chambers will steal some rounds before night’s end...just not enough.

Wladimir by late knockout or closer than expected decision win.      

Report Card Picks 2010: 5-1

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