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Eddie Chambers Headlines on First “Fight Night”

Published

13 years ago

December 29, 2011

When he opens the new NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night series on January 21, 2012 at Asylum Arena in his hometown of Philadelphia, top Heavyweight Contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers has promised to impress Philly’s discerning boxing fans and make lots of new ones. According to Chambers, taking on former World Heavyweight Champion Siarhei “White Wolf” Liakhovich in a high profile, nationally televised fight is a great way to showcase the sport and bring new fans for the Sweet Science.

“I want people outside of boxing and new fans coming in to know just how hard I work, and how much work all fighters put in,” Chambers said. “I believe that the Heavyweight Championship is the most coveted title in sports. Everyone loves a Gladiator and that is what boxing is about. NBC Sports Network stepping up to the table will hopefully get fans to take a look at the sport once again and jump on the band wagon. This is exactly what we need. I know when the fans tune in January 21st they will not be disappointed.”

Chambers continued, “I am training extremely hard and it is great having the opportunity to be fighting back in front of your fans, your people, and knowing that most of the people that are there in the crowd are for you.” He went on to say that he loves fighting in places like Germany, but there is no place like home.

Eddie Chambers

Boxing has been in Eddie Chamber’s blood since he was a child growing up in Pittsburgh. His father, Eddie Chambers Sr. was a boxer back in the 1970s. Eddie Sr. taught his son how to hold his hands properly to throw a punch at the tender age of 9. Starting around the age of 12, Eddie Sr. would sit with Eddie and watch films of all the great fighters such as “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, and of course Muhammad Ali. After two years of arguing with his father to allow him to box, Eddie Jr. finally got the chance at the age of 14 when he enrolled in a local Pittsburgh Golden Gloves Tournament.

Eddie turned professional at the age of 18 on December 29, 2000. He defeated Tyrone Austin by second round knockout in West Virginia. His next professional fight occurred just two months later in his now adopted hometown of Philadelphia, PA one of the best boxing cities in the world and the ultimate proving ground for young, up-and-coming fighters.

When I was 18 and 19, I was fighting at the Blue Horizon,” Chambers said. Those were some of the toughest fights I have ever had and there was so much pressure to do well. The crowd always gives you their best and there is so much history. Philadelphia has the best fans, but they will definitely let you know how they feel. There are so many great venues around the city and such great history. I want to make my own history and be among the greatest.”

On March 20, 2010, Chambers took on Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf, Germany for the WBO, IBF, and IBO Heavyweight Championship of the World. Chambers gave a valiant effort and performance in the ring before losing via knockout in the waning seconds of the fight. At 6’1, 210 lbs, Chambers gave up five inches and nearly 35 pounds to Klitschko. Chambers posed a challenge to Klitschko with speed and toughness that nearly carried Chambers the distance of the fight. Chambers was the first person in two years to make it to the twelfth round against the tough Ukrainian.

Chambers did not fight again until February 11, 2011, when he took on a former opponent who he knocked out a few years earlier in Derric Rossy. In an IBF Title Eliminator, Chambers defeated Rossy once again, this time by unanimous decision.

Looking toward his upcoming challenge, Chambers describes Liakhovich as a good fighter who fought a great match when he won the title by beating Lamon Brewster in 2006. “Liakhovich is a very competitive and very live opponent. I think our style match up will make for a very exciting fight. Right now Liakhovich is in my way. I always respect my opponent, but I have to knock him out of the way. I plan on doing that and taking care of business on January 21st in impressive fashion.”

Promoted by Main Events, Peltz Boxing Promotions and Goossen Tutor, the non-televised undercard fights will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at $45 and $65 can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing, (215) 765-0922.

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2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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