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Same Song, Same Dance, Challenger Has NO Chance: Wladimir KOs Chambers
By Michael Woods
American fight fans needed to be blessed with a personality bordering on the absurdly optimistic if they looked forward to the Wladimir Klitschko/Eddie Chambers title fight in Dusseldorf on Saturday, and gave the undersized American more than a snowball's chance in hell of dethroning the WBO/IBF champion.
Chambers came in to ESPRIT Arena outweighed by 35 pounds, but red, white and blue rooters who ached for a release of the stranglehold the Klitschko brothers have on the heavyweight division hoped that his pugilism skills would be enough to propel him to an upset of immense proportions.
They will have to keep on aching, and in fact, might well want to wave the white flag of surrender, and simply root for the Brothers K to retire, before a Yank is able to once again strap a heavyweight belt around his waist. Over 12 one-sided rounds, Chambers had about the same luck as everyone else as had since Wladimir last lost, back in 2004 to Lamon Brewster, which is to say, very little. Klitschko (244 3/4 pounds) turned up the gas on the Pennsylvania almost-cruiserweight in the last round, and with a sharp, quick left hook, stopped the 209 1/2 pound challenger with just five seconds to go in the scrap. The ref didn't even bother counting, and those in attendance worried for the American as he took several minutes to get his senses.
The 33-year-old Ukrainian went to 54-3 and notched his 48th KO. Chambers, age 27, went to 35-2. The victory functioned as an early birthday gift; the younger Klitschko turns 35 on March 25. Brother Vitali, who holds the WBC belt, is 38.
It wasn't just a weight disparity that hampered Chambers; he gave away five inches or so to the 6-6 1/2 Klitschko, who used his superior jab to keep the loser at bay. That jab is something that a foe doesn't fully respect til he tastes it. The ever-focused Ukrainian uses it like a bayonet, as a soldier would a POW. He holds it out there, launches it, and keeps it erect as a reminder and deterrent.
Klitschko fought for the first time in ten months, and he's looked sharper. But his left hand at the end of the 12th, which maybe landed on the temple, and sent Chambers to the mat face-first like he'd been zapped with a stun gun, made up for the rust.
What's next? He and his brother will see how the April 3rd David Haye-John Ruiz beef plays out; both hope WBA champ Haye beats the pesky Ruiz, and both will volunteer to shut up the trash-talking Brit for a year's worth of insults. Vitali (39-2) figures to have zero trouble in his May 29 scheduled defense against C level Pole Albert Sosnowski (45-2), but it's looking like little brother will get first crack at remedying Hayes' disrespect. Wlad has a mandatory with IBF No. 1 Alexander Povetkin on tap, but it remains to be seen whether Team Povetkin will lobby hard for that ASAP, or let their guy develop with Teddy Atlas some more, and take some step aside many in the meantime...
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SALT lover:
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XD!!!!! These dudes are only in line cuz they have to. None of them wanna be in there with the Klitschko bros. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Another victim added to the list.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 09:33:35 PM
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Anony:
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NO COMPETITION IS WHAT MAKES THE HEAVYWEIGHTS SO BORING...
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 09:33:42 PM
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mortcola:
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Glad to get in here first. Eddie Chambers is the most talented contender we've put up there for a championship fight, and he won...generously? A couple of seconds of the fight. He's partly the victim of a doofus trainer who publicly confessed he believed Wlad to be a stiff, pawing Euro-robot you just had to get in on, after curing yourself of the belief that he can lay you out cold with one punch. The only thing he has right is that WK has a lousy inside game. But clearly he didn't train Eddie for the actual Wladimir, the one with perfectly timed and calibrated punches, an amazing arsenal of various jabs, precise and quick footwork, and the ability to parry and pull his upper body away from shots effectively making himself even taller and harder to reach. The fact that his measured approach bores people is beside the point - it is technically close to perfect. Then in the ring, Murray the doofus yelled at his shell-shocked fighter for having no answer, instead of having something, anything to say about HOW to get inside, other than that body slam. True, Wlad is still too tight to unleash the aggression he had earlier in his career. But nobody's perfect. Meantime, from 6'7"-ish Thompson, Austin, and McCline to southpaw slickster Ibragimov, slick quick short Chambers, solid Brock, and Bonavena-ish Chagaev, its one absolute blow-out after the next. If you don't see it, you don't get the science in the sweet science. But I'm sympathetic if you're so bored of science you still don't want to watch.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 09:38:49 PM
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mortcola:
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I left out his destruction of the almost unhittable Byrd, whom he thoroughly outboxed on the way to crushing him, and the fact that he's produced two KO's with left hooks - this latest one a short, neat one to the temple, thrown as a lead punch that began as a jab. Some pawing euro-robot. Come on, premier American athletes. Someone change sports and train to climb Mount Klitschko, if its really all about our best athletes going to other sports. Someone must have an answer - all it takes is getting inside and around a pawing jab, right? They teach that one in the first few months of boxing lessons. Or maybe, chin and conservative chin-protecting tactics aside, Wladimir is now unbeatable except by the rare big puncher who can bum-rush him. He's improved tremendously under Steward, but somehow I doubt Corrie Sanders was the last of his breed - a fast-handed KO puncher who could slip a jab. Someone? Anyone?
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 09:47:02 PM
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Fe'Roz @ Mortcola:
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Out of respect for your analysis I will eventually watch the replay of this fight, when I have the time. Sadly, it has been a long time since I have cared to watch a heavyweight bout, title or not. And at this point it has nothing to do with whether or not I like, admire, or respect the KBros because I do. Quite a bit in fact. No, it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they are Ukrainian and fight in a more Eastern European style. Or that that style may not necessarily have great personal appeal. Or that the Heavyweight champion or contenders are not American. Most but the most jingoistic of us admire great fighters regardless of nationality. At this point, I give Vladimir and Manny Steward and Vitali huge props for dominating their division so thoroughly and for doing so with real skill, style and grace. They may not be all time greats ... but without question they are by far the greatest of their time. And that is all that one can ever imagine, work or dream to be. But as a fan, I can still dream. Dream for a day when there is some kind of competition from somewhere, some place .. any place!! The division is dreadful not because the K brothers so far outclass their peers. It is dreadful because on the best night I can't think of two other heavyweights that I would care to see...fight each other!! That is how weak this era of Heavyweight boxing has become. Me and most of us here would rather watch two elite 122 lb men square off on any given night jut to see quality Competition. That is what is missing from today's glory division. Competition. Yes, the KBros are the kings of the mountain but the mountain below the top is a desert.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 10:15:15 PM
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bill major:
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you both speak the truth. they are the best out there today and yes there is no one below them that can offer any type of competition.its not their fault of course. i long for the heavyweights of the 60's and 70's. then we would see what the klitchkos really had..but it is what it is.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 10:35:41 PM
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Gov. Paterson:
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I really appreciate TSS support of Donputo69. But at this point right now, i can not issue a letter of apologize. I wish i had more time, but i really dont. Sorry and god bless TSS!
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 10:40:39 PM
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Porkupine:
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I picked Chambers but when Eddie's ear bounced off his shoulder from the sheer force of Wlad's right hand in th 2nd round I got a reality check. It was a decent scrap for 1.5 rounds...WK is the man; he done run the US out of the hvt title scene.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 10:58:01 PM
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the Roast@ Fe'Roz:
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To save yourself some time, view this fight in fast forward. Every round was pretty much the same until the end. The best part was Manny Steward letting Wlad have it because he wasnt letting his hands go enough. This started in the last few rounds. Manny was talking to Wlad like he was losing! Manny said," You dont need another BS decision. Make a statement. Get this guy out of here!" In was the most interesting part of the fight by far.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 11:14:35 PM
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Fe'Roz @ bill major:
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Bill, I agree with the sentiment about the fighters from the 60' and 70's but not necessarily because the KBros make me wish that there was a way to visualize some kind of fantasy and/or virtual matchup. I simply long for the days of competitive great fights. There is little or nothing on the horizon to suggest that we are getting any closer to seeing a return of Heavyweight division period. Put aside the glory of 60' or 70's, I'm talking about the Glory/Glamour of the entire 20th century. We are ten years into this one and there is little hope of it's imminent return. The number three, four and five top heavies are TBNL (to be named later). They don't exist. It is not the Klitschko's fault that they are the best. Nor is it possible in any way to envision how they may have fared at another time. It is hard to be that much better than your competition and continue to be great if there is never anyone or thing to push you to higher limits. The K's are great today. They themselves can't know how good they are (unless maybe they fight each other) because there is no one even remotely close. As for dreams and fantasies of how one fighter from one era would fare against another from another, I have a hard time going there... even for fun. Ali did, in his own words, "roadwork' to stay in shape. Probably in some high top All Stars. The training, diet, science of today is so far superior in the field of nutrition, exercise physiology and equipment, the only way I can imagine any modern fighter meeting their peer from another era and/or vica versa is if they both trained and ate the same way ... and rose to the top fighting fighters of the same caliber. Imagine Ali training in today's world. Or try to imagine Vladimr fighting Shavers, Frazier and Quarry (to name a few) just to get a title shot. It's impossible. So, In other words, I have no idea how good the KBros might actually have been and/or would be in any era but this one. And as much (or as little) as I may like it, this is the era that we live in. So.... until then, bring me Bradley, Manny, Khan, Juanma, Floyd, Gamboa....and all those little guys that have revived boxing globally while the giants rule the upper weights.... and the rest of us simply wait.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 11:16:09 PM
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Fe'Roz @ the Roast:
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I will. I read that so I definitely want to see it. Manny gets it. He lives here. He knows we don't give a shit about a safety first another notch on your belt victory from our heavyweight heroes ...or anyone for that matter who is obviously so much superior to his opponent. Some might find the science satisfying but when I watch fights I want to see a fight, not the Discovery Channel. Part of the job of a champion is to finish the damn job. Manny Steward is right. Manny Pacquiao gets it. Nike gets it. Just do it. If I want to see a predator ply with a mouse before eating it, I'll watch Animal Planet. They have some damn good footage of all kinds of breeds that do what they are supposed to do. If Vladimir and Vitali want to open some eyes instead of close them they should practice the art of the KO. That would add an "O" to their name and fans in their club.
Saturday Mar 20, 2010 11:27:30 PM
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Sweet scientwist:
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@Fe'roz....are u kidding me? They have a ton of KO's, his record is 54 wins with 48 by way of K.O.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 12:08:51 AM
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Fe'Roz :
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So do the rest of us. Falling asleep with our mouths O -pen. pc
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 12:15:17 AM
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ez da fez:
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Wlad and his friend Banks both scored similar potential KOs of the year. The only time I've ever seen fools get dropped like that is in the Fight Night games.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 01:15:02 AM
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Eastar:
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It's fights like this that are killing the sport of boxing. Non - competetive garbage. Eddy chambers ain't nothing but an overweight heavyweight, against this giant with minimal boxing skills. What a waste. Peace
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 02:50:40 AM
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mortcola@eastar:
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Wlad's boxing skills were pretty much perfect. Some of the best I've ever seen on a heavyweight. Perfect footwork, movement, distance, balance. I'm wondering - do you have any experience at all with this sport? Each time you drop a nasty fart here -which is usually - you sound not just nasty, but confused.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 03:09:11 AM
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mortcola@Fe'Roz:
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I actually agree with you. I thought Eddie could do a lot of good in this fight. He's the best of our contenders that I know of - and he accomplished nothing offensively. Nothing at all - not hyperbole here. I can't imagine that happening so often in any other era against any other champion. And that's taking into account that Wlad had to make a real effort to let his punches flow. Strange, and disappointing in a big way.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 03:12:38 AM
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hate away:
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vlad klichko is doing just what he was suppose 2 do when lennox lewis retired and thats OWN THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION, 57 wins 3 losses 48 kos and is in the very prime of his great career having just turned 33 years old, i cant remember the last time this guy has lost a round thats how dominating he is and watered down division or not thats dam impressive, say whatever u want he fights any one worth fighting and has never ducked anyone, he left the comfort zone and came to the u.s many times beating 1 undefeated heavyweight contender after another, he lost 3 times earlier in his carrer before he was anything close to the fighter to the fighter he is today and he wont be seeing him lose again until father time starts calling his name, i feel vlad is the better of the 2 k bros but they are both fighters that could have competed in any era, is the division watered down today? yes but there are still a few good " good" being the oprative word fighters like chambers and areolla like daivid haye and and in shape sam peter but the k bros are so dam dominant at what they do these guy are levels below them as demonstrated by the total dominance of chambers by vlad and areolla by vitali, forget all about haye he is scarred shit of fighting either of them, if they k bros were not around right now the division would be pretty exciting w fights like haye-chambers, areolla -peter, chambers-areolla so on but because the k bros are here all roads lead to them and all roads are dead ends, they all hated on lennox lewis as well when he was the king and they give him his credit and miss him now, and the same will be said for the k bros and vlad is farrrrrrr from finished, they have cleared out the division w the exception of haye who is avoiding them, the only fight i would be remotely interested in would be vlad klich in a rematch w peter who since losing back to back to vitali and chambers has finaally gotten his wake up call and is knocking guy heads off again because he is coming in to the fights in great shape, there 1st fight was a good 1 but vlad is 3 times the fighter he was then and peter only has a good punchers chance ala the 1st fight, peters is only 29 years old and has had a great career with the exception of those 2 losses 2 the k bros and an out of shape performance against eddie chambers, these are 2 special fighters vlad even more so then vatali who although dominating is so unorthadox he is hard to watch and not pleasing for the eye but always gets the job done, vlad is a diff style all together with the best jab since larry holmes and the fastest straight right hand bullet mayb of any heavy that there ever was, add his supereme confidence, work rate, judge of distance and timing and now the relaxation he didnt have when he is younger all makes him the moster that he is, its not cause every single hw sucks is cause they are that dominant and consistant anddd FOR THE RECORD IM AN AMERICAN FROM NEW YORK not a fan from europe- continue hating on them cause no1 is beating them but father time
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 07:00:12 AM
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Anony:
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NO NEED FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS... Fe' Roz and Mortcola did great in those comments. I don't like you mortcola but when I read something good, I put the heat aside. You remind me of Roy Jones type of boxer. A knowledgeable master boxer with no chin now but still a pleasure to watch when he is winning obviously. But his days are gone and so do you writing non-boxing stupid comments sometimes. I do like Fe' Roz.. he squares right in front of you al'a Margarito.... better yet.... al'a "El Perro Angulo" .... he comes to fight with no excuses but fights clean. Bobby C is more like a Froch type of fighter.. loves to talk too much because he has a decent right hand but at the end... he crumbles do to lack of slickness.... (He will loose in Super Six as he won't pass Abraham or Ward. When it happens remember you hear it from me first) Oh well... that's my analysis for sunday morning... WAKE UP TSS!!!!!!... let's start keyboard jabbin'!!!!!! .... but pleaaaase... do it with style.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 07:11:06 AM
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The Saint:
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Chambers had 3 weapons: 1) double jab to the chest 2) left hook to Wlad's left jab 3) powderpuff right over Wlad's jab. I guess 4 if you count the takedowns! I don't know whether to feel bad or not about Chambers. On one hand it almost looked like he had a plan and was just a victim of Wlad's size. On the other hand it seemed like Chambers had the speed and guile to take more risks. All talk. chambers' only consolation would've been to have gone the distance and I'm glad Wlad's left hook found its mark, sparing us from what surely have been a "this was just a learning process and I'll come back better than ever" speech from Chambers. Now that I think about it, I'm glad he got KTFO ( knocked the FAT out). LOL
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 08:54:04 AM
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mortcola@saint:
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I was gonna say picking up his mouthpiece, but your version is better. About the fight, Chambers had the tools and the guile to make it a fight. He didn't have the courage. "Victim of size" - there's no such thing. Big guys are just a technical challenge, and fighters overcome it all the time. Whatever negatives you can cite about WK, just watch his feet, body movement, parrying, and timing (jab included). Absolutely perfect, absolutely disciplined. There were no openings for the tools Chambers was willing to use. He would have need a Frazier-or-early-Tyson-style attack just to get in - but with his speed, he would have had shots to land. But he never went beyond the impotent double jab to chest, and the hooks to WK's right glove. The jab is a psychological weapon as much as a physical one. WK's jab physically moved Eddie back, stunned and swelled him - but it also took away any initiative. It also carried the threat of the lightning right cross behind it, which comes so infrequently but so quickly that opponents become mesmerized, seemingly waiting for that axe to drop. FIghter after fighter falls victim to that "boring" tactic. Next challenge for WK is to follow through on Steward's advice and start becoming an aggressive, creative puncher off that impeccable boxing -the way he was early in his career, before he got KTFO and became the over-controlled fighter he is now. That's his psychological challenge. As for Eddie, he needs a new trainer. The BS rationalizations before the fight, and the inept advice and attitude in the corner, are signs that he couldn't possibly have had the proper support or preparation to give it his best go. Eddie's a quality fighter and seemingly a nice guy - but the communal cluelessness in the corner - "move your f---ing head!" was pathetic.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 11:11:00 AM
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mortcola@anony:
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I don't like you either. But your comparisons to fighters are really funny. Personally, I can vouch for my chin. And I'll try to show better sportsmanship. Peace.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 11:16:16 AM
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EM@Mortcola:
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Superior analysis. And another example why the TSS comment section is the best forum of its type, bar none. The posters are so damned astute. Thanks for sharing Mort.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 11:16:34 AM
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mortcola@EM:
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Thanks, EM. This joint gives me the chance to think about what I think I've learned about boxing, which is boring to do while sitting on the sofa with friends who don't really like boxing. I'm really grateful for TSS and all the passion for the sport that goes here.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 11:48:42 AM
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Aaron:
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There are good heavyweights emerging to create a new competitive scene. Check out Denis Boytsov and 2008 olympic medalist Deonte Wilder, these guys are young and gonna dominate the scene.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 11:56:10 AM
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Aaron:
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Povetkin was life and death to get a decision over chambers, so I guess we know what's going to happen to him against Wlad.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 12:21:06 PM
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Robert Curtis:
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Looks like I missed both the fight and the fantastic comments. I was at a singing workshop yesterday and then at a dinner party. As if anyone here cares. Haha. I know I don't share like others, but it can't be helped. I've only got so much slickness to go around and I'm trying to put most of it into my writing and music these days. But it's a good feeling to know that mouthy idiots and conspiracy theorists think about you and plot revenge with their posts. LOL. Sometimes it's even fun when the smart ones are on your case. Wish I had an excuse to bang with the mighty Mortcola today, but it looks like his analysis of the fight I didn't see is immaculate. Good show, you plummy bastard.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 03:47:49 PM
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Jacob:
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It was kinda like watching a normal person beating up a midget.. I'll bet if you put me in the ring with even a highly skilled midget or dwarf boxer I could take him. People wouldn't cheer though. It was kind of silly actually. I'm so glad I don't fork out my hard earned money for these things.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 03:58:30 PM
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mortcola@Robert Curtis:
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No worries, Robert. You're always quality over quantity. Most of my TSS rants have been at the expense of my writing ABOUT music -writing music is a dim memory and a wistful dream. Perhaps we should jam. What's your axe?
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 04:05:32 PM
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Isaiah:
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Who can challenge these men? Besides Vitali losing to Lennox Lewis, they have either avenged there losses or avenged eachother's losses. Basically, there is no blemish that has not been taken care of. Vitali "loses" to Chris Bryd and Wladmer whoops him not once, but twice. Wladmer loses to Ross Purity and Corrie Sanders. Vitali puts a beatdown on them both. Wladmer loses to Lamont Brewster and then beats him down in the rematch. By the way, I've been thinking for years there was something up in the Wladmer/Brewster 1 fight and there mihgt be something legit to Wlad saying how he felt drugged. You all, look at how Wlad was acting in the 5th round I think what it was, before he got knocked out, something wasn't right. He didn't move right at all. I think Wlad was drugged just like he was acting like afterwards, but I guess we'll never know for sure. Anyway, with Lennox Lewis permantly retired and the K brothers combined having already put beatdowns on Chris Bryd, Ross Purity, Corrie Sanders, Ruslan Chageav, Kirk Johnson, Sultan Imgribov, (however you spell it) Eddie Chambers, Tony Thompson, Chris Arreola, Sam Peter, Lamont Brewster, Hasim Rahman, Calvin Brock, Kevin Johnson, Juan Carlos Gomez, Jameel McCline, Ray Austin and basically anyone who is the slightest threat, what is the point?! If you really want to dig deep, you have the coward David Haye who's already ducked them both. You have Valuev who is a circus freak and you might make that fight just to have someone who can truly have a chance of knocking that bum out or loudmouth James Toney can stick in boxing a minute longer and WHOOPED, but we all know at this point in his life, Toney is a freakin joke of a heavyweight! I'm not about to say Evander Holyfield because I have WAAAAAY too much respect for that man to see him get seriously hurt at this stage. I don't blame Vitali for picking next someone I never heard of before. At least that opponent has a nice record and is a Euro champ for however much that's worth, but seriously, WHO IS LEFT TOO CHALLENGE THE KLITSCHKO BROTHERS?!! ANWSER: NOONE!!!
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 04:18:15 PM
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Isaiah:
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Two typos. First one, change mihgt to might. Second one, change and WHOOPED to and GET WHOOPED. My bad.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 04:22:09 PM
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Anony:
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OH NO... the birdy and the butterfly are jammin' together... I'm telling you man.. next thing you know they will move to California together to start a new life as a couple. How sweet!!!!! hehehehe. Did I say any names????? LOL.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 10:12:35 PM
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The Saint:
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BTW I bought the fight for $14.95 and proud of it. I did it partly because the cable companies can't be a monopoly. We ought to support these "mini" PPV's.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 10:50:34 PM
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You Have To Take The Test To Be Called The Best
"People can say whatever they like about Floyd Mayweather Jr....and they will....but they can never say the man challenges himself to be the best." ---TSS All-Star reader El Feroz weighs in on who he thinks is at blame for the Manny-Money negotiation flameout
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