Wayne McCullough watches Eddie Chambers emerge as America's latest hope for heavyweight glory.
Independence Day delight bodes well for Eddie and the US
With European fighters dominating the heavyweight division, Eddie Chambers was hoping to change things up and try to edge one step closer to bringing the heavyweight championship back to America.
His fight last Saturday night was a WBO eliminator against Alex Dimitrenko. Chambers, 34-1 (18 ko's), was coming off a big win in March over former champion Samuel Peter which was a surprisingly easy win for him. His only loss was to undefeated Russian Alexander Povetkin, who was an Olympic champion in 2004.
Dimitrenko is from Ukraine fighting out of Germany. Undefeated at 29-0 (19 ko's) he outweighed Chambers by at least 40lbs and stood six inches taller.
Chambers is small for a heavyweight and could probably make cruiserweight but America desperately needs a champion in the heavyweight division and that's maybe why he disadvantages himself against these big guys.
But size didn't matter in this fight as he out-gunned and bullied Dimitrenko on his way to an impressive win. Two judges scored the fight 117-109 and 116-111 for Chambers while the other ridiculously scored the fight 113-113 a draw.
Chambers was at one of the lightest weights of his career, about 15lbs less than his most recent fight. He picked his shots well, hurt Dimitrenko at times and he was willing to stand and trade with the bigger man.
Punishing
Dimitrenko was trying to steal rounds and outbox Chambers but he wasn't very successful. He was also trying to stay at long range using left jabs and right but Chambers wasn't letting than happen and stayed close.
Chambers displayed speed and sharpness and was able to momentarily stop Dimitrenko with a solid body shot in the seventh round. Dimitrenko came back a little in the eighth and ninth, possibly stealing those rounds but Chambers stepped it up in the 10th and let fast combinations go.
A double jab followed by a short right that set up a left hook to the head put Dimitrenko down in the 10th. He got to his feet but Chambers finished the final two rounds punishing the Ukrainian.
Away from home on Independence Day, the American arguably produced the best show of his career putting him in line as number one contender for Wladimir Klitschko but he may have to wait until next year for a Klitschko fight. Chambers should stay busy because he gets better with every fight.
An upset for the American on America's favourite holiday takes Chambers one step closer to becoming the next heavyweight champion for the USA.
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