Chambers-Povetkin: Power vs. Speed

By Boxing News - 01/26/2008 - Comments

povetkin-chambers33.jpgBy Chris Thomas: undefeated heavyweights Eddie Chambers (30-0, 16 KOs) and Alexander Povetkin (14-0, 11 KOs) mix it up on Saturday night in the International Boxing Federation eliminator bout at the Tempodrom, Kreuzberg, in Berlin, Germany. The winner of the bout has the pleasure of facing the victor of next months bout between IBF heavyweight title holder Wladimir Klitschko and WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov. It’s not likely to be Ibragimov that will emerge the winner of that bout, considering that Klitschko is the larger, faster, powerful and by far the more accomplished fighter of the two. Chambers, 25, ranked #1 in the IBF, seems hardly ready, should he defeat Povetkin on Saturday, for a bout with Klitschko.

However, the heavyweight division is so bad right now that Chambers and Povetkin are about the best their is. Unfortunately, there seems to be a wide gulf between them and Wladimir, with the winner of the IBF tournament seeming to be nothing more than cannon fodder for Wladimir. At this stage, it appears likely that it will be Povetkin, since he’s the bigger fighter, more powerful, and has a busier style than Chambers. Additionally, Povetkin, 28, will be fighting in front of a friendly crowd, now that he’s living and fighting out of Germany. The crowds in Germany seem to cheer loudly for everything that their home fighter does, often cheering even when they’re missing punches, and running around the ring.

That in itself is a going to be a tremendous handicap for Chambers, who will have to make sure that he does more than enough to get the win. If the fight is even slightly close, you can count on the fight going to Povetkin, because that’s usually how things are done in that country.

I don’t really expect this fight to be close, because Povetkin generally keeps coming forward at all times, forcing his opponents to either fight for their lives or else wilt under the pressure. Chambers is going to have to him to meet him with some fast shots, preferably something with a lot of power, otherwise Povetkin is going to walk all over him. I don’t believe for a second that the slightly pudgy Chambers can use his feet to stay away from Povetkin all fight long, because I don’t think he has the stamina to do that. That’s not to say that Chambers can’t keep Povetkin off of him for a few rounds, perhaps as many six, but in the second half of the fight, I think Povetkin is going to get to him with his heavy pressure.

Chambers has been extremely fortunate in his short career, never having to fight a pressure fighter like Povetkin. In most of the bouts that I’ve seen of Chambers, he stays on the outside doing little, and then moves in and throws flurries in the last 30-60 seconds of the round, trying to win it. He generally does, most often, but he’s also very predictable with his fight tactics. Against the marginal opponents that Chambers has faced thus far, he’s been able to get away with this economical, energy-saving style. Against Povetkin, I’m afraid he’s going to be exposed for his lazy style. Even if he wanted to, I can’t see Chambers being physically able to up the pace much more without quickly burning out and getting stopped.

Indeed, that is precisely what Povetkin will be set out to do, although that’s pretty much how he always fights. Povetkin isn’t a knockout puncher due to any kind of innate power, it’s because he has excellent stamina, which allows him to outwork his opponents. He also has an excellent, at least up to this point, he has. I have my doubts that Povetkin’s pressure style will work against Wladimir Klitschko, as he’ll get hit with too much heavy fire, and will likely get blasted out of the ring. However, against Chambers, Povetkin will have more than enough fire power to make his time miserable for him on Saturday night.

Chambers, if he plans on winning this fight, will have to show something completely different than he has in his past bouts, namely a lot more action. Who knows? Maybe Chambers will rise to the occasion and fight above his ability, but I’m not counting on it. I think he’s already getting the most out of his rotund physique, and to demand more from it would be asking the impossible.