04.12.08 – by James Slater – December 13th’s fight card in Cabazon, California will, according to BoxRec, feature no less than three potentially exciting heavyweight bouts. Topping the Goossen Tutor promoted show that will air in the US on TV network Versus, will be the intriguing clash between James “Lights Out” Toney and Tony “The Tiger” Thompson. Additionally, up-and-coming young heavies “Fast” Eddie Chambers and the unbeaten Malik Scott will be in action. This could be some interesting night of heavyweight boxing. Also, to further add to the bill, unbeaten super-middleweight Andre Ward will be in action..
Let’s take a look at the two supporting heavyweight fights. Chambers, who has bounced back well from his points loss to Alexander Povetkin, faces the extremely durable Cisse Salif, while Scott, who is currently 31-0(11), goes up against danger man Raphael Butler.
26-year-old Chambers, 32-1(18) has won two fights since his only defeat, with both wins coming by stoppage. The Philly native stopped the aforementioned Butler in six rounds back in June and then stopped Livin Castillo in five rounds in October. Now he takes on the man who guys like David Tua, Damian Wills and Odlanier Solis couldn’t stop, in 37-year-old Salif. A mark-time fight for the gifted Chambers, the bout is scheduled for just six rounds. Look for “Fast” Eddie to get a decent workout as he wins a clear decision. Then, with his confidence further restored after the January loss to Povetkin in Germany, Chambers can look towards stepping back up in class in 2009.
The Scott-Butler fight may be a bit different. Also scheduled for just six rounds, this fight has more of a chance of ending with a KO. Scott, now aged 28, may not be a big puncher (just 11 KOs) but 24-year-old Butler can definitely bang. The underdog going in, Butler, 34-7(27) has been extremely active this year. The fight will Scott will be his 9th, no less, of 2008, and though he has lost three times this year only Chambers has stopped him. We still don’t know how good Scott, who has boxed just once this year, can be. And while Butler is below world class level, he may ask the 28-year-old from Philadelphia a few questions. Simply put, as long as he’s in the fight, Butler is a threat.
As such, this fight is a reasonably tough one to pick a winner from. Sure, Scott looks like he should win – after all he has never yet lost. But, a faded Charles Shufford aside, Scott has not faced anyone who is as potentially hazardous as is Butler. Somewhat hesitantly, this writer picks Scott to win on points. However, there is the faint whiff of an upset all over this one.
All in all, it should be a pretty good night on December 13th – when at least four world class fighters do their stuff.