By James Slater – Talented Philly heavyweight “Fast” Eddie Chambers makes his return to the ring tonight in Atlantic City, in a rematch with Derric Rossy. The IBF heavyweight title eliminator is an important fight for Chambers, Rossy and the heavyweight division. The scheduled 12-rounder will also mark Chambers’ first ring action since he was stopped in dramatic style in the 12th and final round by Wladimir Klitschko.
Yet as important as the heavyweight bout is, Showtime: The Next Generation will not be televising Chambers-Rossy II tonight. Instead, the card’s supporting bouts – Cornelius White-Donovan George and Rico Ramos-Alejandro Valdez – will get the T.V treatment..
Some fans may say, ‘so what?’ when reading this, claiming the heavyweight match-up is not T.V-worthy seeing as how 28-year-old Chambers beat 30-year-old Rossy in dominant fashion a few years ago. But Chambers’ trainer, Rob Murray Senior, is angry and offended by the disrespect his fighter, arguably the best heavyweight in America right now, is getting.
Murray was angry back in March of last year, when no single U.S T.V outlet chose to carry Chambers’ challenge of Ring Magazine, IBF, WBO and IBO king Klitschko; and now he is mad again due to this latest “slap in the face.”
“It’s another slap in the face,” Murray told Philly.com. “This kid never even gets a parking ticket. He isn’t smacking women around or getting locked up every five minutes. He’s the only American heavyweight to go to Germany to fight people like [Alexander] Povetkin, [Alexander] Dimitrenko. Damn, give him a little respect.”
Indeed. Chambers, 35-2(18) is one of the nicest guys you could wish to find in all of boxing today. Never refusing an interview request or a request for an autograph, “Fast” Eddie has also consistently looked to fight the best. Okay, tonight’s rematch hasn’t set pulses racing, but Rossy is an improved fighter from the one who was taken apart by Chambers in 2007, and he is a big, strong, determined fighter. Will Chambers – who showed he means business by scaling a ready 208-pounds yesterday, Rossy was also in shape at 237.5 – get the job done again? Only fans in attendance will find out “in living colour.”
Murray insists his fighter has improved, not just Rossy, 25-2(14).
“I see him doing things now he didn’t do before the Klitschko fight,” he said. “He’s bought into everything I’ve been trying to teach him. This is a different guy. He’s using all of the ring, using his boxing ability more. I’m really impressed.”
On paper, Chambers should win tonight (I go for Chambers to win widely on points); but can he go on to become world champion? Brave as ever, Chambers told this writer he would love another shot at Wlad Klitschko. If he wins tonight he may get his wish.