Exclusive Interview - "Fast" Eddie Chambers Talks About His Upcoming Fight With Wladi
by James Slater - 27-year-old Eddie Chambers of Philadelphia, 35-1(18) was recently given the green light to face Ring magazine, IBF and WBO heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko. "Fast" Eddie will travel to Germany to try and dethrone the man known as "Dr. Steel Hammer" on March 20th.
Already buzzing about the fight he sees as his long overdue opportunity, Chambers is feeling ultra-confident. And coming off his career-best showing against the huge Alexander Dimitrenko in his last fight back in July, so should he be. Very kindly taking the time to speak with me about the upcoming fight earlier today, the always accommodating nice guy had the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It's always a pleasure to speak with you, Eddie. Firstly, it's great news you getting the world heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko on March 20th. You must be excited already?
Eddie Chambers: Absolutely. I feel this is a great opportunity; this is what I've been fighting for the whole duration of my career. I know most folks don't think I have even an outside chance of winning, but I'm really gonna drop some jaws..
J.S: When will you start camp for the fight?
E.C: I'm already doing certain things, like running and doing some strength and conditioning work. I never allow my weight to go up too much between fights - I like to always stay in good shape. But officially, real camp will start at the end of January; that will be when I shut everything down. But I feel very good now and I'm very confident I will win this fight.
J.S: Do you have any idea yet who you will be sparring with?
E.C: I don't know for sure, but I will use some of the same guys I worked with for the [Alexander] Dimitrenko fight. And also some tall guys and some mobile and fast guys.
J.S: Talking about the Dimitrenko win you scored, you looked great in that fight - do you plan on coming in at around the same weight, around the 208 mark?
E.C: Yeah, well, me and my strength and conditioning guy, we go back and forth on that. I say I want to be around 210, and he says I should be more like 215 - and he knows more than I do about strength and conditioning, etc. I will say this; I won't be anywhere too far north of 215. My body will be cut and ready for this fight, and I will be in great shape. I'll be more than ready.
J.S: Do you feel, in doing what you did to Dimitrenko, a big guy, that that fight was a perfect fight to have taken before facing Wladimir? You proved beyond any doubt you can handle the really big guys.
E.C: Absolutely. There are lots of similarities between Dimitrenko and Klitschko - but there are also lots of differences. I don't want to slight Wladimir, because he has proven he is the world's number-one - but Dimitrenko is a little more fluid than he is, and he's a little more rounded a fighter. Dimitrenko can fight on the inside and various things like that - he's very athletic for a guy his size. And Klistchko is as well, and of course he has that championship pedigree. I think the Dimitrenko fight was an excellent blueprint for me, and that fight gave me a look at what I will face when I get in there with Wladimir.
J.S: A number of fans ask how will you handle the problem lots of other fighters have faced when fighting the Klitschkos - how will you get inside on them? How will you get past their left jab? Do you feel you can get in on Wladimir with your great speed?
E.C: I think mobility is a big factor. A lot of the guys who fought the Klitschkos didn't have the mobility I have, and also, I don't think they really had the will to try getting inside and to win. They were too concerned with they'd be getting hit with and what they [the Klitschkos] would do in the fight. But I'm different in that I'll make them miss. I plan to make myself a very difficult target in there. And I will use lots of offence also. People don't want to jab with the Klitschkos, but I will use my legs and jab while using movement. And being hard to hit, that will frustrate Wladimir. No matter how great any fighter is, if you take them out of their comfort zone, what they're used to, and back them up, turn them around, use angles - and not allow them to fight their usual fight, they can be beaten.
J.S: You proved you are a harder hitter than people perhaps think in the Dimitrenko fight. Will you perhaps jump right on Wladimir, instead of boxing him as he will maybe expect. Is that a possibility; because he doesn't handle pressure all that well, does he?
E.C: Of course that could be one way I could approach getting the win, and that's interesting. I have several ways in which I can win the fight. But my plan, really, is to dismantle all the thinking that people have that I can't do enough to get the win. Walking him down is an approach, where I will make him have to hold. Also, he'll be surprised at what I can do on the inside - and I will also use my athleticism and my movement and my jab. Even in the Vitali Klitschko fight on Saturday, against Kevin Johnson; when Johnson jabbed he made Klitschko back off. Had Johnson been more aggressive, and made more of a fight of it, he could have maybe done something. I will be way more aggressive. I will give this fight a massive effort. I'll give this fight my all - my absolute best effort!
J.S: You really sound pumped up for this fight, Eddie! More than for any other fight.
E.C: Oh, I am. I'm really looking forward to bringing the title back home to the U.S in this time of need, when we're in dire need for a heavyweight champion.
J.S: Another factor could possibly be the surgery Klitschko has had, and the layoff. He's only fought once this year - do you think he may not be 100-percent sharp? Could the timing be perfect for this fight on that score? All advantages must be taken, after all.
E.C: Honestly, even though I do think about these things, look at Floyd Mayweather - he had almost two years off and then he came back against the number-two pound-for-pound fighter in Juan Manuel Marquez, and he dominated him for all 12 rounds. So top athletes are at the top for a reason. I think that for a fighter who is on top of his game, a layoff can help them in that it gives them more time to get ready. These guys have the mental attitude needed to win. The ring-rust, as it's called, doesn't really take anything away from the top athletes. But I want to face the very best possible Wladimir Klitschko on March 20th - not a shell of his old self. That way, when I beat him, there will be no excuses - like, "oh, he's getting old."
J.S: You've had quite a bit of experience fighting in Germany. What will this be, your third fight over there?
E.C: This will be the third fight there. The first time (against Alexander Povetkin) was a fairly bad experience, even though I was ahead in the fight for the first 5 rounds. The second time (against Dimitrenko), that was what I needed to do, and was what I expected to do. And none of those fights were given to me. Never was I expected to win those fights, and I understand that. I'm looked at a B-level fighter, and I will be until I show that I am an A, A-plus fighter. I will be looked at as number-one when I win on March 20th. I will have earned the distinction these other fighters have.
J.S: It's been great speaking with you, Eddie. I really wish you the best for the fight. Finally, it will obviously mean so much to you to become heavyweight champion - and it will be Ring magazine, IBF and WBO champion - but will it also mean a lot to you to become the first heavyweight champion from Philly since the 1980s, with Tim Witherspoon?
E.C: That will obviously mean a lot too, yes. But most people say there are no U.S heavyweights right now - and that's unfair - but to bring the belts home will mean so much. And also the Philly thing as well. I've a chance to make history in so many ways. But think about this; I'm originally from Pittsburgh - how many heavyweight champions have there been from there? Can you even remember! I've got to say, this has been my dream for so long; it's been a long time coming. And I can't wait for people to say about me, that this little guy from Pittsburgh who moved to Philly, came good. I've been thinking about this for a long time, and It's long overdue.
J.S: Well, I wish you all the best for the fight, Eddie. It would be great to see you win, even though I'm supposed to be neutral! May the best man win, is the best way to put it.
E.C: Okay, thanks for calling. Take it easy.
