Eddie Chambers interview

Photo by Mike McGuigan

A lot of people say the Heavyweight division is lacking in American talent. Eddie Chambers is on a mission to disprove that theory and become one of the biggest names in the business. If you haven’t heard of him, “Fast” Eddie is a 24 year old undefeated heavyweight with a 27 – 0 record, 15 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Eddie recently signed a promotion deal with Goosen – Tutor and will be featured on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on February 9th against NY state champ Derrick Rossy for the USBA Heavyweight title. He recently took the time to speak with Philly Keith Sports to talk about who he is, where he came from and what he plans to do.

Philly Keith Sports: Eddie, congratulations on signing a multi fight deal with Goossen Tutor. Tell us what are your thoughts on Goossen Tutor as a promoter, the promotional deal and what it means to you?

Eddie Chambers: Well, I think it is a great opportunity. Instead of going after it myself I have a big name out there behind me to help me get to the title. Goossen - Tutor is one of the best, if not the best promotional outfit out there. His style, the way he presented himself. He kept coming back and in contact with me. Everything seems real good with him. The best fit for me is definitely here. They have a good stable of fighters. I think this is a great thing; it is something I really needed and will help me take the next step, the next level. I am very excited about it.

PK: You have been fighting in Philly for a long time but in your last fight you made the trip out to Vegas, what was that like getting out of the comfort zone where you weren’t the hometown guy. How did you feel?

EC: Yeah, at the Reno Event Center a fight I won by a 5th round knockout. I actually felt really comfortable. It was pressure but the kind that I liked; the kind that pushed me to do better. I mean there were a lot of lights, a lot of camera and other things going on but it was good and it was nice to be able to showcase my skills. I saw Lennox Lewis there, Max Kellerman, Harold Letterman. I was like oh man! And they enjoyed him fight so that made it an excellent experience. It made me feel good, it was a boost. It’s what I worked for all my life, it was a positive. Overall it was a nice step up.

PK: Who are some of the fighters you would say some of the other guys to watch out for in Philly?

EC: Man there are a lot of good fighters out there but namely I would have to say my brother Steve, Chazz Witherspoon, Yusef Mack, Joey Abell. These guys are the next ones to get signed and will be right there with me.

PK: Over the past couple of years you have beaten some really tough guys in Philly, they might not have been the biggest names but these guys are legitimate fighters. What would you say that your toughest or best fight has been so far?

EC: I’d have to say my last one was my best one. But when I won the PA state title from Robert Hawkins and Ross Purity who beat Wladimir Klitschko really tested me and help me take it to another level. At this stage I feel that I am past that and ready to take it to the next level.

PK: You seem schooled on the competition, on who is out there. Do you keep a close eye on boxing when you aren’t in the ring?

EC: Oh no question, you got to. You gotta see what the other guys do, how they work. Even guys in other weight classes, you watch guys like Bernard, Roy Jones you pick up on things and learn because these are the best guys out there.

PK: And as you approach the next level, what do you hope to accomplish in 2007?

EC: Get some good fights, get in the ranked top 10 and eventually get a title shot. I might not get the title shot in ’07 but it will put me in line for ’08.

PK: Talking about top guys and titles, I heard you did some sparring with Klitschko recently as he prepared for Calvin Brock. What are your thoughts on him and how did you fare in the ring?

EC: I felt good in there; I can clearly see why he is the number 1 guy because he is extremely hard to fight. He has a lot of weight behind him, the way he can fight on the outside. He had a little string of bad fights then people started to say he’s got no chin, ain’t got this or that but his skilled and strong. Not many out there can challenge him. Some people talk bad about Shannon Briggs but I had a chance to go to his camp in January of 2006 and I think he is one of the best ones out there as well. He’s had problems in the past, not being in condition and all that but let me tell you, when he gets in there, he has the opportunity to beat anybody. He can really punch and he can box. Klitschko is above them but these guys are right there too.

PK: Where do you think Sam Peter fits into this mix?

EC: Sam Peter is a monster, I like watching him. He is still trying to learn and getting his boxing skills and bring his whole game to the next level. He makes it difficult for guys fighting him because he punches so hard and he’s strong and you can’t stand there all night taking his shots. I think he needs to add some boxing skills but he is getting there. He has a shot against anybody too.

PK: How about the WBA champ, Nicholay Valuev?

EC: Man, he is big, I can say one thing he is huge. It’s like trying to fight Shaq or a big center in basketball, hard to hit. I’ve seen him fight before and it’s not that bad, at least as bad as a lot of people say. He knows how to use his size a little. The guys he has been fighting haven’t been to bad and he’s been winning.

PK: I didn’t think he looked too bad beating Monte Barrett although he caught a lot of bad publicity. He did knock him out.

EC: I mean, the guy is 7 feet tall so he won’t have all the skills a normal fighter would have. The guy has a belt, talk all you want about him but as long as he keeps winning there is nothing you can really say.

PK: Ok, what are your thoughts on Bernard Hopkins possibly making the jump to heavyweight to fight Oleg Maskaev?

EC: Bernard sees opportunity in it; James Toney did it coming up from middleweight and can hang in there with anybody. Bernard will have to do a lot more moving and boxing at this weight though.

PK: How did you get into boxing?

EC: I was a young kid in Pittsburgh, I was passive, didn’t want to get into fights or any trouble but I didn’t have a lot of money or nice clothes to wear to school, people laughed at me. I went to the gym to be able to defend myself now I am going 10 years strong didn’t think I was going to stick but here I am.

PK: Yeah, here you are, ready to headline a ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on February 9th against the NY state champ Derrick Rossy. Needless to say you are excited about this.

EC: Oh yeah, this is going to be for the USBA Heavyweight title. After this fight I am on my way!

PK: For those who haven’t had the opportunity to see you in the ring, how would you describe your style?

EC: I would call it boxer / puncher but more of a boxer because of my size but I have enough power to keep you off of me.

PK: Anything you want to say in closing:

EC:Just tune in to ESPN 2 on February 9th, to see the future heavyweight champ of the world! I appreciate everyone support!

Thanks for your time and best of luck Eddie



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