Denzil Stone – Atlantic City
Former Wladimir Klitschko victims Tony Thompson and Eddie Chambers fight for the right to rematch the dominant Ukrainian as they put their friendship to the side in an IBF world title eliminator scheduled for Friday, October 28 at Bally’s Event Center in Atlantic City. Chambers, from Pittsburgh but fights out of Philadelphia, claimed they both have a “lot to lose and a lot to gain” which will result in a “classic fight” for the fans.
Picture: 39-year-old southpaw Tony Thompson
“I’m fighting a man named Tony Thompson, a very formidable fighter and a top challenger to the same title that Klitschko holds,” Chambers (36-2-0, 18ko) informed Fight Hype.
Both fighters have previous experience against Wladimir. Thompson (36-2-0, 24ko) dropped an eleventh round technical knockout to Klitschko in 2008, while Chambers suffered a similar fate as Wladimir stopped him in the twelfth in 2010. Klitschko fought tentatively against Thompson and, even though he cruised to victory, it was Thompson who landed more punches (150 to 121) – albeit Klitschko’s were more meaningful.
Chambers provided Klitschko with a stern examination and – literally – attempted to throw him off his gameplan by picking him up off his feet and, later, throwing him to the canvas. However, like Thompson, Chambers lost the vast majority – if not all – of the rounds.
“Fast” Eddie Chambers continued: “[Thompson] also had a good performance against Klitschko. By no means do I think this is going to be an easy fight for me but it’s the perfect type of fight to set me up for a title. I’m definitely going to be on my A game to beat a fighter of this magnitude. I’m going to be 100 percent ready, focused and determined to get back to where I need to be.”
Thompson and Chambers are by no means strangers. Both consider themselves a friend to the other and have acted as sparring partners during the preparation phases of each others training camps. Such good relations, though, will be put to the side in late October as they not only battle for the right to become the IBF number one contender to the Federation’s champion; Wlad, but also to be able to call themselves the best current American big man.
“It’s difficult in the sense that you always want to see friends and family do well in their lives, but for Tony to be an obstacle in my way, putting that friendship aside is something we both have to do,” said Chambers.
“Right now, were on a collision course. Right now, there are not many fights out there that we can get so this fight was bound to happen. In a way, I was hoping this fight never happened because we helped each other for different fights and are very friendly and familiar with each other so it’s a little tough, but it has to be done.
“This is not going to be one of those fights where you see two fighters who are friends being too nice in the ring and making it a boring fight. Both of us have a lot to lose and a lot to gain so it will definitely be a classic fight between he and I.”
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