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Chambers ‘a long way from being done’

Fighters Network
30
Aug

Former heavyweight title challenger “Fast” Eddie Chambers figured to dominate in his cruiserweight debut against Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu, not the other way around.

But that’s exactly what happened on Aug. 3 when Mchunu (14-1, 10 KOs), a muscular 24-year old southpaw from South Africa, pitched a virtual shutout on his way to a unanimous decision over Chambers (36-4, 18 KOs), a 31-year-old from Philadelphia.

“I do not want to in any form or fashion diminish that win by making excuses about my performance in the ring,” said Chambers in a prepared statement on Friday. “I did my best that I could to make the fight. To win the fight. Losing this decision woke up my spirit to compete again and I will continue to pursue my career as a cruiserweight.”



Chamber had weighed a career-low 202 pounds for his previous ring appearance, a disputed split-decision loss to Tomasz Adamek, who came in at 225 for their fight in June.

“I felt fine throughout the bout. The weight loss was not a factor in my performance. I did not expect Mchunu to fight such a defensive, awkward fight,” said Chambers. Going into the fight Mchunu was on a three-fight knockout streak since being stopped in the sixth round by Zack Mwekassa in September of 2011.

“I was trying to follow instructions from my trainer, James Ali Bashir. It was very difficult to do as I am a counter puncher as well who was forced into being the aggressor. I felt that if I did not do something to make the fight, there would have been no action during the fight. I am not that kind of guy who is going to lay around crying over spilled milk.”

Below is Chambers’ complete statement, including a vow to “get right back ini there, the way the old-school warriors used to do,” and, to “show the world that I am a long way from being done.”

Eddie Chambers’ full statement:

First off, I want to congratulate my opponent Thibiso Mchunu of South Africa for his victory against me. I do not want to in any form or fashion diminish that win by making excuses about my performance in the ring. I did my best that I could to make the fight. To win the fight. Losing this decision woke up my spirit to compete again and I will continue to pursue my career as a cruiserweight.

I felt fine throughout the bout. The weight loss was not a factor in my performance. I did not expect Mchunu to fight such a defensive, awkward fight. I was trying to follow instructions from my trainer, James Ali Bashir. It was very difficult to do as I am a counter puncher as well who was forced into being the aggressor. I felt that if I did not doing something to make the fight, there would have been no action during the fight. I am not that kinda guy who is going to lay around crying over spilled milk.

I want to get right back in there the way the old-school warriors used to do many years ago. I take full responsibility for this critical setback in my career. My incentive is back and hopefully I will be able to meet Mchunu down the road and there will be a far a different result.

I look forward to meeting the top cruiserweights in the world. I think my biggest enemy is inactivity. I have fought just three times in the last three years. I want to get busy as soon as possible. I will show the world that I am a long way from being done.

Photo by Mike Greenhill

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

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