Posted on 1/24/2008 11:53:06 PM

Boxing Betting – Povetkin vs. Chambers

By Charles Jay

IBF Heavyweight Eliminator

January 26 -- Berlin

Boxing Betting Odds

ALEXANDER POVETKIN -700

EDDIE CHAMBERS +500

OVER 9.5 ROUNDS -300

UNDER 9.5 ROUNDS +200

On Saturday, January 26 in Berlin, two undefeated heavyweights square off in what should be an interesting clash of styles, and with something most definitely on the line, when Russia's Alexander Povetkin tackles Eddie Chambers of the United States.

The winner of this fight will not only remain undefeated, but will have earned the opportunity for an IBF heavyweight title fight against the champion, Wladimir Klitschko.

For boxing betting purposes, let's size up the contestants:

POVETKIN (14-0, 11 KO's), the -700 favorite in the BetUS boxing betting odds, who originally started out as a kick-boxer, wound up as an extremely successful amateur boxer, winning just about every amateur tournament he engaged in. He eventually won the gold medal in the super heavyweight division at 2004 Athens Olympics. As a pro he is undefeated in fourteen fights, and has developed into one of the most highly regarded prospects in the heavyweight division in some time. Povetkin was brought along rather slowly, but made a leap in terms of opposition on October 27 when he won an eleventh-round TKO over Chris Byrd as part of the IBF tournament. Thus far Povetkin has passed every test.

CHAMBERS (30-0, 16 KO's), the +500 (5/1) underdog in the BetUS boxing betting odds, is a 25-year-old born in Pittsburgh and currently living and training in Philadelphia. Like Povetkin, he has been brought along relatively carefully, but has passed his tests when they've come. In February of last year he scored a seventh-round stoppage over previously-undefeated Derrick Rossy, then followed that a few months later with a decision over former amateur star Dominick Guinn. After an apprenticeship that saw him win 29 straight fights, Chambers was entered in the four-man IBF elimination tournament, and made good in his first match with a split decision win over Calvin Brock.

Povetkin is the type who will come forward, but does not lack for athleticism. He is aggressive and can punch, and against Byrd he demonstrated that he can be in a war of attrition and come out on the winning end. That one was not easy, as Byrd brought a lot of elusiveness and craft into the bout. Against Chambers he's going to be facing another boxer type, but a different kind of boxer type.

While Byrd sometimes goes out of his way to avoid trouble with movement, and comes from a southpaw stance, Chambers is an orthodox fighter who does not run away from the action all that much. He is more stationary and uses outstanding defensive skills to avoid taking excessive punishment. he reminds some people of Jimmy Young, another Philadelphia heavyweight who was slick and quick around the ring, and that is not much of an exaggeration.

In an era when heavyweights often plod forward and are called "boxers" just because they can throw a jab, Chambers is a bit of a throwback. When you watch him fight you know that this is an educated boxer. He is economical in his movement, very accurate in his punches, and while he may not be the most exciting fighter on earth, he is the type who will please every purist because there really has not been anyone as savvy as him in the division for some time.

I know what the criticism about Chambers is - that he is perhaps not busy enough in the ring, and that as a heavyweight, he is very small. Indeed, Chambers comes in around the 210-215 mark, which would compromise him against someone like Klitschko, but it's not as if he is going to be handicapped in that regard here, because Povetkin should be around 225 if he's in shape.

Obviously, Povetkin has something of a home field advantage because he is the "house" fighter for this promoter (Wilfred Sauerland), but Chambers is the kind of boxer who may be able to frustrate him. He will throw the jab with authority; he will hit what he aims at, and he is not likely to make the kind of fatal mistake that will get him knocked out, unless he is simply worn down. But Chambers is not going to be available to be pounded upon. He's too smart for that.

Unless Chambers is simply intimidated by the pro-Povetkin atmosphere, I think that this price is generous enough to take a shot with him. So here we go - Eddie Chambers at 5/1 (+500) in the BetUS boxing betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: CHAMBERS +500 *** (Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Betting on boxing has never been so easy and you can get your bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook. Go to Other Sports: Boxing. Find tons of props on the fight and the fighters in the Future / props section as well!

(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a former manager, matchmaker and color commentator in professional boxing. He currently pulls no punches in the BetUS Locker Room)