Round by Round: Povetkin Vs. Chambers

We're not quite live on HBO's Boxing After Dark for a heavyweight showdown. First up though, a replay of last week's Roy Jones-Felix Trinidad fight. Since I didn't see it live, here are my quick impressions: neither man looked horrible, but neither looked great either. Roy just looked too fast on offense and too big for Tito's punches to have enough effect. Both guys look like they can keep fighting. I still like Joe Calzaghe over Jones if they do meet up in the near future, and I thought it was interesting hearing the announcers speculate that Trinidad may face Oscar De La Hoya again down the road. Max Kellerman says they can hold onto that card and play it later, as their names would sell the fight regardless of what happens in the meantime.

More from Kellerman on Jones-Trinidad: he thinks last week's fight may have been a pretty good indication of what would have happened if they fought in their primes. Also he thinks De La Hoya at a catch-weight may make more sense for Jones than Calzaghe, Kelly Pavlik, etc. Lennox Lewis likes Povetkin in tonight's fight thanks to his amateur background and better pro competition.

Very dramatic opening with Michael Buffer introducing the White Lion, Alexander Povetkin. Scantily clad goose-stepping girls wave flags for Povetkin as he walks out through a hallway that looks like it came from a video game. I'm not making this up. Eddie Chambers comes out to "Good Life" by Kanye West. Buffer always does a nice job learning his foreign languages, by the way.

Rd. 1

Povetkin opens with some jabs. He finds the range with both hands early. Now Chambers scores with a right and a left upstairs. Povetkin works the body, backing Chambers up. Povetkin throwing more but Chambers is pretty good on defense. Chambers lands to the body right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Rd. 2

Super polite fans; you can hear individual voices. Povetkin is much busier early but Chambers' gloves catches most of them. Counter lefts are scoring by Chambers, but not very often. Povetkin finally slips a few through upstairs. Lennoz thinks Eddie should be busier. Chambers good right hand. Nice exchange right before the bell. Mouse starting to form under Povetkin's left eye.

Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers

Rd. 3

Povetkin opens with his best combos so far. Left by Chambers and Povetkin scores in return. Both men score on counter shots. Good right hand upstairs by Chambers. Another right just glances off by Eddie. Povetkin working the body but not all scoring.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers

Rd. 4

Another mean counter right by Chambers. Jabs by Eddie and Povetkin's return fire is once again mostly blocked. Good right by Povetkin knocks Eddie off balance. Double lefts by Chambers; Povetkin is starting to fidn the range now too. Good left by Eddie but he can't capitalize with any follow-up shots. Very close round.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers

Rd. 5

Chambers starts this round with a little more urgency. Lewis wants more jabs. Povetkin tries to trap Chambers on the ropes, but no dice. Two quick counter lefts land from Chambers. Body work by Chambers in the middle of the ring. Povetkin finds the range with lefts downstairs and up. The jab is working for Eddie, especially this round. Both men just miss with big shots at the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Rd. 6

Povetkin controls the opening seconds, still throwing in volume. Ref tells Eddie to keep them up. Chambers finally starts scoring about halfway through the round. More of Povetkin's combo shots are getting through now. Good right hook by Povetkin. Chambers just not busy enough, and Povetkin has found a few chinks in the armor. Good right at the bell by Eddie but that was Povetkin's best round so far.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Rd. 7

Povetkin just misses with a huge right. Volume still heavily favoring Alexander. Nice right at the end of a combo; Chambers seems unhurt. Now Chambers finds the target with a few lefts. Pretty uneventful round with Povetkin looking a little tired and Chambers still not throwing enough.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Rd. 8

Povetkin changing heights but Chambers finally trying to answer. Uppercut inside by Chambers but Povetkin answers. Lewis thinks Povetkin has to be careful about punching himself out. The uppercut is starting to become an option for Chambers. Both guys get hit by a shot at the end of the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers

Rd. 9

Povetkin seems to have lost some starch on his punches; Chambers lands a right hand. Quick 1-2 by Eddie. Inside combo mostly lands by Chambers. Eddie trying to come forward a little more, but Povetkin still making it almost impossible to get off first. A couple more light shots by Chambers to end the round. That was another tough round to score.

Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers

Rd. 10

Close range exchange which hasn't happened often tonight. Also some holding. Povetkin's work rate seems to be carrying this round as well. Uppercut by Chambers but nothing else behind it. Good combo by Povetkin and a couple land. Hook inside by Chambers; Povetkin closes out the round strong though.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Rd. 11

Chambers' corner tells him he needs a KO now. He isn't exactly throwing caution to the wind though. Combo from Povetkin with a little more behind it now. Body work by Povetkin and a right upstairs snaps Chambers back. Crowd giving Povetkin more energy now. It's admirable, but Povetkin is probably taking more chances than he needs to at this point. He's fighting like the guy who thinks he needs these last rounds.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Rd. 12

Alexander looks really winded but all he has to do is hold on and I think he's got it. Chambers missing the counter shots he would have landed earlier. Povetkin still working. He goes to town along the ropes, spurred on by the crowd. It's three-shot combos and back out for Povetkin, and Chambers has no answer.

Franchise: 10-9 Povetkin
Uatu: 10-9 Povetkin

Franchise scores it 116-112 Povetkin, Uatu scores it 115-113 Povetkin. The judges score it 117-111, 116-112 and 119-109, all for the winner, Alexander Povetkin.