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Photos © Jim Everett
“Fast” Eddie Chambers, 27-0 (15), will face Derric Rossy, 15-0 (9), for the vacant USBA Heavyweight Title tonight, Friday, February 9, 2007. The undefeated fighters will headline minutes from Rossy’s home town, live on ESPN Friday Night Fights at Suffolk Community College in Selden , New York . In an exclusive interview with Saddoboxing, Chambers talks about his upcoming fight and career.
Saddoboxing: Eddie, thank you for taking a few minutes with us, how are you feeling on the eve of your return to ESPN Friday Night Fights?
Eddie Chambers: “I feel pretty good, I feel comfortable. I’m ready, in shape and confident.”
SB: You are fighting for a title, you are also facing another undefeated fighter, both of you have a lot to loose and a lot to gain, does that provide you with any additional pressure?
EC: “It does, but it shouldn’t affect either one of us because we are both aware of the task at hand. We know who we are facing and it is a very important fight for us. These are the kind of steps you have to take to become the great fighter that you want to be or make the money you want to make. Whatever your motivation is, there should be no problem in getting ready for this fight. Whoever comes in more prepared will win.”
SB: How did this fight come about for you?
EC: “We were looking at a couple different guys to fight. Rossy posed the best opportunity for me. Not to say he is any worse or better than any of the other guys. He just happens to be the best guy for us to fight at this point. He is a good fighter, he is a great test for me, and to really see if I’m going to go far in this sport I’m going to have to go through him first.”
SB: What have you done to prepare yourself for the fight?
EC: “Everything. I always do everything. Strength work, running and sparring, everything a normal fighter… well, some fighters do nowadays, but I train just as hard as anyone or harder than most. I am well prepared.”
SB: When you think about your challenger Derric Rossy, he is literally minutes from his home; do you have any concern about fighting in his backyard?
EC: “No, not really. It is actually an added bonus for me. I don’t have as much pressure as he does. He has to impress all of his fans and all of his people. Also with the TVs on it is more added pressure. The only thing that may be a bit of a problem for me is that since I am in his backyard he may get the benefit on the scorecards. I think if I win it convincingly enough, if it goes to the scorecards I should do well.”
SB: Do you know much about your challenger, have you followed his career or seen him fight before?
EC: “Actually he fought on the card I fought on. I just didn’t get a chance to see it. I think I had 21 fights at the time I fought Ross Purity on ESPN and he fought on the under-card. It’s kind of funny. I didn’t really get a chance to see much on him, I didn’t even see much tape. From what I have seen even in his early fights he showed some skill, and he is a big strong guy, so it should be a tough fight.”
SB: Did you have a lot of amateur experience?
EC: “I had about 85 amateur fights. Not a whole lot of experience, I only had four years of amateur experience, which is probably a lot more than he (Rossy) had. I traveled to different tournaments across the country and have seen some things.
“That gives you an added boost as far as the skills and certain things you may have had to go through in the amateurs fighting a tough guy every night. I think it is somewhat an advantage for me but he has a lot of advantage in size and strength… maybe strength, I am not going to say for sure, maybe. But I can make up for that in speed and overall ability.”
SB: Do you have any predictions for the fight?
EC: “No predictions but, I am going to win. I don’t know how. I am not going to make any fancy rhymes saying I am going to knock him out. He is a tough guy, I am a tough guy and I just want to win and that’s what I think is going to happen. I am going to win.”
SB: I appreciate your time and I wish you the best of luck.
EC: “Thank you.”
