Boxing Preview: Sam Peter vs. Eddie Chambers

ByKurt Taylor


© Kurt Taylor / Saddo Boxing

Both Sam Peter and Eddie Chambers are hoping the winner of their bout on March 27 on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights will earn a title shot in the heavyweight division.

Peter, 30-2 (23), ranked #5 in the world and a former WBC Heavyweight Champion and Chambers, 33-1 (18), ranked #3 in the world, square off at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles in the venue’s first night of boxing.

Both fighters have losses they feel need accounting for, and look for redemption in front of a national ESPN Friday Night Fight audience.

In March, 2008, Peter stopped Oleg Maskaev in the sixth round and claimed the WBC Heavyweight title. Seven months later Peter was stopped by Vitali Klitschko in Berlin, Germany and gave up the title.

Peter’s promoter Dino Duva calls it a crossroads contest for both fighters, saying “Anything short of looking sensational is not acceptable at this point.” In 2006-2007, Peter, know as the “Nigerian Nightmare”, scored back to back wins against highly regarded veteran James ‘Lights Out’ Toney.

Peter is no stranger to fighting in Los Angeles, defeating Toney at Staples Center in 2006. “I’m coming home to LA. I love the City of Angeles,” Peter said, adding a message for Chambers. “Eddie, you better be ready for the Nigerian Nightmare.”

Known as “Fast Eddie”, Chambers beat Ross Puritty and stopped Derric Rossy in his two previous bouts on ESPN but lost to Alexander Povetkin in January, 2008 in an IBF Eliminator in Germany.

He has since reeled off three victories, most recently in December, scoring a unanimous victory over Cisse Salif but also getting TKO’s over Livin Castillo and Raphael Butler, which was for the USBA title.

“I can’t wait for Friday night,” Chambers said. “I will beat Sam Peter, and do it convincingly, to get in position for my well-deserved world title shot. Peter is a big man, and a powerful puncher with both hands, and I give him his respect. He’ll find out my power and speed. This is a big fight for me and I promise an exciting fight for the fans.”

Promoter Dan Goosen calls it “undoubtedly the biggest and most anticipated heavyweight fight that does not have a world title attached to it.”

ESPN’s Doug Loughrey calls the fight, “an exciting and meaningful bout to ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. We’re excited by the opportunity to produce and televise this inaugural boxing telecast from AEG’s state of the art Nokia Theater.”

The undercard features John Molina, 15-0 (11) from West Covina, CA against Carlos Vinan, 8-6-3 (1), of Newark, NJ in an eight round junior lightweight bout.

Two 2008 US Olympians are also on the bill as Shawn Estrada, 2-0 (2), nicknamed “El Chamuko” or “The Monster”, from East Los Angeles, CA goes for his third straight knockout victory against Ray Craig, 11-11-1 (3), from Oakland, CA in a four round super middleweight bout while Javier Molina from City of Commerce, CA, makes his professional boxing debut in a four round junior welterweight contest.