I’ve seen his name crop up in like four different threads as being a big win for someone or an important test and … did I miss something? I never regarded him as much at the time (wasn’t he basically a career sparring partner for Tyson Fury?) and don’t remember others thinking of him as championship material either. Someone help me understand.
He is a 6'1 HW who just about went the distance with Wladimir Klitschko without eating canvas. USBA champ. 43-5. Very nice resume. I would pick him to beat Chris Byrd.
I found him to be crafty, a good spoiler, a guy who found a way to win during his best stretch. He had some quality pelts, guys who were high valued at the time he beat them, some of whom fell apart later... Dimentrenko, Brock, Peter... Wlad broke him. He was never the same.
I am going to guess you are referring to Adamek? Chambers is his hallmark win that stands out on his resume. Otherwise he failed against guys of that caliber.
Dimitrenko was a top ten undefeated contender who was thought to be on the way up in 2009. Chambers went to Germany and beat him to earn a high ranking and shot at Wlad. He had also logged several known names like Peter, Guinn, and The Boxing Banker. He was never thought of as great, but was kind of like Byrd with a less favorable path to a title.
So basically he’s Bryant Jennings? (Except Jennings lasted the distance with Wlad and actually won a few rounds.) Nothing wrong with that, but I’ve seen threads making points about Wlad’s resume citing him being Chambers as one of his quality wins that proves how good Wlad was. And alternately someone listing Champers as someone who would have significantly improved Vitale’s record had he fought and beat them. And I’m like … really? Chambers was, to me, a classic B+ fighter. He could beat the B and C class guys but fell short against the upper tier. He wasn’t a top guy but he could hang with them — not beat them or take them to the limit, but could stay in the ring with them. And he could beat some of the suspects and not-quite-there guys, which allowed him to get ranked high enough to get a title shot. I just don’t see him (or Jennings) as guys who make a difference on anyone’s resume.
Well for Adamek it makes a difference. Its the only win of that caliber in a non tweener division hes got. Certainly when you consider fights that weren't close. Theres not many guys in any era who are better then the "classic B+ fighter" as you have described. I do rank Jennings higher then Chambers H2H as I do Thompson. But I think Chambers was better then Byrd so far as comparing the Americans of the period. He beat Calvin Brock and Peter. Those are real wins. Chambers was an regional champion for one of the most important regions ranked in the ring top 5. Hes not Chagaev, Povetkin, Haye or even Bryant Jennings but when you take them out of the picture hes right at the top. Above your Wachs, Pianetas, Mormecks and guys like that. Theres also the longevity thing. 43-5 historically isn't a big deal but in the 21st century? We're not going to see lots of 43-5 top HWs going forward. I do rate that American generation higher then most. So if one doesn't like that era of American HWs then maybe I see what you mean? But I thought that generation was good and were prevented from being world champions because Wlad Klitschko existed.
1. Foreman lost to a guy like that (Young). 2. Tua lost to a guy like that (Byrd). 3. Bonecrusher lost to a guy like that (Frazier) 4. Dempsey lost to a guy like that (Meehan) Beating Chambers must mean something.