Chambers near deal to fight Wladimir Klitschko in Germany

According to Rob Murray Sr., the era of the big, plodding European heavyweight is about to end. It's time for a relatively small, fast American to alter the dynamic among boxing's big men.

"Eddie is going to beat [Wladimir] Klitschko. I'm telling you now, he is going to beat Klitschko," said Murray, the manager-trainer of Philadelphia-based "Fast" Eddie Chambers, who is on the verge of signing a contract to challenge the IBF/WBO heavyweight champion on March 20 at the ESPRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany.

"Klitschko is very methodical. He's like a crop-duster going against a Learjet. He won't be able to handle Eddie's speed and movement.

"We've got a play for Klitschko, and I have a plan for Emanuel Steward [Klitschko's Hall of Fame trainer]. We're going to implement that plan and shock the world, except that it won't be a shock to me. Eddie is not only going to win, but win handily. This is the fight that changes the heavyweight guard, that brings the title back to America, where it belongs, and re-emphasizes the value of speed over power."

Chambers (35-1, 18 KO) is 6-1 and weighed only 208 1/4 pounds for his most recent bout, in which he scored an impressive, 12-round majority decision over previously undefeated Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko in Hamburg, Germany, on July 4, in a WBO title elimination fight.

Murray, who has managed Chambers since 2002, took over as the trainer after Chambers lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Russia's Alexander Povetkin on Jan. 26, 2008. Chambers weighed 219 1/2 pounds for that bout, but has steadily come down in weight since to accentuate his quickness and mobility, advantages he used to telling effect against the 6-7, 253 1/2-pound Dimitrenko and will use, Murray believes, against the 6-6 1/2, 245-pound Klitschko.

Since losing to Povetkin, Chambers - a Pittsburgh native who moved to Philadelphia in 2002 and honed his craft through 18 winning appearances at the Blue Horizon - has reeled off five consecutive victories, including a points nod over Samuel Peter.

"When we signed him, we saw Eddie's tremendous talent, but he wasn't putting it all together," said Dan Goossen, president of Goossen Tutor Promotions. "He's put it together since Rob Murray began training him. I finally saw what I wanted to see in the Dimitrenko fight. That's the Eddie Chambers who is capable of beating any heavyweight in the world."

Murray, a longtime Philly fight guy who picked up nuances of the sport from Yank Durham, Joe Gramby, Quenzell McCall, Howard McCall, Sam Solimon and other local training legends, already has been recognized for his astute work with Chambers. He was named Manager of the Year by The Ring magazine, an honor he said he hopes to further justify through Chambers' performance against Klitschko.

The eight-round junior middleweight main event of a professional boxing card tonight at The Arena in South Philly - Derek "Pooh" Ennis (19-2-1, 12 KOs) vs. Edwin Vazquez (22-14-2, 8 KOs) - has been postponed until Feb. 5 at the Blue Horizon after Ennis rolled an ankle in training.

The remainder of the card at The Arena will go on as scheduled. *