Eddie Chambers looks for new start as cruiserweight

Eddie Chambers was just a young kid, he said, when he broke into boxing.

The kid thought he was undersize to be a heavyweight, but he listened to his advisers.

"I always wished I could fight guys my own size," said the 6-foot-1 Chambers, who trains out of Shuler's Gym in West Philadelphia.

Last year, Chambers moved down to cruiserweight, and his promoter, Main Events, said the fighter "is home."

The 32-year-old Chambers (36-3, 18 knockouts) will carry a 5-inch height advantage on Aug. 3 when he debuts at cruiserweight against South Africa's Thabiso Mchunu.

The 10-rounder will be televised live on NBC Sports Network from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Nicknamed "The Rock," the 24-year-old Mchunu (13-1, 10 KOs) has never fought outside South Africa. He has won his last three fights by knockout, including two in the first round.

Chambers said his slick boxing skills will be enough to counter Mchunu's power. It was those skills that allowed Chambers to overcome his lack of height at heavyweight and win his first 30 bouts.

"We just kept banging our heads against the door until it opened to a heavyweight championship," Chambers said.

That door opened in 2008, but Wladimir Klitschko answered with a 12th-round knockout, just 5 seconds from the final bell.

Now it's a new start at a new weight.