Moments ago, in front of 51,000 fans at the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, IBF & WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko successfully defended his title, knocking out challenger Eddie Chambers in the final seconds of the last round. The first 11 rounds were relatively dull and uneventful, with Klitschko controlling all of the action behind a series of jabs and right hands. As the fight progressed, Klitschko's trainer, Emanuel Steward, continued to stress the importance of making a statement by not letting the fight go to the scorecards.
Sounding extremely frustrated at times, Steward practically begged Klitscko to throw more punches in hopes of knocking out the much smaller Chambers. In round 12, Klitschko did exactly that, chasing Chambers around the ring and swinging wildly until a short, crisp left hook finally found the target with just five seconds left. An unconscious Chambers immediately crumpled to the canvas and dangled over the bottom rope.
Check out the complete round-by-round recap of all the action:
PREFIGHT
The challenger, Eddie Chambers, makes his way to the ring first and immediately the crowd begins to boo. It's a long walk to the ring, but Chambers looks confident and ready for the challenge at hand. The champion, Wladimir Klitschko, is announced next. He makes his opponent wait as he takes his time coming out of the locker room. It's a dazzling affair full of lights, music and fireworks. He looks eager to defend his title as he quickly and confidently makes his way to the ring. There's a blank and intimidating expression on Klitschko's face during the staredown.
ROUND 1
Klitsckho comes out firing his jab. Chambers quickly circles out of the way. Jab lands to the body for Chambers. Klitschko pawing his way in with that stiff jab. Chambers looking to dance his way in underneath. Klitschko lands a left hook. Chambers answers with a right. They trade jabs. Chambers lands a right over the top. Now Klitschko drops a right hand down on Chambers. Chambers steps in and lifts Klitschko up on his shoulders during the clinch. Big right hand down the middle lands for Klitschko, but Chambers fires back with a combo. Chambers works the body on the inside. Jab lands for Chambers. Close and interesting round. I give it to Klitschko on the strength of keeping Chambers at bay with his jab.
Klitschko 10 Chambers 9
ROUND 2
Chambers lands a jab. Klitschko lands a couple of his own. Jab to the body lands for Chambers. Right hand over the top lands for Chambers. Klitsckho misses with a right and Chambers lifts him up and dumps him to the canvas. Klitschko backs him up with his jab. Right hand over the top lands for Chambers. Klitschko backs him up with his jab again. Chambers tries to toss him around on the inside, perhaps trying to make the big man frustrated. Klitschko back to firing his jab. WOOOOO...BIG right hand lands for Klitschko and Chambers is rocked. He survives for now. Klitschko jumps on him again and lands another right. Chambers invites him in and fires back, landing a right of his own. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 20 Chambers 18
ROUND 3
Klitschko keeping that left hand kind of low now, feeling confident. Jab lands for Klitschko. Chambers can't get in. Left and a right lands for Klitschko. Double jab lands for Klitschko and the head of Chambers snaps back. Chambers spending a lot of time just covering up now. More jabs from Klitschko. Jab to the body lands for Chambers. Left hook to the body lands for Chambers. Now Chambers sneaks in a right hand counter. It looks like he's shaken off the cobwebs and is getting more brave. A left and a right lands for Chambers. Klitschko tries to hold on the inside. Chambers pushs him back. Interesting round. I give it to Klitschko, but Chambers actually got some good work done when he was brave enough to throw caution to the wind.
Klitschko 30 Chambers 27
ROUND 4
Another right hand lands for Klitschko, who decided to start this round off fast. Three jabs in a row land for Klitschko. Chambers trying to work his way inside. Another jab lands for Klitschko, but Chambers is game as he continues to try to close the distance and land. Klitschko just keeps him at bay with his jab. They trade jabs. Chambers finally gets inside and Klitschko ties him up. Some roughhousing at the bell. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 40 Chambers 36
ROUND 5
Klitschko backs him up behind the jab again. Chambers lands a jab to the body. Klitschko lands a jab and tries to tie up immediately. Chambers tries to work the body, but is smothered. Right hand from Klitschko is partially blocked. Jab lands for Klitschko. Overhand right lands for Chambers. On a side note, does anyone know if Klitschko knows how to throw an uppercut? Right hand from Klitschko misses wildly upstairs. Another right hand from Klitschko is partially blocked. Chambers lands a right upstairs and a left hook to the body. Another left hook to the body lands for Chambers. Klitschko backs him up with a quick combo. Another right lands for Chambers. Tough round to score...Klitschko is keeping the distance with his jab and a right hand, but a lot of those shots are blocked. I still give that round to him though.
Klitschko 50 Chambers 45
ROUND 6
Chambers trying to open up a little bit now. Stiff jab lands for Klitschko. Klitschko chasing him around the ring, looking to turn up the pressure. Left hook to the body lands for Chambers. Klitschko continues to back him up with the jab. Another right hand from Klitschko that's mostly blocked. Left to the body lands for Chambers. Klitschko blasts him with two jabs. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Chambers taunts him. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 60 Chambers 54
ROUND 7
Klitschko continues to back Chambers up with his jab. Chambers sneaks in a right. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Double left hook and a right hand down the middle lands for Klitschko. Chambers just covers up. Wooooo...another big 1-2 from Klitschko momentarily buckles Chambers. Now Chambers sneaks in another right. Left and a right lands for Chambers. Klitschko backs him to the ropes again with his jab. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 70 Chambers 63
ROUND 8
The corner of Chambers imploring him to just go out there and be aggressive. Chambers lands a couple jabs to the body. Klitschko blasts him with a left and a right. They clinch. Right hand down the middle lands for Klitschko. Chambers just backs up to the ropes and covers up. Another stiff jab lands for Klitschko. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Chambers misses with a wild combination. Left hook to the body lands for Chambers. They trade jabs. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 80 Chambers 72
ROUND 9
"We need to make a statement in this fight," were the instructions given by Emanuel Steward to Klitschko. Klitschko comes out fast and lands a stiff jab. Chambers lands a jab of his own to the body. Left hook to the body lands for Chambers. Klitschko misses with a left hook and Chambers makes him pay with a right hand over the top. Jab lands for Chambers and Klitschko holds on. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Double left hook lands for Klitschko. Chambers sneaks in a right. Klitschko backs him up with a jab. Chambers lands a left now. Woooo...nice right hand down the middle lands for Klitschko. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 90 Chambers 81
A long break in the action as the corner of Chambers is forced to change one of his gloves when the referee noticed that it was split.
ROUND 10
Chambers fires a jab to the body. Klitschko just walks him down, pawing with his jab. Left hook to the body lands for Chambers. Klitschko lands a jab. Chambers doing a lot of dancing around in there, as if he's content with just going the distance. Klitschko lands a right that put Chambers on the run again. Another right hand lands for Klitschko. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Chambers fires back with a right. Another overhand right lands for Chambers. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 100 Chambers 90
ROUND 11
"This is another Ibragimov. You're letting him off because you don't punch," Steward would tell Klitschko in the corner, frustrated somewhat with his performance. More of the same as Klitschko continues to just walk him down behind his jab. Right hand lands for Klitschko. They trade jabs. Stiff jab lands for Klitschko. Right hand lands for Klitschko. Another. Chambers just covers up. Chambers lands two jabs. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 110 Chambers 99
ROUND 12
"There's no way he should be going 12 rounds...you're volume of punches is too low...it's not like you're tired...you got to throw punches...he's going to run now...we don't need another bullshit decision," an extremely animated and still frustrated Emanuel Steward would tell Klitschko. "I will try Emanuel. I will try. Relax," Klitschko would answer back to his trainer. You guessed it...more of the same. Chambers running, looking to survive while Klitschko walks him down with his jab. Right hand lands for Klitschko and Chambers looks a little wobbly. Klitschko walking after him swinging wildly with his hands down. Left hook lands for Klitschko. Chambers offering nothing in return...just happy to go 12 rounds. Right hand lands for Klitschko. WOOOOOOOO...HUGE left hook lands for Klitschko and Chambers crumples to the canvas and dangles over the ropes. He's out! That's it with just seconds left in the round. Wow.
Klitsckho KO12
THE WINNER BY KO AT 2:55 OF ROUND 12...AND STILL IBF & WBO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD...WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
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