Chambers vs Liakhovich Set as Main Event for NBC Sports Boxing on Jan. 21
by Scott Christ on Dec 8, 2011 11:56 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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The premiere of NBC Sports' new boxing series is coming on January 21 from the ECW Arena (call it what you want, that's what it is) in Philadelphia with a pair of attractive fights that set the bar for what the series can be expected to produce next year.
In the main event, heavyweight contender Eddie Chambers (36-2, 18 KO) will face rejuvenated former titleholder Sergei Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KO) in a 10-round bout. Chambers was set to face Tony Thompson on October 28 in an IBF title eliminator, but pulled out due to injury, making Thompson the mandatory for one of Wladimir Klitschko's title belts.
Liakhovich, 35, really looked like his old self in a valiant TKO loss to Robert Helenius on August 27, in what is probably my Heavyweight Fight of the Year.
As much as some may groan at a heavyweight fight between a couple of veterans with limited upside being the main event, look at it optimistically: Liakhovich is one of the best action fighters in the division, and Chambers isn't too bad to watch, either.
The co-feature will likely be a junior middleweight fight between a pair of tough scrappers, as Philly's Gabriel Rosado (18-5, 10 KO) meets Jesus Soto Karass (24-6-3, 16 KO). Soto Karass was recently in camp with Antonio Margarito to prepare Margarito for his December 3 fight with Miguel Cotto, so he's had some good work recently. Rosado is a 25-year-old guy who has come up the hard way, and hasn't been matched easy in his career. Soto Karass would be a career-best win for him.
The series debut will come the same night as the Paul Williams vs Nobuhiro Ishida fight on Showtime.
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Like I said in the Williams/Ishida thread, I like the main event a lot. Is it super meaningful? Probably not. If Liakhovich wins, it probably puts him in position to fight a Klitschko and get hospitalized again. However, the fight should be entertaining at the very least, and sometimes that’s not the worst of crimes.
A lot better than I was expecting, honestly
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So this fight will be on NBC Sports? That’s the channel that used to be VERSUS right?
by soulrise on Dec 9, 2011 4:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I have to say, I am pleased with the main event. Since it was a given that Liakhovich would be the protagonist, Chambers might just be the best adversary they could have found for him. It’s also a sign that Kathy Duva isn’t putting her fighters on display against weak opposition recruited to lose. You can definitely favor Chambers in this fight.
It looks like FNF with a slightly bigger budget.
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