Last noche’s ESPN FNF “after dark” offering pitted heavyweights Sam “Nigerian Nightmare” Peters and “Fast Eddie” Chambers in a ten round main event bent on the winner moving up in the respective rankings. 

Chambers enters IBF #3, below #1 Alex Povetkin and #2 Chris Arreola, while Peters last seen at IBF numero cinco - then the opening bell, with both in a safety first approach - Chambers out of respect for the Peters celebrated punching power and Peters arriving at blivet sized 265 pounds. 

My unofficial card had it all square at 57-57 after six stanzas - and saw it all Chambers over the backside - difference in the two was the Chambers superior boxing skills that saw effective rapier-like left jab setting up occasional straight right hands. 

Still, basically, what the viewer got was a cautious Chambers besting an overweight Peters that never once got off over the ten rounds - the punching threat failed to surface or threaten Chambers - the pop was clearly MIA on this crucial one night stand opportunity. 

Official scoring went Chambers 96-94; 99-91; 95-95 - “Fast Eddie” conceded during ring post-fight interview that he gave too much respect to Peter’s punching power, and felt he could have had better performance. 

Post Scripts:

• Chambers (34-1, 18 KOs) ~ age 27 - single debit on the resume’ unanimous decision loss to Alex Povetkin - needs a win over #2 Chris Arreola before entertaining any thoughts of righting that wrong - and instead of a Wlad Klitschko challenge, a more palatable target after any Arreola win would be WBA title holder Nicolay Valuev. Chambers a better fighter than the version on display in Povetkin, Peters outings. Stay tuned.     

• Sam Peters (32-3, 23 KOs) ~ age 28 - at 265 lbs forfeited any hint of quickness - visibly muffled the celebrated clout usually on display - not a sign of snap in the deliveries. Chambers had no problem in handling the few power punches that found the target. Young enough to convert in style (after shedding the excess blubber) to a  larger version of “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier, who once delivered the mail in non-stop fashion en route to heavyweight title.

Closing thoughts: Seems today that fighters earn boxing sobriquets while newborns still in hospital incubator - once upon a time it took special proven ones earning the distinction. Took the original “Sugar Ray” (Robinson) moniker some 14 years later when Ray Charles Leonard earned it when claiming welter title in 1979 from Wilfred Benitez - and there’s been zero qualifiers ever since.