In an HBO “After Dark” televised IBF heavyweight positional eliminator from Berlin, Germany, it was Russia’s Alexander Povetkin claiming mandatory honors over Pennsylvanian Eddie Chambers via unanimous decision. 

Opens with both fighters in a slow paced counter puncher mode - Chambers more than held his own over the early stanzas of one thru four before Povetkin picked up the tempo.

The faster beat would be puzzle solver for Alexander the not so great, as Chambers could no longer pick his spots for the earlier sneak right hand counters - and it would be “The Lion” cruising in a breeze to the wire. 

The numbers went Povetkin 119-109, 117-111, 116-112 - and my unofficial agreed with 117-111 in points and 9-3 using the trusted round by round method. 

Closing thoughts: Povetkin (15-0, 11 KOs) ~ the win may well be a curse - under the today splintered multi-titled system, IBF numero uno does not translate to top challenger to all the bigger names out there. In style more a boxer than puncher - and with this his 15th kept appointment, the performance shouted loud and clear the product is unfinished. Says here, a Klitschko challenge -money maker or not- if held in the old country, a step in the wrong direction.
                             Chambers (30-1, 16 KO) ~ age 25 and this one a first loss - no damage done other than lost pride. The “Fast Eddie” sobriquet needs discarding - not the kid’s modus operandi. In dire need to upgrade the jab in order to set the pace - a counter puncher with good chin and decent right hand was enough prior to this one. Showed last noche it won’t work against the upper echelon. 

Referee Steve Smoger - earns five stars for quality job. 

Commentators: My pleas for changes at the HBO “After Dark” segment remain as they were when first seeing Lennox “Lummox” Lewis and the self anointed “historian-hysterian-Newtonian”  Maxie boy Kellerman teamed on the same night as analysts. Straight man Bob Papa gets my sympathies.