Eddie Chambers Hopes To Add To Philly Heavyweight History

Philadelphia, PA - When Eddie Chambers, of Philadelphia, PA, boxes Sergei Liakhovich, of Scottsdale, AZ, in the 10-round main event on Saturday evening, Jan. 21, at the Asylum Arena, he will take another step on the journey he hopes will lead him to the heavyweight championship of the world.

Chambers, 29, who moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh as a young pro in 2002, already has boxed for the IBF version of the crown. Although he was stopped in the 12th round by Wladimir Klitschko in 2010 in Germany, he now knows what he must do to get back there and win.

In the long history of Philadelphia boxing, few have challenged for boxing's richest prize. Despite its reputation as a great boxing town, only two men, Sonny Liston (below) and Joe Frazier, lived in Philadelphia when they won the world heavyweight title. Terrible Tim Witherspoon twice earned pieces (WBC, WBA) of the crown in the 1980s.

Liston lived here when he dispatched Floyd Patterson in one round in 1962 at Chicago's Comiskey Park to become Philadelphia's first world heavyweight champion.

Six years later, Frazier (below), originally from Beaufort, SC, knocked out Buster Mathis in Madison Square Garden to gain recognition as world champion. He won the undisputed belt in 1970 against Jimmy Ellis then cemented his heavyweight legacy by outpointing the comebacking Muhammad Ali over 15 rounds in 1971.

There have been other outstanding Philadelphia heavyweights, including Tommy Loughran, considered by many to be the greatest fighter ever from Philadelphia, Al Ettore, Leroy Haynes, Dan Bucceroni, Leotis Martin and Jimmy Young.

While Philadelphia world heavyweight champions are rare, the city has hosted two of the most important heavyweight championship fights of all-time on the same date and in the same ring, 26 years apart.

On Sept. 23, 1926, Jack Dempsey lost his crown to Gene Tunney via 10-round decision in a steady downpour in front of 120,757 fans at what was then known as Sesquicentennial Stadium in South Philadelphia. On the same date in 1952, in what many claim was the greatest heavyweight title fight ever, Rocky Marciano came from behind to knock out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round at the same venue, then known as Municipal Stadium.

It's a long, glorious history Chambers is following and the fight with Liakhovich is the next step.

A pro since 2000, Chambers is 36-2, 19 KO's. Liakhovich, 35, of Scottsdale, AZ, is 25-4, 16 KO's, and he held the WBO version of the title for seven months in 2004. The winner will have something to say in the world heavyweight picture in 2012.

'Irish' Micky Ward training 'The Wolf' Unbeaten light welterweight prospect Levan Ghvamichava

CORK, Ireland (January 5, 2012) - Irish boxing manager Gary Hyde announced today that he has come to an agreement with "Irish" Micky Ward to train his hot prospect, light welterweight sensation Levan "The Wolf" Ghvamichava.

Ghvamichava (6-0, 5 KOs), who is a native of Georgia living in Belfast, will relocate in February to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he will train under the guidance of three-time Fight of the Year participant, Ward, whose life was portrayed in the Academy Award winning movie, The Fighter.

"I am delighted we have Micky Ward on board," Hyde said. "He has a lot of valuable experience to share with Levan, whose style of fighting is very similar to Micky's. 'The Wolf' is a throwback fighter who loves nothing more than going into the trenches, just like his new coach, and fighting toe-to-toe. Micky has been approached by a lot of fighters who wanted the benefit of his coaching and experience, so I am very happy that Micky has chosen to work with us.

"Levan is a six-time Georgian Senior champion, European silver medalist, and one of the leading 140-pound division amateur fighters in the world the past few years. I have been in talks with some of the leading promoters in the United States who are very keen on signing Levan. When he makes his US debut, sometime fairly soon, he could be fighting on a major undercard."

In 2011, Ghvamichava won all six of his pro fights and he is already fighting in scheduled eight-round bouts. Levan is one of the highest ranking fighters in the world for a fighter with relatively so little pro fights. In his last fight this past October in Scotland, he knocked out former European and Italian champion Guiuseppe Lauri (51-8, 32 KOs) in the second round.

"I'm looking forward to working with Levan and Gary," the popular Ward commented. "Levan looks like a talented fighter with a very, very bright future. We'll get him good sparring at my gym (Chelmsford, MA), as well as the West End Gym in Lowell, and also take him to some gyms in Boston. There are a lot of young fighters around here who will be good sparring partners for Levan. I can't wait to get started."

Hyde, president of Nowhere To Hyde, also manages a stable of other undefeated fighters such as WBA Interim Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo "The Jackal" Rigondeaux (8-0, 6 KOs), undefeated British welterweight prospect Mark Heffron (5-0, 4 KOs) and light middleweight Dee "Wealthy" Walsh (1-0). Hyde plans to sign more fighters in 2012 and make Lowell his U.S. base.