"If I had to choose an opponent, most people already know it would be Keith Thurman because they pump him up to be the next big thing, so I would like to prove I am by defeating him. They tried to catch me off guard and now that I'm ready, they don't want it...I'm a pretty straightforward, non-secretive guy. I don't feel I have anything to hide, so I usually let it be known...Once someone decides to give me a chance, I will prove to you that I am a top notch fighter and make you fall in love with me as not only a fighter, but as a person," stated welterweight contender Steven Upsher Chambers, who discuss his future plans and much more. Check it out!
SA: Steve, you were due to fight in October on Showtime, but your fight got canceled. Tell us what happened.
SU: Well, I signed to fight Alex Perez and then he was pulled out of the fight for I guess a bigger opportunity and money on HBO against someone else. It is frustrating to keep having these things happen to me in this sport of boxing when I'm 24-1-1 and willing to fight anybody under at least somewhat fair circumstance. I've never pulled out of a fight; that's the reason I have the one loss I have is because I didn't want to pull out of my fight even though I had the flu, but I was young and I came back and avenged that loss a month later, which means I've beaten everybody that I've been in the ring with and I plan to continue.
SA: The welterweight division is one of the toughest out there at the moment, so if it would be up to you, who would be the ideal opponent for you?
SU: Yes, this is a packed division right now. If I had to choose an opponent, most people already know it would be Keith Thurman because they pump him up to be the next big thing, so I would like to prove I am by defeating him. They tried to catch me off guard and now that I'm ready, they don't want it.
SA: If an opportunity arose to fight for a title, what would that actually mean to you?
SU: If a title shot came about for me, it would truly be a dream come true and I would take full advantage of it, and Philadelphia would have yet another world champion.
SA: What makes you different or special in comparison to the other contenders out there?
SU: Well, not to sound conceited, but I am easy on the eyes. I have style and class. I can box and fight. Also, I feel I can be a great role model for youth and just people as a whole!
SA: Yes, you sure can. Speaking of the welterweight decision, who do you think is currently top of this division at the moment?
SU: The person that is at the top of the division in my eyes and just about everybody else is Floyd Mayweather no doubt. After that, it's up for grabs.
SA: Let's talk a little about your training camp. Just like your brother, former Heavyweight title challenger "Fast" Eddie Chambers, you are currently trained by James Ali Bashir. Bashir is also the longtime assistant trainer to the two-time world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, and has worked with many champions in the sport of boxing. What is training with Bashir like?
SU: Yes, Bashir is a great trainer, coach, motivator, and just overall person. He is family to my brother and I. Training with him is a pleasure. He is a fighters trainer. He doesn't claim to know it all and actually listens to what you have to say and works with you, which most act like a dictator, and they aren't taking any punches. My favorite part of training with him is the comfort of knowing when I come back to the corner, I'm going to get useful information that will help me in the rest of the fight.
SA: How would best describe yourself as a boxer?
SU: The way I would describe myself is a skilled fighter that does everything well, whether it's inside or outside. I have the heart of a Lion and now Bashir is here to help me, not show my heart too much.
SA: You have been to Europe plenty of times, either to support your brother at his fights or even with Wladimir Klitschko's training camp. Would you say European boxing is different to American boxing?
SU: Yes, I have been to Europe plenty of times and I love it there. The people in Europe show lots of support and respect to boxing. I wish it was like that everywhere. Here in America, it is not as popular as it is in Europe. Hopefully my brother and I can change that.
SA: Speaking of Europe, all of your fights have been on U.S. soil. Is there any chance we might be seeing you over in Europe fighting soon?
SU: I would love the opportunity to fight in Europe. Hopefully before it's all said and done, I will get that chance.
SA: So what made you become a boxer and then turn pro in the first place?
SU: I became a boxer because I thought I was tough. I was taken to some amateur fights and I wanted to fight them that night, and my brother laughed and said, "No, you have to go to the gym first," so I went and sparred and did really well and liked it. My mom also wouldn't let me quit when I was younger and didn't want to do it anymore. I was never intending to turn pro; I was enrolled in culinary school and going to attend school for childcare, but my brother Eddie and Chambers Sr. convinced me to migrate to Philadelphia with them and then I eventually turned pro at 18.
SA: Which boxer has inspired you the most?
SU: In my career, there are three boxers that inspired me. My brother Eddie Chambers, Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather.
SA: What is your first boxing memory?
SU: My first boxing memory is when I wasn't even interested in boxing until 1996, but I cried when Mike Tyson lost to Buster Douglas because my family was sad.
SA: And your greatest boxing memory?
SU: My greatest memory in boxing is when we, from Pittsburgh, took a full team to the tournament and only me and my cousin Adrian Smith won the junior regional titles.
SA: What about a funny boxing memory?
SU: My funny boxing memory, as you can see from the Fight Night 36 we joke a lot, but my favorite is when my brother was sparring, I turned my head for a second and then I look back and see the sparring partner laying on the ground in between the heavy bags. Eddie knocked him out the ring.
SA: Can you give us a secret that people don't know about you?
SU: As far as a secret people don't know, I'm a pretty straight forward, non-secretive guy. I don't feel I have anything to hide, so I usually let it be known.
SA: Any final meesage to all your fans out there?
SU: To all boxing fans out there, keep watching! Once someone decides to give me a chance, I will prove to you that I am a top notch fighter and make you fall in love with me as not only a fighter, but as a person. I wanna thank you for taking the time out to interview me and for the well wishes.