Title bout will require click

The world heavyweight boxing championship has given Americans compelling action over the years: Louis-Schmeling at Yankee Stadium, the Ali-Frazier “Thrilla in Manila,” Mike Tyson’s ear bite of Evander Holyfield.

But American interest in the heavyweights has dropped in recent years with the Ukrainian brothers, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, dominating the division.

Anyone trying to gauge how much interest has declined need only look at how Wladimir’s Saturday IBF/WBO title defense in Germany against Philadelphia’s Eddie Chambers will be disseminated to U.S. fight fans.

Via your computer. On Klitschko.com. For $14.95.

“Plain and simple, Wladimir and his brother haven’t endeared themselves to the American public as compelling champions,” Chambers’ promoter Dan Goossen said. “They’ve dominated, but that’s usually been about their size. Their reticence to fight like the great American champions of the past -- Louis, Ali, Tyson, guys from the days when you knew the heavyweight champion was the baddest man on the planet -- is effective, but it doesn’t generate an audience.”

Those associated with the Klitschko-Chambers promotion, a bout expected to draw a capacity 51,000 in Dusseldorf, Germany, at 3 p.m. PDT on Saturday, say the fight didn’t land on HBO like other Klitschko bouts because the cable network balked at competing against NCAA basketball on CBS.

The Klitschko camp said doing an independent pay-per-view show was scrapped in favor of putting a pay-per-view bout on the Internet.

“The idea that heavyweight boxing is dying is a misperception,” said Tom Loeffler, managing director of the Klitschko brothers’ promoter, K-2 Promotions. “It’s never been bigger in Europe. . . . In Tokyo, Australia, Italy, these guys are recognized. That’s not always the case with American fighters.”

Still, a dot-com broadcast of a heavyweight title bout is something of a low point. It’s a bit similar to the indifference before Tyson fought 42-to-1 underdog James “Buster” Douglas in Japan in 1990, with only one U.S. print reporter assigned to the fight.

Douglas knocked out Tyson. Can another major upset occur Saturday?

The 27-year-old Chambers (35-1, 18 knockouts) admits U.S. fight fans “know the Klitschkos are boring and think that I don’t have a shot in the dark.” Chambers will give away 51/2 inches and 40 pounds to Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs), who hasn’t lost in six years but is coming off rotator cuff surgery.

Klitschko is expected to receive a purse of more than $5 million, with Chambers netting a little more than $1 million.

“Most people don’t understand how the Klitschkos use their advantages. . . . It’s a matter of doing what they do well: jab. I’ve checked my ego at the door. I respect them. But I think my ability, skill, focus and determination will help me,” said Chambers, who spent nearly two months training.

It might be something to see. As long as your computer’s working.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com