23.02.04 – By Ben Carey: Carl Thompson’s stunning one-punch knockout over Sebastian Rothmann earlier this month will be remembered within British boxing circles for years to come. British Eastside recently caught up with “The Cat” and asked him to re-live a battle that is already a candidate for fight of the year. Read on for what one of Boxing’s most exciting fighters had to say about the Rothmann fight and his plans for the future.
Despite a wealth of top-level experience against the likes of Chris Eubank, Nicky Piper, Ralf Rocchigiani, Johnny Nelson and Terry Dunstan, 39-year-old Carl Thompson (sceptics believe he is older!) was a firm underdog going into his fight with Sebastian Rothmann for the IBO cruiserweight title on the undercard of Glencoffe Johnson’s IBF light-heavyweight title winning triumph against Clinton Woods.
The South African was, after all, a decade younger and unbeaten since losing his pro debut on points seven years ago. Rothmann was confident of adding Thompson to his list of British cruiserweight victims that include Rob Norton, Kelly Oliver, Mark Hobson, Crawford Ashley and Garry Delaney.
And, although Thompson recovered from a fourth round knockdown to floor Rothmann in the fifth, the South African looked booked for another successful title defence. Trailing on all three scorecards, and on the verge of being stopped, Thompson somehow found enough energy within himself to launch a sensational right hand that almost decapitated the unfortunate Rothmann in round 9. In doing so, Thompson regained the IBO cruiserweight title that he surrendered to Ezra Sellers in a wild up-and-downer in November 2001.
ESB: Was the Rothmann win the most enjoyable of your career?
CT: No. For me that was against Akim Tafer (for the European title in 1994). I was really getting my backside kicked in that fight and I remember returning to my corner at the end of one round and thinking “Please God, don’t let me disgrace myself”. Thankfully, I managed to knock Tafer down in the 5th and I ended up stopping him in the 6th. The Rothmann win didn’t initially sink in. I was too tired to put my hands up and celebrate at the time (laughs).
ESB: Talk us through the Rothmann knockout.
CT: I delivered that punch with all my heart. It wasn’t a lucky punch as some have suggested, I purposefully lulled him into it. Rothmann was defending himself well but the punch was actually there all night, I just couldn’t see it because I kept smothering my work. He was so confident, but I went to throw my jab and then BOOM!
ESB: After suffering a flash knockdown yourself in round 4 you came back and floored Rothmann right on the bell to end the fifth. He looked to be on very unsteady legs as he went back to his corner. Did you think he was gone?
CT: According to Dennis (Hobson) he was gone but Rothmann disguised his situation very well in the next round and I wasn’t sure. I didn’t think he was gone enough for me to lay in to him and I was proved right.
ESB: Referee Richie Davies admitted afterwards that he was only seconds away from pulling you out of the fight. Did you sense this?
CT: I did sense that he was nearby. I didn’t think Rothmann was getting through with enough punches to warrant him to stop the fight though. I always come back. I had to let him think that I was finished. He came right in and he fell for it, that’s no word of a lie. I did the same thing to Chris Eubank. Sometimes you’ve got to show that you’re hurt but I know I’m always dangerous to the 12th round.
ESB: Romantics who have followed your career from start to finish would argue that your heroic performance against Rothmann would be a fitting note upon which to retire.
CT: Listen mate, (chuckles) I’m not retiring. I received a challenger’s purse for the Rothmann fight. I need to make a living – that’s why I came back. I’m not here just out of love for the sport. I’m not like Lennox Lewis who has made it and who has done what he has to do. I know I was getting beat in there (against Rothmann) and that Rothmann is very good. Maybe the fight came too soon for me in a sense it was quite a big step up in competition from who I had fought last time (a points win over journeyman Paul Bonson). But this game’s all about taking your chances. Mine came along and I made sure I took it.
ESB: Would you be willing to give Rothmann a rematch?
CT: If he wants a rematch he’s got to pay some money. I don’t know if Rothmann had any options, I need to have a talk with my promoter Dennis Hobson about this. When I lost my IBO title against Ezra Sellers I didn’t have any (options) which surprised me so I don’t know. At the end of the day we’re all here to make money but I don’t run scared of anyone. I know I was well behind against Rothmann, but apart from against Ralf Rocchigiani I’ve never been ahead until late on in big fights throughout my career so it was nothing new. I’ve always been able to bring it back.
ESB: What do you think the rest of the cruiserweights in Britain would have made of your overall performance against Rothmann?
CT: If they think that my performance suggests that they can beat me then great, let them put the money up and lets get the fights on. They must have been gutted that I won. These guys want to see me out of the picture and they’ll be disappointed that I’m still here.
ESB: Do you think the manner in which you turned the tables against Rothmann suggests that the stoppage loss you suffered against Johnny Nelson (in 5 rounds in 2001 for Thompson’s then WBO title) was premature?
CT: I hope it does. Even though I was getting well and truly beat by Rothmann I still had a chance. The outcome wasn’t a foregone conclusion and I came back. Against Johnny (Nelson) I wasn’t taking nowhere near the same punishment that I was against Rothmann, that fight wasn’t a foregone conclusion either.
ESB: Until the decision by many world governing organisations to up the cruiserweight championship limit to 200lbs (14st 4lbs) you’ve campaigned as a 190lb fighter (13st 8lbs) throughout your career. Does this recent move put you at an advantage or a disadvantage against your opponents?
CT: I was always a big cruiserweight at 13st 8lbs so if anything the new ruling puts me at a disadvantage. This will be the same for Rothmann who is also a natural 13st 8lbs cruiserweight. The division will now start to attract fighters who walk around at 15st 5lbs (215lbs) but who can make the new cruiserweight limit. On fight night I’ll weigh something close to my walking around weight of 14st 6lbs (202lbs) but some of them will weigh a lot more. I would have preferred them to have left the limit as it was but it’s just something I’ll have to get used too. I thought I carried the new weight pretty well, although it does make training a bit harder when I’m out sprinting and jogging.
Is there anything else that you’d like to say?
Not really. I’m not here to hype myself up to anyone or a fighter who tends to talk a lot. The proof is in the pudding when I get in the ring. I’ll be back in the gym next week as always and I’ll see what happens. I’ll be making a defence of my IBO title next, it doesn’t matter who it’s against.
British Eastside would like to thank Carl for entertaining us and we look forward to witnessing his first defence of his title.