12.08.04 – Respect is what Carl Thompson deserves and his record demands. The IBO cruiserweight champion is disarmingly humble out of the ring and that may explain why ‘The CAT’ has never received due credit for a thrilling career at world level. Thompson has been written off many times, but he keeps coming back with a relentlessness rarely seen outside the Terminator movies. The way I stand in front of people they can hardly miss,” joked Carl. “I usually get caught, but I always fight right back.”
On September 10 at Wembley Arena, Thompson defends his crown against fellow knockout artist David Haye in a battle royale of big punchers and can’t wait to confound his doubters once more.
“I want to put some egg on some people’s faces,” said Thompson, who won the IBO title in February with a breathtaking come-from-behind KO of Sebastian Rothmann in a strong contender for fight of the year. “I want to have the last laugh. I didn’t have much time to prepare for the Rothmann fight, but I jumped in at the deep end. It was bloody hard, but I still got the result. I’d recently had a 19 month lay-off and, with all due respect to the people I’d fought on my comeback, I didn’t really have a proper test.”
Former amateur star Haye, 10-0 (10), certainly fits into the testing category and brings his own punching power to the table, but Carl suspects Team Haye may have taken him lightly.
“I think they have underestimated me,” said Carl, who always comes to fight and doesn’t have an ounce of quit in him. “If you look at David Haye’s record, he has scored some good knockouts, but has been beating people who haven’t come to win. But I am coming to win. I don’t want to give up my title. I’ve worked too hard for it.
“He’s never been beyond four rounds, but I’m prepared for a fast start. I’ll be ready for him. But, even if he loses, David Haye can come again. He’s fighting a guy with a lot of experience and has taken this gamble. I also took a gamble when I fought Rothmann. But he shouldn’t underestimate me.
“I give David Haye respect – so far he’s shown power, but nothing else yet,” added the champion. “The first time he got hit back (against Congo-born Lolenga Mock who had the temerity to floor Haye) he was hurt and I hope I can answer some questions on September 10. But it’s a no win situation for me. If I win, they’ll say it’s a lack of experience on his part and, if he wins, they’ll probably say I’m old!”
Since a freak shoulder injury against Ralf Rocchigiani prevented him from lifting the WBO cruiserweight title in June 1995, Thompson, 32-6 (24), has only lost twice in 16 bouts fought mostly at top level (one a highly controversial stoppage against arch-rival Johnny Nelson and the other a wild, unforgettable punch-out with Ezra Sellers in November 2001 where the fighters shared six knockdowns).
He is currently enjoying his second reign as IBO champion to add to the WBO crown he won in the return against Rocchigiani – in Germany no less – and successfully defended in two thrilling bouts with Chris Eubank. But despite achieving the near impossible trinity of winning title bouts in Germany, France and Italy against dangerous hometown opposition, praise and Thompson have remained strangers.
“Maybe I was never in the right weight division.” reflected Carl, who has boxed pro for 16 years. “When I fought and beat Chris Eubank it could have lifted my career, but maybe part of that is my fault for not pushing myself. I like to live as normal a life as possible. I don’t want people pointing at me and saying, ‘that’s Carl Thompson’. I’m not one to start shouting my mouth off. That’s just not who I am.”