22.05.08 – by James Slater: In less than two months time, 36-year-old heavyweight contender Tony “The Tiger” Thompson will climb into the ring and attempt to take the IBF and WBO world titles off the man most people think is the very best heavyweight in the world today. Wladimir Klitschko is that man, and it seems not too many people are giving Thompson much of a chance against him.
Indeed, when the fight was first announced there were a good number of comments left right here on Eastside Boxing stating that the 36-year-old southpaw would be nothing but relatively short work for the 32-year-old known as “The Steel Hammer.” but why is Thompson being given such a derisory shot at winning on July 12th?
A good fighter, who has size and height, an excellent jab and above average punching-power, not to mention his southpaw stance, is Thompson really in over his head going up against the man who looked pretty ordinary last time out against another southpaw in Sultan Ibragimov? I don’t think so. Klitschko looked uncommitted and had problems with Ibragimov back in February, and surely a lot of that had to do with his Russian challenger’s stance. Against the 6’5″ Thompson, a man who can match him for height as well as reach, Klitschko could find himself feeling even less willing to commit himself in the middle of the ring.
I can definitely see Thompson’s right jab giving Klitschko serious problems in July. And “The Tiger” is hungry, very hungry. Angry at having had to wait until now to get his shot, the 36-year-old (who says he is capable of fighting effectively until in his early forties) claims he will take out all his frustrations on the IBF and WBO champ. Would it really come as a huge surprise if Thompson got off to a good start, began popping Klitschko with his jab, backed him up and made the champion remember his bad times in the ring? If he comes out the immediate aggressor, attempts to stamp his authority on the fight and begins to dictate the pace, I feel Thompson will take Klitschko’s heart and make him fight negatively once again.
Wladimir, with his suspect chin and questionable desire when things turn tough, is far from an awesome champion. Yes, he has good qualities, such as his jab, his physical strength and his sheer size. But I feel Thompson will match him in each of these departments. If the fight becomes a battle of the jabs, I certainly give the edge to “The Tiger.” Klitschko won’t be in with a man he can overcome with physical strength alone when he meets Thompson, nor will he be able to hold and tie his man up and dictate things in a negative way when July 12th rolls around. Instead Klitschko will be facing a man his own size, who can bang pretty good, and who will be looking to fight hard for the entire 12 rounds.
To my mind, Tony Thompson is the best ‘No-hoper’ of a heavyweight title challenger one could wish to find today.