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 Carl Thompson V David Haye Set For SeptemberWill The Big Cat Finally Run Out Of Lives Against Young Lion Haye? by James McDonnell (August 1, 2004)  Send this page to friend Give us your feedback Those of you who read my fight report on the thrilling and dramatic volte-face performed by Carl Thompson in his last fight against champion Sebastian Rothmann, will know exactly why his September contest against David Haye gets my juices going.
Most people I have spoken to favour Haye to win early, by dint of his hand speed, punch power, aggression and youth, but as anyone au-fait with British boxing knows, you can never count Carl Thompson out entirely. The man nicknamed ‘The Cat’ has certainly lived up to his name, having climbed off the canvas in his most recent fight against Sebastian Rothmann, to deliver a crushing finale with a single counter right hand in the ninth round, launched from the ropes whilst under fire. Referee Ritchie Davies later told me that he was about to step in and stop the contest mere seconds beforehand. Nine lives or not, you do feel that at the age of 40, this is a fight where he is finally going to run out of escape routes. Many people I have spoken to, fans and pundits alike, have expressed concern at Thompson being exposed to a hungry young challenger like Haye, particularly in the light of his previous performance against Rothmann. Although Thompson came out on top in that fight, he fought like a man on wooden legs right from the word go. He appeared tired and listless from the very early stages of the fight, and was taking three or four shots to land one of his own for large swathes of the contest. That he managed to find the big shot to turn the contest around is commendable, but you have to ask how much damage he could take against a ferocious puncher like Haye, who is just reaching his physical prime. The concern is a mark of respect for the tremendous efforts that Thompson has produced over the years, and a desire not to see him get badly hurt at this late stage of his career. Are we all being patronising though? Carl is a grown man, and what is more a very experienced professional who has constantly been just on the fringes of the elite in the division. Carl would probably see it as a slight on him that anyone thinks of this contest with trepidation. I had heard earlier this year, that Thompson had initially turned down the contest, on the grounds that he was a champion (albeit an IBO one), and Haye was a novice. Are we overrating Haye, who after all has had only 10 fights? If you look at the difference in their resumes the gulf in experience is indeed massive. Thompson has had almost twice as many fights (38), than Haye has had rounds (20), and Thompson turned professional in 1988, when Haye was only 8 years old! Thompson has just beaten Sebastian Rothmann, a man rated in the top 10 contenders by most of the sanctioning bodies going into the fight, and has also faced Ezra Sellers, Johnny Nelson, Chris Eubank (twice in two of the most spirited fights in an English ring I’ve seen), and first won the WBO title from Ralf Rocchigiani in 1997. However, the reason for most people’s concern is the fact that Thompson is now 40 years old. Never exactly gazelle-like, he has become even slower with age, and unlike some veterans, he has become easier to hit rather than harder. Carl’s career successes were always based on tremendous heart and thunderous punch power, however, at 40, he doesn’t appear to have the stamina to produce the punch output he once did. Thompson was decked four times against Ezra Sellers in a losing title effort in 2001, was stopped by Johnny Nelson in 1999 in losing his WBO title, and was downed in his fight with Rothmann. Thompson would later claim that he was just suckering Rothmann in, but anyone who attended that fight knew that Carl was in dire straits before finding the big punch to turn it around. Thompson was also involved in two blood and guts encounters with Chris Eubank, the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion, who had him down in their first fight. Thompson has in fact been stopped a total of 5 times out of 6 losses, including losses to Yawe Davis and Crawford Ashley early in his career. Haye hits harder than all of those men mentioned above, and is significantly faster too. Mark Hobson, another British cruiserweight, told of a contact of mine after sparring with Haye, that he had never felt punch power like it, despite having sparred with heavyweights before, even with 16oz sparring gloves Haye repeatedly stiffened his legs. Carl is there to be hit, and despite the gulf in experience, Haye’s blend of power and speed make him a favourite to score an early stoppage against a man who is a slow mover and who takes a shot to give one. Of course, if Haye gets careless and Carl tags him, then it seems likely that a man who was decked, and heavily, by light heavyweight Lolenga Mock three contests ago, will definitely find Carl’s exceptional one punch power an eye opener, or rather an eye shutter more to the point. Haye is a relative novice whose progress is taking place at an accelerated pace, with only 10 fights under his belt, taking on even a 40 year old version of former WBO champion Carl Thompson is a commendable step. Thompson initially was reported as turning down the fight with Haye, on the grounds that Haye was a 10-fight novice, and he was a champion (albeit an IBO champion), However green Haye may be however, he was good enough to force the referee to stop Arthur Williams, another 40 year old former titlist (IBF), in his most recent win. In that contest Haye was taking a huge step up in class, yet kept Williams negative by throwing bombs from range whilst on the move. The current line is that once again youth will be served. I would guess that Carl would contemplate retirement, win or lose, although he has long wanted a rematch with Johnny Nelson, whom he feels was given a premature stoppage win. Nelson seems to have other plans, and is winding down toward retirement. It would seem ill advised for him to continue beyond this fight whatever the result. The fight is scheduled for the 10th September at Wembley Arena, which should attract a capacity crown for the event. Since this fight was first announced British boxing forums have been buzzing with excitement ever since the announcement. The fight could either usher in the ascent of David Haye to contender status, as he will surely leapfrog right up into the top 10 cruiserweight world rankings if he gets by Thompson, or could prove that once more that Thompson, is never to be underestimated. With Ricky Hatton scheduled to fight Vivian Harris and now this announcement, the end of the year is looking more and more promising for British boxing fans. Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums Send an E-mail to James McDonnell |
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