40-year-old Tony Thompson next for Wladimir Klitschko

By Boxing News - 03/03/2012 - Comments

Image: 40-year-old Tony Thompson next for Wladimir KlitschkoBy Allan Fox: Unless IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50 KO’s) wants to give him a step aside payment, 40-year-old Tony Thompson (36-2, 24 KO’s) will be the next fight for Wladimir. Thompson, #2 IBF, is Wladimir’s mandatory challenger and he’s due to get his title shot. If Wladimir chooses to ignore him, then the IBF will strip Wladimir of his IBF title and that’s something Wladimir doesn’t want to happen.

It’s not an interesting fight or one that boxing fans are clamoring for, as Wladimir already knocked out a younger version of Thomson four years ago in an 11th round TKO win in July 2008. It was one of the most competitive fights that Wladimir has had since his first fight against Samuel Peter in September 2005. However, it wasn’t a thrilling fight and thought of seeing Wladimir face Thompson again now four years later is kind of off-putting to say the least.

Thompson has won his last five fights since the defeat to Wladimir, beating Adnan Serin, Chazz Witherspoon, Owen Beck, Paul Marinaccio, and Maurice Harris. Those are all 2nd tier heavyweights and it’s going to be a bit of a shock for Thompson to go from those guys to a fight against Wladimir now, because Wladimir has improved a lot since he fought him last, while Thompson has slowed down and isn’t quite the same fighter he once was.

It would be a lot more interesting to see Wladimir take on Chris Arreola, Denis Boytsov, Alexander Dimitrenko, Alexander Povetkin, Tyson Fury or David Price rather than seeing him fight Thompson again. Hopefully Wladimir can get Thompson to step aside so that boxing fans can see Wladimir fight a little younger heavyweight, preferably someone good. His last opponent Mormeck is 39, and a fight against the 40-year-old would make it seem like Wladimir is picking off the old codgers instead of going after younger fighters that can really test him in a major way.



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