By Allan Fox: 40-year-old Tony Thompson (36-2, 24 KO’s) has a huge opportunity for him to get a big payday if he is able to pull off an upset somehow against IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50 KO’s) in less than two weeks from now on July 7th at the Stade de Suisse, in Berne, Switzerland.

Wladimir, 36, is expected to win this fight with flying colors, but as weak as his chin is and with his history of having problems in fights against southpaws, you got to give the southpaw Thompson a decent chance of winning this fight if he lands one of his big left hands. Thompson is making good money for this fight with the Ukrainian, but he’ll make a lot more if he pulls off a big win and snatches Wladimir’s four titles. That no doubt would be like a dream come true for Thompson at this point, because he’s been waiting around for another title shot since being stopped in the 11th round by Wladimir in 2008.

Wladimir was starched by southpaw Corrie Sanders in the 2nd round in March 2003 in a huge upset loss for Wladimir. He looked completely clueless against Sanders, like he hadn’t trained at all against southpaws. All Sanders did was use his quick feet to shift in close to Wladimir when he least suspected and then nailed him with a big left to hurt Wladimir. Thompson can do the same if he is quick with his feet and sets traps.

He can’t just come gunning from the 1st round, because Wladimir will start clinching and shut him down. Instead, Thompson has to play it cool and let Wladimir have some success early on. This in turn will lead to Wladimir getting overconfident to where he’ll open himself up by throwing big shots. That’s where Thompson can catch Wladimir with a big left hand that will hurt him enough to where Thompson can finish him off.