By Allan Fox: Former two time world title challenger Tony Thompson (39-5, 26 KO’s) took a beating in getting badly outworked by #11 WBC Carlos Takam (30-1-1, 23 KO’s) in losing by a 12 round unanimous decision on Friday night at the Palais des Sport Marcel Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
The judges scored it 117-111, 119-109, and 117-111, all in favor of the 33-year-old Takam. The win gives Takam the vacant WBC Silver heavyweight title, and it’ll no doubt help push him up the rankings.
The 6’5” Thompson had problems keeping the shorter 6’2 ½” Takam off of him in every round, as Takam did an excellent job of staying close to Thompson each time he would attempt to get punching room to let his shots go.
Thompson, 42, fought much better in the first three rounds with him throwing a lot of shots that kept Takam from being able to tee off. However, after the 3rd round, Thompson’s work rate slowed down, and this enabled Takam to stay in close and outwork Thompson. Takam didn’t show big power or fast hands, but his constant shots made it really tough on Thompson. Takam was always right in close in throwing his punches to the body and heat of Thompson. By staying in close, Takam was able to smother Thompson’s shots and take the power off of them due to him being unable to get leverage on his shots.
In the 7th, Thompson unloaded on Takam with a lot of nice combinations as Takam stopped throwing punches in that round. However, Takam came back strong to fight well in the 8th round in nailing Thompson at will with heavy shots to the head and body.
Takam took the 11th round off for some reason, as he moved constantly and basically gave the round away. But I the 12th, Takam resumed taking the fight to Thompson and pounding him on the inside with hooks to the head.
Takam was arguably robbed in his last fight in receiving a 10 round draw against unbeaten Cuban Mike Perez last January. That was a fight where Takam had badly outworked and out-landed Perez, yet the three judges saw it as a draw.
Takam has the kind of fighting style that would make him a very tough opponent for taller heavyweights like Wladimir Klitschko, Kubrat Pulev and Tyson Fury. Takam’s smothering fighting style would make it very difficult for these taller heavyweights to beat him because he just doesn’t give them any room to use their height and reach. Takam would likely do very well against heavyweights like Bryant Jennings, Dereck Chisora, Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne.
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