Harrison says Haye was knocked down in sparring by Tony Thompson

By Boxing News - 11/01/2010 - Comments

Image: Harrison says Haye was knocked down in sparring by Tony ThompsonBy Scott Gilfoid: Former 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Audley Harrison says that WBA heavyweight champion David Haye was knocked down by his sparring partner Tony Thompson (34-2, 22 KO’s) recently, according to the Telegraph.co.uk. This isn’t a good sign for the 30-year-old Haye as he gets ready to take on Harrison on November 13th at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England. I can’t say I’m surprised at Haye getting knocked down by Thompson, though. The 39-year-old Thompson, 6’5″, is one of the best heavyweights in the division and he gave IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko all kinds of problems in losing by a 11th round TKO in 2008.

Indeed, the southpaw Thompson landed more shots on Wladimir than any other opponent for the Ukrainian during his career. Unfortunately, Thompson eventually folded under the big power shots from Wladimir. Thompson’s height, long reach and southpaw stance made it difficult for Wladimir.

Harrison had this to say about Haye being knocked down by Thompson: “I heard David Haye’s brought in Tony Thompson and they’re making a big thing of it. I want Haye to tell me and the rest of the world what Tony Thompson did to him a couple of weeks ago, because I heard Tony Thompson knocked him down in training.”

Oh this is bad. Haye is getting dropped by his sparring partners and he still hasn’t even fought Harrison yet. But in fairness to Haye, I think Thompson is a better heavyweight than him and would beat him if he were to fight him. Before the loss to Wladimir, Thompson was considered to be the best of the heavyweight contenders in the division. I don’t see that having changed much. Thompson is a little older but still very good and recently beat Chazz Witherspoon and Owen Beck, stopping both of them inside the distance.

There’s no shame in getting knocked down by a quality fighter like Thompson, especially when I see him as a better heavyweight than Haye. I have no doubts that Thompson would be the WBA heavyweight champion of the world if he had been matched up against the heavyweights that Haye has fought since moving up in weight in 2008. Haye has fought 38-year-old Monte Barrett, 36-year-old Nikolay Valuev and 38-year-old John Ruiz. I see Thompson easily beating all three of them and doing a cleaner job of beating them. Thompson would have likely schooled Valuev and taken Ruiz and Barrett without ugly rabbit punches.



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