By Sean McDaniel: In the latest boxing news, the rematch between IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50 KO’s) and 40-year-old #2 IBF contender Tony Thompson (36-2, 24 KO’s) will be taking place on July 7th at the Stade de Suisse in Bern, Switzerland. Wladimir already easily beat Thompson four years ago in an 11th round TKO in 2008, but now he has to do it again unfortunately because Thompson has worked his way back to another title shot by beating a number of lesser fighters to get a high ranking.

Bern is a beautiful venue for this fight. It’s just too bad this is another one of Wladimir’s horrible mismatches. This might be a teeny bit better than his last mismatch against 40-year-old Jean Marc Mormeck, but not much better. Thompson is heck of old and looks like he’s punching underwater when he throws. Not much power, not speed, and not much of a chance in this fight. I do like how Thompson looks in facing C level heavyweights. He’s superb in beating them, but he hasn’t fought anyone good in four years since the last time Wladimir knocked him out. Hopefully, it’ll be a lot longer before we see him face Wladimir again after Thompson gets knocked out this time.

Their previous fight was kind of dull. Wladimir landed a lot of jabs and right hands through Thompson’s high guard. A lot of Wladimir’s were picked off but with him throwing a lot of shots, many sailed through the gloves of Thompson nailing him in the head. Wladimir had problems figuring Thompson out because of his habit of keeping his arms out in front of him. However, Wladimir’s trainer Emanuel Steward finally impressed upon Wladimir the need to quit wasting time by throwing ones and twos and just go after him. This is what Wladimir did in the 11th round, as he teed off on Thompson until sending him crashing to the canvas from a solid right hand.

Nothing will change in the rematch other than how long it will take Wladimir to take Thompson out. Thompson hasn’t been tested in four years with his easy matchmaking Adnan Serin, Chazz Witherspoon, Owen Beck, Paul Marinaccio and Maurice Harris. Those shouldn’t be the types of fighters that a heavyweight challenger faces in order to get a title fight. I see those guys as ones that should be fought earlier in ones career not to get a title fight. Thompson should have at least fought one good heavyweight contender to earn a second shot. It’s disappointing that the heavyweight contenders are allowed to get title shots by taking on low level 2nd tier opponents. It’s too bad because Thompson could have at least showed that he deserved the fight or he could have been weeded out.