By John F. McKenna (McJack): Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (36-2, 24 KO’s) is telling everyone who will listen that he will be a leaner, meaner fighting machine when he takes on WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klischko (57-3, 50 KO’s) on July 7 at the Stade de Suisse soccer stadium in Berne, Switzerland on July 7.

It has been almost four years since Thompson was KO’d in the eleventh round by Wladimir in July 2008 and in that fight Tony suffered from what was described later as a torn meniscus. Thompson chose to keep the injury to himself and now claims it prevented him from getting into the kind of condition he would have liked to. Thompson’s trainer Barry Hunter was not aware of his fighter’s knee injury until after the fight had ensued.

At 6’5” and roughly 247 pounds, Thompson will not be at a size disadvantage against the 6’6”, 243 pound Klitschko. Both Wladimir and trainer Emanuel Steward have acknowledged that Tony gave “Dr. Steelhammer” his toughest test in his current six year title reign. With the revelation after the fight that Thompson fought with an injured knee and his vow to be a leaner, meaner fighter this time around, boxing fans could get some unexpected fireworks on July 7.

In addition to being injury free and in better condition this time, Thompson says that he is in a better mental state of mind this time. He plans to make the most of what he acknowledges will probably be his last title shot. Thompson believes that even though he is 40 years old, the fact that he has only had 38 professional fights means that he has had less wear and tear on his body than you would expect in a fighter his age.

Thompson admits that he was wary of Wladimir’s lethal right hand going into the first fight but had a momentary lapse in his defense which resulted in “Dr. Steelhammer” landing a crushing right end. The right hand sent Tony crashing to the canvas.

It is not known what weight Thompson will enter the ring at on fight night, but clearly he will be a much leaner fighter than he was in July 2008.

Thompson says he is not bothered by the odds which favor Klitschko by an overwhelming margin.