By Charles White – Kindly taking time out of his busy training schedule, undefeated heavyweight boxesr “Vicious” Vincent Thompson (5-0 with 1 ko) had the following answers to my questions…
CW: Good afternoon Vincent, how are you doing today?
VT: Just fine.
CW: Starting at the beginning, how did you first get your start in boxing?
VT: I was introduced to boxing from my father. When he threw me a pair of gloves at the age of six.
CW: Growing up, who are some of the fighters that you admired most?
VT: The best of the best; Ali, Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield.
CW: Did you have much of an amateur background?
VT: No, short. But I do have nothing to a few Jr. Golden Gloves wins..
CW: What is your overall amateur record?
VT: 23 – 5
CW: Who are you currently being trained by?
VT: My dad Calvin, Jack Stafford and Sam Ditusa.
CW: What does a typical day of training look like for you?
VT: “Pain.” However I like it, I love it, I want more of it.
CW: Who are some of the fighters that you have sparred with, past and present?
VT: Jonte Willis, Chauncy Welliver, Roger Cantrell, Matt Kovacs, Walter Wright, Fred Miller, and others.
CW: How would you describe your style?
VT: Unique.
CW: I personally have seen you spar in the past, and I must admit, I was impressed with your hand speed. Is this the edge that you feel you have over your fellow heavyweight fighters that will see you through to the top of the division?
VT: Yes! Speed kills, you can’t slip what your eyes can’t see especially when you’re fast like me.
CW: You turned pro last year in the heavyweight division with a UD over Freddie Miller. How would you describe the feeling of winning your first professional fight?
VT: A start to a new beginning, knowing I will have my shot at the title one day.
CW: You are now 5-0 with 1 knockout in the pro ranks. How far do you see yourself going in the heavyweight division? Is this a career that will see you all the way to the top?
VT: All the way to the championship of the world. Oh yeah for sure.
CW: In your last fight, you beat Villi Bloomfield on points. Twice in the amateurs, Bloomfield got the win over you. How did it feel to finally get revenge in this grudge match?
VT: It felt good, more than anything especially with all the trash talk that was being said I really made his camp shut their mouths. People ask me how come I did not go for a knock out, and I tell them I wanted to embarrass and punish him.
CW: When can we expect to see you back in the ring, and whom will it be against?
VT: October 16th at the Silver Reef Casino Ferndale, WA. Against who? TBD.
CW: What are your thoughts on the current state of the heavyweight division and where do you see yourself in it 5 years from now?
VT: The current heavyweight division is wide open, there is a lack of talented fighters. In 5yrs the champ of the world for sure and someone to look up to.
CW: Two heavyweight title fights are coming up in the next two months; first is Shannon Briggs vs Vitali Klitschko and then there is Audley Harrison vs David Haye. How do you see these fights going down?
VT: Long as Briggs stays with head movement and real crafty bangin the body and exploding to the head he will be alright. David well I haven’t seen this other guy fight before but David Haye is good real good so we’ll see.
CW: If you could face any heavyweight from the past, who would it be and why?
VT: Ali because we are both fast and we have that “I want to embarrass you tonight” look.
CW: It’s always fun to ask this question; if not a boxer, what line of work do you think you would be in?
VT: Hard labor because I am a work horse.
CW: Thank you for your time Vincent. Any final message to the fans?
VT: Keep your eye on me, I won’t let you down.
For questions and comments, to schedule an interview, or to just chat about boxing, Charles C. White can be reached at cwhite1078@mysvc.skagit.edu or 360-333-5911.