by Christopher Lettera: Stade de Suisse in Berne, Switzerland. This author watching from Youngstown, Ohio via a free Epix trial (and a crisp, professional presentation from the Epix team, I’ll add, with insightful input from Freddie Roach.)
In a pre-fight interview, Tony Thompson is asked if, at age forty, he feels this is his last chance to win a title. He responds that any time a fighter goes into a title bout, he must look at that fight as potentially his last. He adds that he learned much from Wlad and Emmanuel Steward in the 2008 fight and that his in-the-ring experience with Klitschko will propel him towards a win.
At the Epix commentary desk, Freddie refers to Wlad as “the best fighter of his era.” Dan Rafael cites Wlad’s kindness and good personality (acknowledging that he may not have “the most positive style”) and notes how, if Wlad were American, he would be on the cover of Wheaties boxes across the nation. Freddie, who trained Wlad at one point, mentions that Wlad’s only problem may be his confidence. Freddie mentions that he suggested Wlad visit a sports psychologist, a suggestion that the champ laughed off. Freddie added that he believes Wlad’s confidence problems are gone, and that when Wlad believes in himself, he cannot be stopped in this era. Freddie reminds that Wlad has fought everyone who has been put in front of him and how that is all that can be expected of a champion.
Thompson enters the ring looking as calm as anyone about to fight a Klitschko can be. Commentators remark how Thompson acknowledged the need to render this boxing match a brawl.
The opening riff of the Chili Pepper’s “Can’t Stop” kicks in. Wlad’s eyes open on a massive video screen. “Ich bin Wladimir Klistchko.” Fireworks, fans, cheers. The champ enters, brother Vitali in tow. Michael Buffer announces.
Round 1: Thompson lands a straight left to the chest. Routine feeling out process. Pawing jab by Thompson. Big right hand by Klitschko. Thompson appears to be waiting for counter-punch opportunities. Roach says he needs to take the lead. A generous 10-9 Thompson from this writer. In the corner: Steward tells Wlad he lost the round on inactivity and that he must work his jab.
Round 2: Klitschko lands a combination. Thompson gets in Wlad’s face and they tie up. Klitschko right hand gets through after the break. Klitschko paws with the jab, gauging distance for that right hand. Good left hook by Klitschko. They clinch, Thompson goes down. No knockdown. Klitschko steps to Thompson and lands two rights. Klitschko lands two on Thompson and barrels the man over to the canvas again. No knockdown. 10-9 Klitschko. In the corners: Steward says, “He’s starting to fall apart now.” In Thompson’s corner, Barry Hunter says, “Double and triple up on that jab and let’s go to work.”
Round 3: Thompson pops that jab like wild, though it’s not sharp. Thompson can’t close the distance. Inactivity from both fighters ensues. More feeling-out. Minute-and-a-half in: a solid Klitschko jab lands. Thompson walks into a Klitschko left hand. Thompson gets a couple good shots in. 10-9 Klitschko. In the corners: Steward: “You’re timing him real good, but get back to that jab. If you get him with the jab, he won’t be able to watch the right hand.” Hunter: “Believe. Believe. My man. Let’s go to work.”
Round 4: The commentators remind that Klitschko is “a cerebral fighter” and “a thinking man’s guy in the ring” who’s looking for the perfect shot.” Back-to-back popping right hands from Klitschko that sound like they did damage. Both men swing, clinch, spin each other in slo-mo a funny dance. Klitschko lands a left-hook right hand combo. He’s timing Thompson more effectively. Klitschko, in the commentators’ words, “sneaks in a jab,” then a solid Klitschko left hook ends the round. 10-9 Klitschko. In the corner: Steward: “You’re giving him a lot of time to reorganize. Work the jab a little more.”
Round 5: Loping jabs and a reaching right hand from Thompson land to no effect. Commentators: “Poor Barry Hunter looks like he’s going to yell “Double and triple that jab!” all night and Thompson just isn’t going to do it.” Roach says if Klitschko would work that jab and then put the right hand behind it, everyone would be going home soon. Left-right from Klitschko with a minute to go. Monster left-right (emphasis on a right that knocks all sweat and sense from Thompson’s skull) from Klitschko and Thompson folds in the corner and goes down. That right left Thompson cross-eyed. Thompson gets up, looks wobbly, might get through the round. Thompson ties up. Wlad gets a couple in with Thompson on the ropes. 10-8 Klitschko. In the corner: Hunter: “You got defense too.”
Round 6: Klitschko comes out patient, Thompson comes out wide-eyed and with bounce in his step. Possibly a small cut over Thompson’s left eye. Klitschko backs Thompson into the corner and they clinch. Winging left hook from Klitschko lands on Thompson’s guard, then a right hand lands. Another big right hand by Klitschko. Commentators think Thompson is still hurt from the knockdown. Thompson throws the jab off his back foot. Klitschko comes in with a big, big combination that lands. Klitschko’s fists and advancing body frame put Thompson on the canvas. Thompson rises and the ref waves it off.
Result: Klitschko TKO 6
Commentators: “Yet another dominant performance from Wladimir Klitschko, still the heavyweight champ. Tony Thompson is probably the best American heavyweight right now best on his record, on what he’s done, and he was absolutely shredded.” Freddie Roach: “Right now, I can’t see anyone else out there.” Roach on Thompson: “He hung in there and did his best but just wasn’t good enough for this guy.” Commentators: “It would be great if Wladimir could fight three times a year. I’m not sure there’s a third fight this year.” Povetkin is mentioned, as is the fact that Povetkin ducked Klitschko.
Klitschko stats: 42% total.55% of power punches, 27% of jabs. Klitschko advances to 58-3.
East Side Universe – who’s next for Wlad? What’s next for Thompson?
I take my hat off to Thompson for giving it a go. Outside of the ring (and inside, one can argue) the Klitschkos are chess experts. As brother Vitali said, “what’s the difference between chess and boxing? In chess, nobody is an expert, but everybody plays. In boxing everybody is an expert, but nobody fights.”
This “expert” author would not like to fight either Klitschko, ever. Congratulations to Wladimir and the Klitschko family on excellent preparations and an excellent performance!