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Carl “The Cat” Thompson
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Some people never learn. Despite his stunning one-punch knockout over the world rated Sebastian Rothmann in February, Carl “The Cat” Thompson is once more being written off ahead of his IBO cruiserweight title defence against British Boxing’s golden boy David Haye at the Wembley Arena on September 10.
This meeting, between two exciting punchers with defensive frailties at vastly different stages in their respective careers, is sure to provide enough drama to lift the morale of even the most dispirited UK fight fan, how ever long it lasts. The message is simple: blink, and you will miss this. But whilst it’s commonly accepted that this explosive pairing will leave those in attendance on the edge of their seats, the prevailing opinion primarily considers this fight to be the one where David Haye announces his arrival on the world’s stage. Right now, you’d probably stand more chance of locating the Loch Ness monster than tracking down anyone who’s prepared to bet on a Thompson victory.
Has the world gone crazy? Is a proven world stayer like Thompson mere cannon fodder for Britain’s leading young gun who has amassed just 20 rounds of action in his 10 pro outings to date? Unsurprisingly, Thompson is agitated at suggestions he will be effortlessly swept aside. “How an earth do they think he’s going to walk through me? Who has he beat to make them think that? What is going on? What rubbish! I don’t know what these critics are thinking,” bellowed Thompson. “They think I’m taking a risk? Well, let me tell them, David Haye is taking a risk going in with me. If they think I shouldn’t be in the ring with him then what about Haye’s previous opponents who aren’t even champions? I’d love to put egg on their faces.”
It’s not the first time Thompson has been the sideshow in a big domestic attraction. In the late nineties with the public finally on his side, thousands turned out to cheer Chris Eubank when he challenged Thompson for his then WBO crown. On both occasions they left the arena disappointed as the Brighton eccentric was first decisioned, and then stopped in nine rounds in a keenly fought rematch x months later. Along with winning the world title against Ralf Rochiagiani in Germany, and his dramatic one-punch dissolving of Sebastian Rothmann last time out, his brace of triumphs over Eubank are regarded as the most glorious moments in Thompson’s wildly entertaining 16-year career.
“No, actually my most satisfying win was against Akim Tafer in defence of my European title in France in 1994. People didn’t give me a chance in that one and I was taking a beating in there early on. But I managed to knock him down in the fifth and stop him in the sixth. I knew I’d arrived then. That was my hardest fight,” admitted Thompson when pressed. “Yet even then I received some negative write-ups over here. The culture seems to be different in other parts of Europe – they tend to be more generous with their praise of their fighters over there.”
Perhaps a stunning victory over Haye, a former world amateur silver medallist and a fighter tipped for a glittering future, would bring with it the respect Thompson feels he is due. The Cat begs to differ, however. “It’s going to be a case of who is going to out gun each other. It’s a 50-50 fight. We are both big punchers and we know the fight isn’t going all the way. I’m in a no win situation because people want to give Haye all the praise. But if I beat him they’ll say that he was never that good or that he wasn’t ready. So be it. I’ve been there before. The critics will find a way to criticise me.”
Those who forecast a victory for the young Bermondsey quicksilver believe his lightening speed and electric power will prove too much for the battle-hardened Thompson. In his last outing, in May, Haye was punch-perfect in dismantling veteran ex-IBF ruler “King” Arthur Williams in just three rounds. Only a brief excursion to the canvas against Lolenga Mock has taken the gloss off Haye’s perfect 10-0 (10) ledger as the hype moves into the overdrive. “David Haye is hard to judge because he’s still to prove himself. The fighters he’s been beating have had no ambition. Who has he fought? I’ve fought everyone from world champions, former world champions, top contenders to British challengers like Terry Dunstan. The only thing Haye has shown so far is good punching power,” argued Thompson, keen to restore a little balance.
It’s easy to be persuaded by the determined tone of Thompson’s voice but one wonders how much the Bolton bomber has left in the tank following his dramatic battle against Rothmann six months ago. Systematically punished for long periods, a bruised and weary Thompson was on the verge of being stopped until he produced a jackpot punch to rescue a fight he seemed destined to lose. At times, the winner was made to look every inch of his 40 years, but dismisses claims that his body was telling him it was time to call time on his illustrious career.
“I only had four weeks to prepare for the Rothmann fight and remember I’d had a 19 month lay-off before that. I didn’t really have proper preparation for someone of his calibre because my warm-up fights resulted in easy victories for me. However, my fitness and my will to win got me through it in the end, said Thompson. “What makes you think I’m going to get beat up by Haye? Although I’m a veteran I didn’t take up Boxing until I was 26-years-old. I’ll laugh if I prove people wrong again,” he added.
But Thompson is prepared to concede that a similarly lethargic opening against Haye could spell disaster this time. “I know I’m up against it so I’m determined not to start off slow and show I can punch as fast and as hard as David Haye. I can’t afford to get caught as much as I did against Rothmann. He wasn’t really hurting me but I couldn’t get past his jab - he just kept throwing it,” he revealed.
“Both me and Haye can bang but I know if I hit him, and I mean cleanly, he won’t be getting back up that’s for sure. I’m a big, powerful cruiserweight and he’s a lot smaller than me.”
We’ve been warned.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2004
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By Ben Carey (August 11, 2004) 
