Unbeaten John "Apollo Kid" Thompson a Boxer to Keep an Eye On

By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing (Dec 29, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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This writer saw John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson, 10-0 (3), of Newark, NJ, in his third fight at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wyomissing, PA on November 18^th of 2011. His style was “old school” like the boxers of the 50’s. He won every round over Anthony Abrams, 1-7, in a middleweight 4.

It would be 6 fights later when Thompson defeated southpaw John Mackey, 13-6-3, at the Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, when I would next see him. He had scored 5 more wins with several over winning record boxers like Puerto Rico’s Laureano Laracuente, 7-4-1, who had gone the distance with several 9-0 boxers like Emmanuel Taylor and Alex Perez. Thompson would be the only person to stop Laracuente, in 3 rounds.

The other Thompson win was in his first 6 rounder stopping Jamond “Doo-Wop” Bourgeois, 4-1, out of the New Orleans area in 2 rounds at the Robert Treat Hotel, in Newark. It was his third appearance there.

The Mackey fight followed. Mackey had defeated Don Orr, then 15-0 and fought a draw in his previous fight with Vladine Biosse, then 11-1. Thompson won 5 out of the 6 rounds. That was 6 wins in 6 months in 2012. His next fight wouldn’t be for another 6 months when he appeared on the undercard at Madison Square Garden, on the Trout-Cotto title show. He defeated Haitian Elie Augustama, 6-5, winning all but 1 round in a 6. Earlier in the year Augustama defeated Don Yil Livingston, then 8-1.

Though for the most part Thompson’s competition has been average (33-33-5), at 23 he’s had 10 fights in 18 months under his manager Bill Mielnicki. “Bill manages me and my father (John III) trains me. Buddy McGirt joined us about 3 months ago,” said Thompson.

Thompson trains at the Elite Heat Boxing Club in North Newark, NJ. His amateur record was 89-22. He won the NJ GG 6times, Silver in 2003 and Diamond in 2007. He fought now professionals Jorge Diaz, Glen Tapia, Denis Douglin and Keith Thurman. He had his first amateur fight at age 8.

Thompson doesn’t seem to have trouble making 160 haven’t fought his last 2 fights at 155½ and 156½. His last 3 bouts have been scheduled for 6 rounds. He’s a boxer with a pleasing style and fights with a good head on his shoulder and should be boxing 8 rounds by mid 2013. He was born and raised in Newark. There was another Newark middleweight named Hagler who moved onto New England but made his name in the Philly rings. Thompson has fought in Philly and as far away as Tunica, MS. With McGirt on board this time next year Thompson should be known throughout the country. Remember where you heard about the “Apollo Kidd”, and that’s with 2 d’s!

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E-mail questions, comments to Ken Hissner

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