Carl Thompson (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Carl Adrian Thompson is a retired British
boxer
and the former WBO, European
, & British cruiserweight champion.
However, his world class power in his right hand brought him to contention, stopping fighters like undefeated Nicky Piper.
He won the European title vs Massimiliano Duran
by KO, and knocked out Akim Tafer in a title defense, with both victories on the road. Thompson failed in a bid for the WBO title when he was stopped in the 11th round against Ralf Rocchigiani
after dislocating his shoulder during the bout.
Eventually he won the WBO Cruiserweight Title via decision over Ralf Rocchigiani in a rematch in 1997. He defended the belt twice, beating the smaller Chris Eubank
in 1998 before losing it via a controversial referee stoppage to Johnny Nelson
in 1999.
After the Nelson loss, he had a winning streak that ended in knock out fashion in round 4 by Ezra Sellers in 2001. He continued fighting for four more years, although the most notable opponent he surprisingly finished off was the undefeated amateur star and future world champion David Haye
by TKO in round 5. He retired in November 2005.
In the middle of the 9th the supremely confident Rothman was going through his repertoire of punches, catching Thompson with every shot. Thompson looked shot, Rothman began to showboat and continued to pulverise Thompson, every shot landing better than the last. Rothman then forced Thomson on to the ropes and delivered a combination of sickening blows. Thompson had nowhere to go, the referee looked at Thompson ready to stop the fight. Somehow Thompson got away from the ropes and forced Rothman into the middle of the ring. With 17 seconds remaining in the round Rothman dropped his left hand by his side for what seemed like a fraction of a second allowing Carl to deliver a sledgehammer of a right hand to the South African's head knocking him to the canvas.
Rothman bravely tried to get back on his feet but his legs had gone and the referee had no option but to stop the fight, handing Thompson a famous victory.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and the former WBO, European
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
, & British cruiserweight champion.
Professional boxing career
Nicknamed "The Cat", Thompson turned professional boxer in 1988. He went 8-0 before losing to Crawford Ashley by TKO in round 6 for the BBBofC Central Area light heavyweight title. In 1990 he was outpointed by Franco Wanyama, and in 1991 he was KOd by Yawe Davis.However, his world class power in his right hand brought him to contention, stopping fighters like undefeated Nicky Piper.
He won the European title vs Massimiliano Duran
Massimiliano Duran
Massimiliano Duran is a former Italian professional boxer who briefly held the Cruiser WBC title and the European championship.-Career:...
by KO, and knocked out Akim Tafer in a title defense, with both victories on the road. Thompson failed in a bid for the WBO title when he was stopped in the 11th round against Ralf Rocchigiani
Ralf Rocchigiani
Ralf Rocchigiani is a boxer from Duisburg-Hamborn in Germany.He was often overlooked due to his more talented and successful younger brother, Graciano Rocchigiani. He became a professional boxer in 1983 and won the German Cruiserweight championship in 1985. He failed in two attempts to win the...
after dislocating his shoulder during the bout.
Eventually he won the WBO Cruiserweight Title via decision over Ralf Rocchigiani in a rematch in 1997. He defended the belt twice, beating the smaller Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
in 1998 before losing it via a controversial referee stoppage to Johnny Nelson
Johnny Nelson
Ivanson Ranny "Johnny" Nelson is a former professional boxer from Sheffield, England. He was the WBO cruiserweight champion for over six years, having successfully defended the title 13 times. Nelson also held the European and British cruiserweight titles...
in 1999.
After the Nelson loss, he had a winning streak that ended in knock out fashion in round 4 by Ezra Sellers in 2001. He continued fighting for four more years, although the most notable opponent he surprisingly finished off was the undefeated amateur star and future world champion David Haye
David Haye
David Deron Haye is a retired English professional boxer,Haye is the former WBA heavyweight champion. He is also the former unified world cruiserweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring cruiserweight titles, and also the former European cruiserweight champion.- Amateur :Haye...
by TKO in round 5. He retired in November 2005.
Character
Carl 'The Cat' Thompson was also renowned for his bravery, granite chin and on occasion snatching glorious victory from the jaws of defeat. This was evident no more so in his memorable bout with South African, Sebastian Rothman. Thompson had been on the end of a vicious beating for a whole 9 rounds. The BBC commentators on the night, Jim Neilly and Colin McMillan, were calling for Carl's retirement saying he was finished, taking this beating needlessly and that the fight should have been stopped a long time ago.In the middle of the 9th the supremely confident Rothman was going through his repertoire of punches, catching Thompson with every shot. Thompson looked shot, Rothman began to showboat and continued to pulverise Thompson, every shot landing better than the last. Rothman then forced Thomson on to the ropes and delivered a combination of sickening blows. Thompson had nowhere to go, the referee looked at Thompson ready to stop the fight. Somehow Thompson got away from the ropes and forced Rothman into the middle of the ring. With 17 seconds remaining in the round Rothman dropped his left hand by his side for what seemed like a fraction of a second allowing Carl to deliver a sledgehammer of a right hand to the South African's head knocking him to the canvas.
Rothman bravely tried to get back on his feet but his legs had gone and the referee had no option but to stop the fight, handing Thompson a famous victory.