Carl Thompson (boxer)

Carl Adrian Thompson (born 26 May 1964 in Manchester, England) is a retired British boxer and the former WBO, European, & British cruiserweight champion

Professional boxing career

Early years

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 British Central Area light heavyweight title after taking a thumb to the eye. In 1990 he was outpointed by Franco Wanyama, and in 1991 he was KOd by Yawe Davis. However, his punching power in his right hand brought him to contention, stopping the undefeated Nicky Piper in three rounds.

Thompson won the vacant British cruiserweight title by beating Steve Lewsam in eight rounds in June 1992, then in his next fight won the WBC International title in two rounds against Arthur 'Stormy' Weathers at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London in February 1993.

In February 1994, Thompson traveled to Ferrara, Emilia Romagna, Italy and won the European title by defeating Massimiliano Duran by KO in eight rounds, and in his next bout knocked out France's Akim Tafer in six rounds at Epernay, Marne, France to retain his European title.

After winning two mark-time fights, Thompson was matched against Ralf Rocchigiani in a bout for the vacant WBO cruiserweight title at the G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester in June 1995. Both fighters were knocked down in round five, and Thompson lost during round eleven after dislocating his shoulder.

WBO champion

After returning with three wins, Thompson won the WBO cruiserweight title via decision over Ralf Rocchigiani in a rematch in Stadionsporthalle, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany in October 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.

Thompson regained the vacant British title with a twelfth round knockout of Terry Dunstan in December 1999, then regained the vacant European title with a sixth round stoppage of Alain Simon.

Thompson's winning streak ended in a fourth round knockout defeat to Ezra Sellers in 2001.

Rothman vs Thompson

After three low-key wins, Thompson met South African, Sebastian Rothman. Thompson had been on the end of beating for most of the bout. The BBC commentators on the night, Jim Neilly and Colin McMillan, were calling for Carl's retirement, saying he was finished, taking the beating needlessly, and that the fight should have been stopped.

Rothman forced Thompson on to the ropes during the ninth round and 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 for what seemed like a fraction of a second, allowing Carl to deliver a flush 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.^[1][2]

Thompson vs Haye

In September 2004 at 40 years of age, Thompson boxed the up-and-coming David Haye in a classic 'youth vs experience' matchup. Haye started fast and alarmingly caught Thompson with constant barrages of power punches, coming close to forcing a stoppage at numerous points over the first few rounds.

Gradually, despite the early punishment he received, Thompson warmed up and worked his way into the fight whilst Haye seemed to tire and slow down. Thompson began to pressure Haye and knocked Haye down with a chopping right hand in round five. With seven seconds left in the round, Thompson landed two jabs followed by a flush right hand which rocked a fatigued Haye, and compelled Haye's corner to throw in the towel.

Thompson retired at the end of 2005 after an unimpressive points win over Frederic Serrat.

Professional boxing record

34 Wins (25 KOs), 6 Losses (5 KOs)
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, Time	Date	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34-6	Frederic Serrat	PTS	10	2005-11-26	Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33-6	David Haye	TKO	5 (12), 2:53	2004-09-10	Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32-6	Sebastiaan Rothmann	TKO	9 (12), 2:57	2004-02-06	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31-6	Paul Bonson	PTS	6	2003-11-07	Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30-6	Hastings Rasani	KO	1 (6), 2:01	2003-09-05	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-6	Phil Day	KO	4 (6), 0:38	2003-06-10	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	28-6	Ezra Sellers	KO	4 (12), 1:36	2001-11-26	Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28-5	Uriah Grant	TKO	5 (12), 2:20	2001-02-03	Bowler's Arena, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27-5	Alexey Ilyin	TKO	2 (12), ?	2000-09-25	Metrodome, Barnsley, Yorkshire, England	Retained European cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26-5	Alain Simon	TKO	6	2000-05-13	Barnsley, Yorkshire, United Kingdom	Won vacant European cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25-5	Terry Dunstan	KO	12 (12), 2:40	1999-12-03	Bushfield Leisure Centre, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England	Won vacant British cruiserweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	24-5	Johnny Nelson	TKO	5 (12), 1:42	1999-03-27	Derby Storm Arena, Derby, Derbyshire, England	Lost WBO cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24-4	Chris Eubank	RTD	9 (12), 3:00	1998-07-18	Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England	Retained WBO cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-4	Chris Eubank	UD	12	1998-04-18	Nynex Arena, Manchester, England	Retained WBO cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-4	Ralf Rocchigiani	SD	12	1997-10-04	Stadionsporthalle, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany	Won WBO cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21-4	Keith McMurray	TKO	4 (8), ?	1997-04-26	Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20-4	Jason Nicholson	PTS	8	1996-11-09	Nynex Arena, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19-4	Albert Call	TKO	5 (8), ?	1996-04-13	Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	18-4	Ralf Rocchigiani	TKO	11 (12), 0:38	1995-06-10	G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, England	For vacant WBO cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-3	Tim Knight	KO	5 (8), ?	1994-10-13	Levallois-Perret, Hauts-de-Seine, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-3	Dionisio Lazario Nascimento	TKO	1 (6), 1:06	1994-09-10	National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-3	Akim Tafer	TKO	6 (12), ?	1994-06-14	Epernay, Marne, France	Retained European cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-3	Massimiliano Duran	KO	8 (12), ?	1994-02-02	Ferrara, Emilia Romagna, Italy	Won European cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14-3	Willie Jake	KO	3 (8), ?	1993-07-25	Oldham, Greater Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13-3	Steve Harvey	KO	1 (8), ?	1993-03-31	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12-3	Arthur Weathers	KO	2 (12), ?	1993-02-17	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England	Won WBC International cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-3	Steve Lewsam	TKO	8 (12), ?	1992-06-04	Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England	Won vacant British cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-3	Nicky Piper	TKO	3 (8), ?	1991-09-04	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	9-3	Yawe Davis	TKO	2 (8), ?	1991-04-01	Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9-2	Terry Dixon	PTS	8	1991-03-07	Festival Hall, Basildon, Essex, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	8-2	Franco Wanyama	PTS	6	1990-04-21	Sint-Amandsberg, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	8-1	Crawford Ashley	TKO	6 (10), ?	1989-10-31	Bowlers Club, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-0	Peter Brown	KO	5 (8), ?	1989-07-11	Frontier Club, Batley, Yorkshire, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-0	Steve Osborne	PTS	8	1989-06-12	Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6-0	Tenko Ernie	KO	4 (6), ?	1989-05-04	Hilton Hotel, Mayfair, London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5-0	Keith Halliwell	TKO	1 (6), 1:03	1989-04-04	Anglo American Sporting Club, Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-0	Sean O'Phoenix	TKO	4 (6), ?	1989-03-07	Anglo American Sporting Club, Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-0	Steve Osborne	PTS	6	1989-02-13	Anglo American Sporting Club, Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-0	Paul Sheldon	PTS	6	1988-10-11	South Staffs Sporting Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-0	Darren McKenna	TKO	2 (6), ?	1988-06-06	Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England	Professional debut.

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Carl Thompson from BoxRec