By Cliff Rold - At the very least, it was better than the Sultan Ibragimov win in his last fight.
Leaps and bounds better.
In fact, the only similarity between the two bouts will be found in the record books which again will read that 32-year old IBF and WBO Heavyweight titlist Wladimir Klitschko (51-3, 45 KO) won and in dominant fashion. While 36-year old Tony Thompson (31-2, 19 KO) of Washington, DC was, in the words of Klitschko, “unbelievably determined,?it was the champion who would prove his own determination working through a competitive first six rounds to control the second half of the fight, walking his man down en route to an eleventh round knockout at Color Line Arena in Altona, Hamburg, Germany on Saturday night.
He also further walked down any argument against his being the one true Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Klitschko weighed in for the bout at a cut and ready 241 lbs. Thompson came in slightly heavier at 247 ?
Thompson started first, lobbing his southpaw right jab, but was also the first man tagged when a big Klitschko lead right broke through. At the mid-point of the round, the two traded jabs before Thompson landed a big left that seemed to stun the titlist, forcing him to hold. Klitschko responded seconds later with his own right but threw little from there. In the final minute, Klitschko continued to clinch and Thompson took his chances and digging into the body where there was room. A final left from Thompson just missed along the ropes before the Ukrainian pulled him into another clinch on the way to the bell. [details]
Leaps and bounds better.
In fact, the only similarity between the two bouts will be found in the record books which again will read that 32-year old IBF and WBO Heavyweight titlist Wladimir Klitschko (51-3, 45 KO) won and in dominant fashion. While 36-year old Tony Thompson (31-2, 19 KO) of Washington, DC was, in the words of Klitschko, “unbelievably determined,?it was the champion who would prove his own determination working through a competitive first six rounds to control the second half of the fight, walking his man down en route to an eleventh round knockout at Color Line Arena in Altona, Hamburg, Germany on Saturday night.
He also further walked down any argument against his being the one true Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Klitschko weighed in for the bout at a cut and ready 241 lbs. Thompson came in slightly heavier at 247 ?
Thompson started first, lobbing his southpaw right jab, but was also the first man tagged when a big Klitschko lead right broke through. At the mid-point of the round, the two traded jabs before Thompson landed a big left that seemed to stun the titlist, forcing him to hold. Klitschko responded seconds later with his own right but threw little from there. In the final minute, Klitschko continued to clinch and Thompson took his chances and digging into the body where there was room. A final left from Thompson just missed along the ropes before the Ukrainian pulled him into another clinch on the way to the bell. [details]
Comment