By Keith Idec
Tony Thompson won’t think twice about traveling to Moscow or facing an opponent that repeatedly has failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs.
The veteran heavyweight contender is more than willing to fight Russia’s Alexander Povetkin on his home turf. Povetkin’s promoter, Andrey Ryabinsky, is looking for an opponent for the former WBA heavyweight champion’s return to the ring, scheduled for July 2, and Thompson wants the assignment.
“It don’t matter, man, because when I fight and win, I win so convincingly, you can’t give it to the other guy,” Thompson told krikya360.com about opposing Povetkin in Russia. “They tried to give it to [Odlanier] Solis [three years ago in Turkey], and they tried to give it to a few other guys. They just can’t. They can’t look in our faces and say, ‘This guy got his ass whipped for this amount of rounds and you didn’t win this fight.’ So I never worry about that. Besides that, I’m going for the knockout. I’m knocking Povetkin the f*** out. Let’s just call it what it is.”
The 37-year-old Povetkin (31-1, 23 KOs) hasn’t been knocked out during his 12-year pro career. His lone loss came against former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs), who floored Povetkin four times on his way to a 12-round, unanimous-decision win in October 2013 in Moscow.
Klitschko knocked out Thompson twice in heavyweight title fights – in the 11th round in July 2008 and in the sixth round in July 2012. Povetkin has knocked out each of his five opponents since Klitschko beat him.
Thompson (40-7, 27 KOs) hasn’t fought since former interim WBA champion Luis Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs, 2 NC) knocked him out in the sixth round 13 months ago in Washington, D.C., Thompson’s hometown.
Regardless, the 45-year-old Thompson has never been all that impressed by Povetkin.
“I never thought he was a superstar-caliber fighter,” Thompson said. “I thought he was a guy that was guided correctly. I thought that he was an awfully good fighter, but not anybody I haven’t seen before. I just think it’s the right type of fight for me at this time.
“It would be great. He might not be ranked in the rankings [due to his PED problems], but he’s one of the top guys out there, looking for a way back into the mainstream. It just makes perfect sense on both ends. He needs a big name, or a reputable name. I don’t know if I’m all that big, but I am decent. I’m decent enough for him to put on his resume to try to get back to where he needs to be. And he’s definitely what I need to put on my resume, to get to where I need to be.”
Povetkin failed a PED test prior to his last fight four months ago, which caused former WBC champion Bermane Stiverne to withdraw from their WBC elimination match the day before they were supposed to fight in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Povetkin knocked out 11th-hour replacement Johann Duhaupus (35-4, 22 KOs) in the sixth round December 17.
Six months earlier, Povetkin’s positive test for meldonium caused the late cancelation of his May 21 fight in Moscow against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs).
An infuriated Wilder successfully sued Povetkin and Ryabinsky for $5 million because Povetkin’s positive PED test cost Wilder his $4.5 million purse. The February ruling has been appealed.
Thompson is unfazed by Povetkin’s PED issues.
“He wouldn’t be the first fighter that I’ve fought that was on PEDs,” Thompson said. “That’s just my belief and my opinion, and nobody’s gonna change that, what I believe about the sport. That’s never mattered. You can’t put PEDs on that chin, baby. I just need that chin, baby. That’s all I need. I’ll put these knuckles on the chin. That works.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.