Tony Thompson vs. Kubrat Pulev

Thompson only beat Price because Price was an idiot. You gotta' love Thompson the person, but he just doesn't strike me as an A-list fighter.

Pulev is fairly proven against good pro opponents, has a ton of amateur experience, and he's very aggressive. I don't see how Thompson has a chance.

 

Thompson.

Pulev doesn't hit hard enough to do anything to Tony. Tony isn't crude, mindless or weak willed as the likes of Walker, Ustinov, Dimitrenko .

Pulev isn't a bad fighter, I just don't think he has the right attributes to beat a Tony Thompson.

 

I have to give an edge to Pulev. Thompson is the best America heavyweight and Wilder has already refused to fight him.........Both Pulev or Thompson would knock Wilder out.............

 

I'm a fan of the Tiger, but I'm edging Pulev in this.

Thompson's best bet to make noise in the division is to face guys with glaring flaws he can expose like Price and Wilder. I wouldn't put a prospect near him. That's not a label that applies to Kubrat Pulev, however. Pulev, while unspectacular, is a solid world-class heavyweight in his prime. I don't think Thompson will look nearly as good in that fight.

 

When it comes to Thompson, I think way too many people underestimate how awkward it is to fight a southpaw...and it is x2 when he is 6'5.

There is a reason Ali actively avoided them. Like Tony said, everything is backwards.

I don't think he would win many, but TT would trouble any of the ATG's in the modern era. He is just a crafty, awkward *******.

Wlad being able to KO him twice is very impressive. TT is just not a ***y name.

 

Zero chance Pulev KOs Thompson.

Pulev , doesn't even have 10 KOs to his name in his entire career and a very low KO rate. Thompson took some awesome shots from the heaviest hitters in the division in Price & Wlad and got up, took the best of them.

Pulev won't even put in a dent in Thompson.

So the question is - can he win a decision AND avoid getting KOd himself?

Thompson has an excellent KO ratio (his last NINE wins have been by KO) and Pulev was wobbled very badly by Travis Walker ( a B/C level US heavyweight).

I think Thompson would take this - and it would be a brave move by Pulev to take the fight :good

 

Agreed! :thumbsup

His biggest problem was coming up in the wrong era, and not getting a break until Wlad was on top. He was president of the "Who needs him?" club until that title got passed on to Guillermo Rigondeaux

 

pulev would beat up thompson pretty good

 

pulev would win

 

in before Pulev's #1 fans, derrick and dinovelt

 

i think pulev on points but could be a close fight

 

I pick Pulev but I totally get this and know it might turn out true. I hope I'm right if it happens though. I like Thompson but I can't help but think the division would benefit from Pulev going on like he's been instead of having Thompson in his forties end up challenging again when he's been stopped twice doing it already. Honestly I'd be annoyed if Thompson derailed another one and got a third title shot whether I like him or not.

 

This is so twisted to me. Thompson is almost always an accumulation puncher and he's said himself he's not a big puncher at all. Most of those kayos didn't come over particularly durable guys either. Plus Pulev doesn't have ten kayos to his name but he's had not even half the fights Thompson's had. I seriously doubt there's much difference in their punching power. Pulev wasn't wobbled "very badly" from Walker that I remember? His chin is solid. When was this supposedly? And even if he was and I just don't remember it Walker's an enormous puncher who rocked the crap out of a lot of fighters with solid chins. Both guys have strong chins, neither guy has a great punch. I wouldn't worry about Pulev getting knocked out at all.

 

Tony is very good considering he is over 40, but Pulev is just another league.