Was Carl Thompson the most entertaining Cruiserweight of all time ?

It does feel like he doesn't get enough credit for producing:

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He was in the 190lber era? I think. Carl was epic and apparently a bit crazy, albeit a gentleman not unlike Eubank Snr - juiced up looking freak of nature was Thompson. I’ve read and heard him say that he switched to Muay Thai for a bit because he couldn’t hack it in boxing early on, he said something to the effect of “What am I doing, this isn’t easier, it’s just different” and that he didn’t appreciate leg kicks, elbows and the pain that came with that sort of training. But yes, I think he might be underrated what he did after injuring his shoulder is shocking they’re usually never the same - Carl would’ve been awesome in any era of even past heavyweights up to the 70s… in the late 80s they were just starting to get too big, super exciting fighter though. Frazier, Ellis, Foreman, Marciano, Weaver, Chuvalo, Quarry, Holyfield, Folley, Patterson, Satterfield would all be absolute tear up, blood and guts affairs I reckon. If you ever get the opportunity to see Dunstan vs “Cat” Thompson that fight sort of incases his way of fighting AWESOME bout, mentally such a hardy guy, punched like the reaper. Rainy day here… looks like I’m watching Thompson now instead of training, you really bent my arm…

 

He certainly was. Carl Thompson was pretty much the Gatti version of Cruiserweight. Ezra Sellers, who knocked out Thompson in a barnburner, was also an exciting CW who was rarely in a bad fight.

When it comes to Cruiserweights who were consistently entertaining to watch Carl Thompson, Ezra Sellers, Vassiliy Jirov, Evander Holyfield are guys that fit that bill.

 

Oh easily. Maybe in the bracket of most entertaining fighters, in general, ever. His fights vs Ezra Sellers and Sebastian Rothmann are absolutely crazy.
I remember watching the Rothmann one at the time and I was jumping up and down from my seat. The dude could just soak up insane punishment and keep coming forward. Probably a little underappreciated these days

 

Don't limit him to his weight class, he's up there with Matthew Saad Muhammad, Akira Yaegashi, Bobby Chacon, Arturo Gatti, Erik Morales etc.

 

Great thread. Thompson vs Rothmann is one of my favourite fights, a brilliant ding song with a great KO finish. Carl was basically our version of Saad Muhammad. Not in the class of Matt but just as enjoyable to watch.

 

Agreed with this opinion.Fun to watch Thompson fights.

 

Absolutely - broke my heart when he made Eubank's eye look pregnant.

 

This was the fight that made me like Eubank*, tremendous effort. Always knew he had a strong chin, but it was Tungsten that night.



* Not that I disliked him, particularly. I was just a Nigel man.

 

Man Ezra Sellers has a rare sort of punch. He was the Shavers of the 190lber division.

 

Absolute monster, really a guy who earned being called dangerous every second of the round his possum playing, heart, power and bag of tricks… he would’ve been a guy that could give you a heart attack moving around in the ring with him, I don’t think I’d follow up if I hurt him I’d be scared of what came back.

 

Same, I was a Nigel guy as well. I loved Nigel's brash attitude, loved Watson's skillset, but really respected Eubank's understanding of what he needed to do to sell tickets.

Eubank entertained me but I wasn't an advocate. This fight tho - a true hark back to go hard or go home. Many a man would've not taken the punishment that he did but he didn't grumble, didn't look for the easiest out. He put it all on the line and when he says things like he took his beatings like a man, it 100% resonates with anyone that's had to fight for glory.

 

just rewatched his fight with Sellers due to this thread. Man what a fight.