In how many heavyweight era's would Tony Thompson be a champion?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Russell, Feb 23, 2018.


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  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Thompson was a 6'5 southpaw with an 81' inch reach and routinely weighed in at anywhere from 230-260 pounds throughout his career, in shape. He punched well, in often times awkward combinations, to both the body and head. He had a good deal of savvy and skill for a heavyweight, and was a hard fighter to "figure out" in the ring. He slowed down greatly as he aged and relied more on his physical attributes, experience, and awkwardness to win him fights, though he possessed an impressive work rate in his earlier career fights such as his upset win over Krasniqi.

    He never managed to become a champion in his own era, despite this supposedly being a particularly weak era for heavyweights, even though he campaigned near the top of the heavyweight scene for several years noting up quality wins on a consistent basis.

    What eras do see this super heavyweight with skills, a southpaw to boot, pick up a strap? Does his size alone see him nab a belt in certain eras?
     
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Didn't he outland Wladimir in their first fight? Or did I dream that?

    Look, there are some pretty horrible fighters who have held belts, so yeah. Yes is the quick answer. He probably could have been lineal even. But what I like to do thinking about these things is ask did he beat fighters who were capable of holding belts? And I think the answer is not really. The guys he beat who were belt type guys were Wladimir, arguably Pulev, Takam and Ortiz. All these guys beat him. So he's probably not among the very first guys you think of when you think of this question.

    I'll always love him for that post-Price interview. And I liked him as a fighter.
     
    McGrain, Feb 23, 2018
    McGrain, Feb 23, 2018
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  3. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I had money on him in both Price bouts, and both bouts against Solis as well. Hand to God. So I kind of like the guy myself. :risas3: His post fight interviews with the stuff of legend.

    I don't fault him for losing to primed guys like Takam/Pulev/Ortiz when he was well into his 40's with a bum knee, 30 something extra pounds on his frame, and a supposed blood pressure condition.

    I know we didn't get to see him matched against very many other top tier heavyweight prospects of the time... but I'm really talking about the younger Thompson here, who was really almost something of a pressure fighter. Chop ten years off where he was when he fought them and I see no reason he couldn't possibly flip the result on all three of those losses that you mentioned.

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    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    No neither would I...but it's helpful when extending a belt to a guy in another era if he beat some belt types in his own. The best Thompson has are - Krasniqi? The other Ibragimov? Who am I missing? It's pretty weak stuff. Maybe Solis?

    It's harsh, but if you don't beat a belt type you probably aren't a belt type. I agree the spread isn't great for him though.
     
    McGrain, Feb 23, 2018
    McGrain, Feb 23, 2018
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  5. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I don't buy the theory that all things are equal across the history of this division. There is a reason we don't see a Tommy Burns (or even a Marciano) type champion any longer. I think Thompson's athletic abilities, savvy and skill would give him a chance against some champs that many hold sacrosanct.
     
    Seamus, Feb 23, 2018
    Seamus, Feb 23, 2018
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  6. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I hear you. His resume isn't a sterling one. But, beating Ibragimov's brother was enough to get well matched and mostly manufactured fighter like Seth Mitchell bigger exposure and bigger names. Remember when Mitchell turned that trick?

    I look at a guy like Thompson and just shake my head that he didn't become a more established name with access to good match making until so late in his career.

    Personally, I think he's really unfortunate to of come up against Wladimir twice like he did, in those make or break fights. Wladimir is now readily becoming a fighter that people don't mind putting in their top ten list of all time great heavyweights. Says it all, basically.
     
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
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  7. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I agree with the sentiment, to be honest.
     
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
    Russell, Feb 23, 2018
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  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Early 2000s—several guys he potentially beats like Ruiz, Rahman, Maskaev, or even Byrd
    90s—Seldon, Akinwande, Old Foreman, Briggs etc. could lose. He’d have a great window to become lineal given that Douglas, Old Foreman, and Briggs held that crown.
    80s—Bonecrusher, Berbick, Weaver and one or two others could lose
    70s—Spinks and Old Ali...
    He was a victim of circumstance since he didn’t get any cracks at weak titlists.
     
    NoNeck, Feb 23, 2018
    NoNeck, Feb 23, 2018
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  9. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    None. Tony Thompson sucks. And Odlanier Solis and David Price were exposed when they lost to him, because Thompson isn't very good.
     
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
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  10. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He wasn't a victim of anything. He wasn't very good. Luckily, the division never got "so bad" that freaking Tony Thompson became a champ.
     
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    It’s weird how he stopped Krasniqi who nearly won a title.
     
    NoNeck, Feb 23, 2018
    NoNeck, Feb 23, 2018
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  12. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Krasniqi "nearly won" the title? He got knocked out in nine by Brewster. And Brewster wasn't one of the better champions in history.

    That's like saying James J. Beattie could've been champ because he stopped Tom McNeeley, and McNeeley "nearly" won the title when he floored Patterson.

    Tony Thompson was a serviceable heavyweight. He was a "gatekeeper." The guys who beat him became contenders. The guys who didn't were overhyped. That's what a gatekeeper does.

    Despite a half dozen belts and some **** poor champions, the division never got SO bad that Tony Thompson won a title.
     
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
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  13. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Charles Martin won a vacant belt against another nobody when the other nobody tore his ACL in the third round. And Martin held his belt for about two months and a round and a half. Brilliant "champ."

    Yeah, Tony Thompson could probably win a vacant title fight if he fought NO REIGNING CHAMPS in history and his equally underserving opponent tore his ACL on accident.

    Again, glad it didn't happen.

    I was watching Tony Thompson back when he competed in the Cedric Kushner tournament (which he lost to Maurice Harris when Harris still had hair). I know all about Tony Thompson. He was a gatekeeper. Nothing more.

    IF your argument is "MAYBE he could've been another Charles Martin," more power to you.

    That's about right. But the sport didn't need two of them.
     
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
    Dubblechin, Feb 23, 2018
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  14. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    You guys are mentioning some seriously mediocre "champs". Charles Martin? Frans Botha?
    Maybe a Trans-Continental Interim WWE Temporary Catchweight title, or something like that,
    sure, but a Holyfield, or Bowe? It's not happening.
     
    FrankinDallas, Feb 23, 2018
    FrankinDallas, Feb 23, 2018
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  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This is my line of thinking for the most part, as you know.

    My gut always told me that Thompson was better than his record suggested though.
     
    janitor, Feb 23, 2018
    janitor, Feb 23, 2018
    #15
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