Is Tony “The Tiger” Thompson underrated?

Thompson started boxing seriously at 26, with some limited experience as a teenager. He had an amateur record of 13-3 and turned pro in 2000 at 28. He started his pro career with four consecutive decision wins (before losing to 6-0 Kirkland by UD4 in his 5th fight), including a majority decision over a 2-0 opponent on his debut and rematched his 3rd opponent (a 7-8-3 journeyman) in his 12th fight. 16 months into his pro career at 9-1, 29 year old Thompson got off the canvas twice to stop 9-0 Hughes in the 1st round.

Prior to his 1st Wlad title challenge in Europe at 31-1 and 36, Thompson (who sparred Wlad in 2003) went 2-1 (upsetting J. Williams and Jefferson) in the unofficial eight man Thunderbox tournament, beat Lawrence (TKO7, only stopped by Thompson over a 19 fight run), Gaines (TKO8, Gaines’ only stoppage defeat in his 23 fight career), 8-0 Diaz (Diaz was deducted two points for low blows), former Moorer/Holyfield title challenger Bean, Guinn (never stopped in 52 pro fights but warned by the referee that he was considering stopping him against Thompson after 11), T. Ibragimov and Olympic bronze medallist, former Brewster title challenger Krasniqi (TKO5) in a final eliminator in Germany.

Thompson was the highest ranked and most formidable American heavyweight when he challenged Wlad in 2008. He gave Wlad arguably his toughest fight between 2005 Peter and Fury: Compubox had Thompson landing 150/408 to Wlad’s 121/411, though “heavyweightpunchcounts” had Wlad landing 69 to Thompson’s 55. The consensus of the judges and fan consensus on Boxrec was that Thompson won 2 of the 10 completed rounds, before being KO’d in the 11th.

Thompson came back to reel off five consecutive dominant stoppage wins (including against C. Witherspoon and avenging his loss to Harris, incurred in the Thunderbox final 8.5 years prior) and was made Wlad’s IBF mandatory. 5th Ring ranked former Wlad title challenger Chambers (a regular sparring partner of Thompson’s) pulled out of his final eliminator with the just-turned 40 year old Thompson, claiming injury 9 days out on October 19th, still unable or unwilling to fight after it was rescheduled for December 17th. Thompson fought Wlad for a 2nd time in the following July but the rematch was far less competitive, with Thompson only landing 25 punches (Compubox) and being dispatched in the 6th round.

Thompson’s 2nd KO defeat to Wlad did not incapacitate or discourage him but he was no longer seen as high risk for name heavyweights, seemingly well past his best. He returned 7 months post-Wlad 2 at 41 (21 months removed from his last win), travelling to Liverpool to take on the heavily hyped prospect, 15-0, 6’8, 250 lbs KO artist, Olympic bronze medallist, hometown hero and 1/10 favourite Price. Thompson KO’d Price with one punch in the 2nd round and stopped Price in the immediate rematch, getting off the canvas in the 2nd round to win in the 5th.

Thompson’s penultimate win came against 8th Ring ranked Olympic gold medallist and former Vitali title challenger Solis in Turkey. A 42 year old, 267 lbs Thompson broke the Compubox record for punches thrown in a heavyweight fight (previously held by Bostice), throwing 1092 on route to winning a 12 round split decision (Thompson was ranked 5th by TBRB in the aftermath of this win). He followed that up 11 months later by making Solis quit after 8 rounds. Over his seven fight run from Wlad 2 to Solis 2, Thompson was the away fighter every time, losing to Pulev and Takam by 9-3 margins on the cards. Thompson was only stopped by Wlad in his first 49 post-amateur fights (prior to facing the heavily avoided Ortiz in his final fight at 44) and was never stopped inside 5 rounds as a pro.

I’d estimate that at least 10 of Thompson’s 40 pro wins were upset victories: the highest proportion I’m aware of among boxers. He was also stylistically unprecedented: a high level southpaw SHW.

"God gives everybody a gift, and one of my gifts is that I read people. I also feel that I have a great gift for inflicting pain on a motherf***er. It’s been like that since I was a kid. Fights that I probably shouldn’t have won, I won. I’m still doing the same thing.” - Thompson, 2013

"Among all the boxers who Wladimir faced once he became the champion of the world for the second time (including Brock, S. Ibragimov, Chagaev, Chambers and Haye), the most difficult opponent was Tony Thompson. We tried four different strategies in-fight until we found the correct method. Thompson was much tougher than Wladimir's other opponents because of his size, his southpaw stance and his extreme relaxation in battle. He was the only boxer where Wladimir's jab didn't work, it's very difficult to hurt him. He was very hard to hit, Tony was watching Wladimir's right hand all night. When you hit him with right hands he rolls his body back where you don't really get the full impact. He takes the steam out of the punch and then he walks you down, and he's a little awkward the way he punches, just awkward enough to get you out of your rhythm." - Emanuel Steward, 2012

 

"I’d estimate that at least 10 of Thompson’s 40 pro wins were upset victories: the highest proportion I’m aware of among boxers."

Thompson was massively underrated, hence he's statistically a phenomenal upset merchant.

He was also stylistically unprecedented: there were no good southpaw SHW's prior to Thompson. Sanders was the closest and we know what happened there.

The fact that Thompson and Chagaev are currently even in my poll (8-8) is more evidence for Thompson being underrated, seeing how completely ineffectual Chagaev was against Wlad relative to 2008 Thompson:

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/choose-five-wlad-victims-to-beat-prime-joshua.713346/

 

Old Vitali didn't toy with Chisora, who gave him the 3rd toughest and most competitive fight of his career. Fury also has zero quit in him, let alone against a blown-up super-middleweight.

 

"slight step above"

Austin barely landed a punch on Wlad and got sparked in 1.5 rounds

Thompson landed a similar number of punches to Wlad, went 10.5 rounds and was regarded by Steward as a stronger fighter than Sultan or Haye

Other interesting mutual opponents: Solis, Lawrence, Beck and Lincoln Luke

Solis beat Austin by DQ10, Solis lost to Thompson by SD12 and RTD8

Lawrence drew with Austin over 10, Lawrence got stopped by Thompson in 7

Beck lost to Austin by SD12, Beck got stopped by Thompson in 4

Luke KO'd Austin in 2, Luke got stopped by Thompson in 2