Why did Chris Eubank step up to Cruiser to fight Thompson?

I guess it was the only way he could have won a 3rd world title. After the losses he suffered, he was going to find it hard to get a world title fight in the more popular divisions.

 

Obviously he thought he was a crude champion and would beat him.

Like others before him found out to their cost, he was not.

 

Remember Chris having a hell of a swollen eye after it! Thompson was a hard ******* no doubt about it, very under rated I feel like!

 

Wasn't RJJ undisputed LHW champ at the time?

That's why!

 

He was due to fight Mark Prince for the WBO interim title at light heavy on the sheffield arena bill that he fought Calzaghe on at 3 days notice or whatever it was. Thompson was undoubtably world class at cruiserweight and at the time Eubanks move up to Cruiser was seen by most as madness. However in the first fight he suprised all by using his speed and had Thompson out on his feet a couple of times..... He put in a game performance but Thompson was a little too big for him and his physicalities led to him outlasting Eubank after Chris' good start.

 

Michelzewski was the WBO champion...

 

I remember Thompson in first fight was on ***** street. After fight Thompson said he was acting...but i think Chris hurt him as it wasn't hard to rock Carl...it just hard to knock him out. Two fantastic fights and i remember the doctor stopping the second fight and Eubank turning to the camera and saying something about the stoppage in a classy Eubank way.

 

Those 2 fights turned Chris into Frank Bruno mark II more or less. Weird the way the British public work.

 

Probably because it was the biggest payday and biggest fight he could get at the time, given the fact that he was widley seen as washed up.

 

It was his last chance, Thompson was perhaps seen as being a little fragile and he imagined he would outclass Thompson.
However, Thompson was more durable, had better power and an iron will to win. His stamina was without question.

Thompson should have been much more popular than he was. If Haye does make it really big, he's already a good two division champion, then it makes Thompson's achievements look even better.

Watch the Ezra Sellars fight! That fight doesn't mean Thompson had a weak chin, it meant he could get up from a good shot. Sellars was a world class puncher.

 

Thompson versus DM would have been a great fight to watch.