Thompson Hopes to Make It Count Against Klitschko

Tony Thompson first boxed Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg in 2003. No score was kept, no fans attended and no heavyweight championship was on the line. Klitschko was training for a fight, and Thompson was a sparring partner.

Thompson witnessed all he needed to confirm that Klitschko boxes at the highest level of the heavyweight division, and that Thompson had a ways to go. Five years later, Thompson thinks he has caught up. He'll have his opportunity to prove it today in his heavyweight title challenge in Hamburg. At stake are the World Boxing Organization, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization titles.

"He was so big and imposing and physical and fast and strong," Thompson said last month of the 2003 training session. "I thought it was impossible for a guy that big to be that much stronger than I was at that time. And you know, I pretty much want to thank him for making me better. Because I knew I wanted to beat him."

At the time, the District native was 250 pounds, yet he was not nearly as built as he needed to become. Thompson told longtime co-trainer Tom Browner he needed more of an emphasis on strength training.

"I was nowhere near where I needed to be," Thompson said last month in Vero Beach, Fla., where he was training for today's fight. "It made me focus on not just being a good boxer, but getting your body right."

Thompson reportedly weighed in at 247 pounds yesterday. Last month, Thompson said he would go into the fight at 238 pounds and prove to be a different fighter than he was during the last Klitschko encounter.

"The thing about Klitschko, I've seen him damn near his best," Thompson said. "He's never seen me at my best. From the time I've seen him, he's probably gotten 15, 20 percent better. I've probably gotten 100 percent better."

The 6-foot-5 Thompson (31-1) never has been knocked out, although he's fought few major opponents. Klitschko is 50-3 with 44 knockouts and stands as the premier fighter in the heavyweight class. Yet Thompson's trainers insisted the 6-6 1/2 Klitschko, who reportedly weighed in at 240 pounds, is in for a different kind of bout.

As a southpaw, Thompson punches from a different angle than most boxers. However, he is naturally right-handed, so he delivers his jab from his power hand. He's labeled an "awkward" fighter because he did not grow up boxing, so his nuances are not as organic as someone who learned the skills from a young age.

"He's very difficult to fight," said Anthony Hamm, trainer of Timor Ibragimov, who lost to Thompson in 2007 and trained with him in Vero Beach. "First and foremost, he's a southpaw. He gives his opponents a fit. Because if you can't adjust to it, you'll be in trouble because he keeps you on the end of everything. So me, honestly, I think he'll be the next heavyweight champion of the world."

Ibragimov said no boxer wants to fight Thompson because of his unorthodox style and doubted Klitschko ever has fought someone like Thompson. Ibragimov said the biggest challenge was Thompson's ability to fight in an unbalanced position.

Ibragimov said fighters usually need to be in a set position to deliver a meaningful punch, but Thompson has the ability to punch regardless of his footwork.

"I have a crazy body and it does crazy things sometimes," Thompson said. "For other fighters, that's hard to gauge. It's hard to tell, 'Is he slow, is he fast?' I heard people tell me they don't think I pay attention in the ring. It looks like I'm nonchalant in the ring."

Barry Hunter, Thompson's other trainer, is impressed by Klitschko's size, his right hand and his jab, but Hunter does not think Klitschko is "overwhelming when it comes to skills." He views Klitschko as one-dimensional and questions how Klitschko responds to aggressive fighters.

"I don't think he's insurmountable," Hunter said. "The average heavyweight [Klitschko has] fought has been much shorter than him. It makes it harder for the opponent. Tony is a legitimate heavyweight. . . . He can damn near look at him in the eye."

Whether Klitschko underestimates Thompson might be a deciding factor. Klitschko is a heavy favorite, and when he last saw Thompson in the ring, Thompson was a mere sparring partner. Now, Thompson is a challenger for the heavyweight title.

"I think he's pretty much dismissing me, which is not bad at all for me," Thompson said. "I got 31 other guys who could attest what happens when you dismiss me. "