CRUISERWEIGHT

CARL THOMPSON
IBO cruiserweight champion
Billed: Bolton
Fights: 40, Won 34, Lost 6

At the grand old age of 42, Carl "The Cat" Thompson has seen it and done it all in a remarkable 17-year career. Arguably the most exciting fighter in Britain, Carl has been involved in many unforgettable battles over the years.

After romping to British and European title successes in the early ninety's, Thompson claimed the WBO world crown at the second attempt, outscoring Ralf Rocchigiani in Hannover following a masterful performance on away soil.

But it was Carl's tremendous back-to-back triumphs over Chris Eubank that really established him as a fearless warrior possessing an unerring will to win.
After recovering from a fifth round knockdown, Carl stormed back to unanimously outpoint Eubank in Manchester in April 1998. Proving this was no fluke, Thompson repeated the trick three months later, this time stopping Eubank in round ten in another brutal affair.

Carl's reign came to end though in March 1999 when he was controversially halted in five rounds by Johnny Nelson. Desperate for a rematch, Carl worked hard to regain the British and European cruiserweight titles before claiming the IBO title with a crushing victory over Uriah Grant.

Thompson was once more written off though following his up-and-down classic with Ezra Sellers in November 2001, a contest which saw Thompson down four times and Sellers two before Thompson was finally knocked out in the fourth.

It looked like the end but this proud gladiator returned 19 months later.
Following three routine comeback assignments, Thompson challenged South Africa's Sebastian Rothmann for the IBO crown. The outstanding Rothmann sent Thompson to the floor in the fourth but "The Cat" returned the compliment a round later. However, the class of Rothmann began to take over and the weary Thompson looked headed towards a gallant defeat as he shipped increasing amounts of punishment.

But just as referee Richie Davies looked poised to step in, Thompson uncorked a tremendous right hand that almost decapitated the stunned Rothmann to seal one of the most dramatic victories ever witnessed in a British ring.

Thompson was paired with rising star and former amateur sensation David Haye in his first defence last September. Written off once more, Thompson yet again defied the critics by withstanding a sensational opening burst to stop a weary Haye in five rounds.

After winning a 10 rounder in November 2005, the CAT called it a day.