By Ryan Songalia

Boxing isn't like the NBA, where a first round draft pick is an automatic millionaire. Unless a fighter has an Olympic pedigree and television support, the paydays that sustain comfortable lifestyles only open up after climbing the ladder that seems to have more rungs for some and less for others.

Tony Thompson, 31-1 (19 KO), understands this fact better than most.

Driven by more than just the desire to attain heavyweight gold, the socioeconomic struggles of a viable, yet unknown contender continue to motivate Thompson, even at the age of 36. For Thompson, his hunger is more than a metaphor.

"I'm broke."

Back in Washington, D.C., Thompson has seven kids and a wife whom he supports waiting for him in a home with a broken air conditioner, broken dishwasher, broken dryer and malfunctioning electricity in half of the house.

"I have a family to take care of," Thompson related to BoxingScene.com. "I can't do that unless I beat this guy. I pretty much have no choice but to be composed and ready. He is in my way. I'd do anything for my kids and this is part of anything."

Going into the biggest fight of his life, against unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, most would expect the pressure of fighting on the grand stage might get to Thompson.

But Thompson has been in must-win situations since turning professional at the mature age of 28. Ant defeat would be an ill-timed misfortune.

"I've been in the position since the beginning of my career that if I lose any of my fights, I'm probably out of the game," Thompson said. "I've said for a long time that the boxing high powers or the experts, they don't particularly like my style. I've been fighting with pressure for a long time. I think this is actually less pressure."

Thompson saw less accomplished fighters afforded title opportunities before earning his own right after a fifth round stoppage of Luan Krasniqi in a WBO eliminator last Summer.

Originally from Silver Spring, MD, "The Tiger" has progressed steadily under a cloak of anonymity, racking up wins over more experienced opposition like Vaughn Bean, Yanqui Diaz, Dominick Guinn and Timor Ibragimov. The Klitschko fight will be his major network television debut, on HBO.

The knock on Thompson thus far has been, though victorious, his fights aren't usually aesthetically pleasing. Thompson's awkward, southpaw style is like speed chess with an everything to lose philosophy. This has led the general public and pundits to overlook his credentials.

"There's been some scrutiny," said Thompson, "it just hasn't been fair. It's always been negative scrutiny, like 'This guy don't belong in the ring...' and so forth. I've dealt with that type of scrutiny. I do a great job of just not paying attention, got giving a whole lot of damn about what people say. I just do my job."

Although this is his first title shot, Thompson won't necessarily be heading into uncharted territory. His July 12 showdown will be in the same building, Hamburg, Germany's Color Line Arena, in which he earned his mandatory spot, two days to the year after.

"It's helpful that I've been to Germany before and fought there," Thompson said. "It's a place that I'm familiar with.

"I love the German fans. They're passionate about their fighter, but they've always been respectful and fair to me and my family. I understand that they want their fighter to win. I'm passionate about my Redskins like that."

The 6'5 Thompson understands the challenge he has in front of him with the 6'6 Klitschko, 50-3 (44 KO). The Ukrainian-born "Dr. Steelhammer" has been the closest thing to a recognizable heavyweight champion since the retirement of Lennox Lewis in 2003. Ring Magazine rates Klitschko number 1, while Thompson lingers at 9.

"This is a whole different fight, a whole different person. You have to deal with this entirely different than what you dealt with in the Krasniqi fight."

Klitschko, who in his last fight unified the WBO and IBF belts by besting Sultan Ibragimov, is an entirely different kind of fighter than anything Thompson has seen in his pro or amateur career. Going from Cliff Couser in his previous outing to Klitschko is the equivalent of playing JV ball to shape up to play Paul Pierce in a pickup game.

Though Thompson routinely weighs in at around 245 pounds, he is an average puncher who breaks opponents down through accumulative effect. Klitschko by contrast is noted for his power, as evidenced by his nickname.

One advantage Thompson may hold is in the durability department: Thompson has only been down twice, both occurring in the opening round against Chester Hughes. Thompson stopped Hughes in the same stanza. Klitschko's Achilles' Heel has been his chin, with one of his three stoppage losses coming to another lefty Corrie Sanders.

"It's hard to really get someone to duplicate Wladimir's style because you can't account for the speed or the power until you're in the ring with him. All fighters have weaknesses and I see a variety of things I could probably exploit in terms of footwork and being in great shape.

"I'm going to be mentally strong and that's going to make me use my physical gifts as an advantage."

Thompson had originally hoped to train in his hometown of Washington D.C., but as he put it in the second entry of his journal detailing the road to his title fight, "big wigs couldn't pull off the deal.

"The location felt right and I really wanted it to be a part of the experience and accomplish this journey together."

Thompson instead set up camp in Vero Beach, FL, working out of Buddy McGirt's gym under the guidance of Tom Browner and Barry Hunter. Along with his trainers, conditioning coach BB Hudson and former WBA light welterweight champion Sharmba Mitchell are also sharing living quarters with Thompson on a street beautifully adorned by Spanish Moss.

"Training camp's been going great," Thompson said. "The Florida heat has really helped."

Adding a new element to his training, Thompson paid a visit to the New Orleans facility of Mackie Shilstone, the fitness consultant who assisted Roy Jones Jr., Michael Spinks and Bernard Hopkins in their sternest tests.

There Thompson received a full body assessment, an MRI and saw heart and back specialists.

"He enlightened us to a few things we could better with nutrition," Thompson said of Shilstone. "He also made sure I was totally healthy and ready to go, which I am. I am an older fighter so I have to do a better job of working hard but yet taking care of myself. He did a great job of giving us some clues and some hints."

Just don't call him old.

"I am 36 but I don't feel 36. I definitely think [starting late] preserved me because I'm a big believer that you have to let your body develop before you get into a physical sport like boxing or football. Sometimes I have normal aches and pains that fighters feel, but as far as feeling my age, I don't at all."

Whether you like him or you don't, Thompson hasn't reached this juncture by accident. On Saturday night he awaits an uphill battle he's not supposed to overcome.

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