By Carlos Boogs
Heavyweight veteran Tony Thompson (40-6, 27KOs) is hungry to get a fight with WBA interim-champion Luis Ortiz (24-0, 21KOs). He was shocked to hear that Ortiz is going to fight Eastern Euro veteran Alexander Dimitrenko (38-2, 24KOs) on March 5th. Dimitrenko has won six in a row since getting knocked out by Kubrat Pulev in 2012, but most of those wins (if not all) came against low tier opposition.
Thompson is coming off a decision loss to Malik Scott, who survived a ninth round knockdown and a later rally to pull out the win. Prior to that fight, Thompson stopped Ortiz's countryman, Olympic gold medal winner Odlanier Solis, in eight rounds.
BoxingScene caught up with Thompson to discuss his thoughts on Ortiz:
Thompson: I see they ain't officially find an opponent for Luis Ortiz yet. I'd be happy to whoop that a** and expose him for what he is - an HBO hype job.
BoxingScene.com: It appears that Ortiz is heading into a fight with Alexander Dimitrenko.
Thompson: Man, is that the guy that passed out before a fight [prior to 2011 bout with Albert Sosnowski]? What's he going to do to top that, s**t himself before a fight on HBO? That fight would be a joke, I hope they don't do it. Don't worry, if Dimitrenko faints after signing the contract, I'll be happy to step in.
BoxingScene.com: Ortiz looked pretty good against Bryant Jennings. I guess he didn't impress Tony Thompson?
Thompson: Man, look at his resume. His best wins came against two cruiserweights. Of course a man 6-4 240lbs is going to look good against guys like Jennings and Kayode. They OK fighters, but they just way too small. Ortiz hasn't beaten anyone.
BoxingScene.com: So you think your size would be an advantage against Ortiz?
Thompson: Of course, I'm 6'5 260lbs. I would put a whoopin' on that fool that would leave HBO and Golden Boy scratching they heads. I'm telling you, Ortiz is as ordinary as his paper thin resume. I will take him into rounds 8-9-10-11 and drown him in the deep end. He's not ready. We'll see how he looks against a guy bigger than him who know how to fight. I'm telling you, he ain't s**t.
BoxingScene.com: Do you think age would be a factor in a possible bout against Ortiz?
Thompson: Yeah, maybe for him. I'm not really buying that 36 thing. Dude look older than me! Bottom line is, this fool is saying he can't find no opponents. I'm here to say, I'm right here! I live 15 minutes away from the DC Armory. That's my backyard. No way this fool coming to my backyard sayin' noone want to fight him. I can roll out of bed out of a dead sleep and knock this sucka out!
BoxingScene.com: Tony, you are always entertaining. Anything you want to say in closing?
Thompson: I'm not going nowhere. There is a reason Boxrec still got me at #14. Maybe I can't chase a guy 10 years younger than me around the ring anymore, but if anyone in the world is stupid enough to stand in front of me and trade, they getting KTFO. And that includes this big oaf King Kong. If he's King Kong, I'm Godzilla. And everyone know Godzilla beat Kong's a**.
