By Lee Collier
Mark Thompson gets his chance to put himself into the title mix in Altrincham on Friday night when he faces Scotland’s former British champion Kevin McIntyre in a British title eliminator. Thompson’s last outing was a disappointment as his Commonwealth title eliminator was cancelled the day before the fight after opponent James Armah pulled out. Instead Thompson faced Danny Parkinson who lasted less than a round against the big punching Heywood-based boxer.
Thompson has managed to shrug off the disappointment of his cancelled eliminator and is looking forward to facing the dangerous McIntyre. “Everything is going well although it’s been hard work with the weather and all that but I have pulled through and everything’s gone well,” claimed Thompson.
Having trained last time out for ten rounds Thompson feels ready for the long distance fights now. “The distance and fitness and isn’t a problem as I know I can do it but if I catch McIntyre right then it won’t be going the distance,” he said.
“The Parkinson fight has just kept me going to be truthful,” explained Thompson. “I knew I was on form last time so after the fight I just took a week off and then got straight back into training and kept in shape.”
A fight with champion Kell Brook could await the winner although Brook has a WBO title eliminator coming up. Regardless of who stands in the way, Thompson has made his intention of winning the Lonsdale belt clear.
“I would love to win the Lonsdale belt outright but it depends on what comes up,” enthused Thompson. “If I get offered another title and I have to hand the British title down then that’s what I’ll have to do.”
Thompson is relatively happy with his last six months believing his career is going in the right direction now. “The Hatton’s have kept me busy,” stated Thompson. “The last fight my opponent dropped out very late and they still found an opponent for me. They have now got me a British eliminator and everything seems to be coming together now. The last twelve months everything has just come together and I am ready for the chance I am being given, and I am ready to take it.”
Whilst Thompson is after the Lonsdale belt, he harbours ambitions to go beyond British level and believes he has the ability to reach that stage. “I think I can go all the way, if I keep the hunger and keep training the way I do,” stated Thompson.
“I have the heart and I proved that when Vincent Vuma dropped me. I took that fight at 6 day’s notice, stepped up in weight and put up one hell of a fight. It just proves what I am capable of in my weight division.
“I feel I could carry my power up to any level, I may be losing a fight by a few rounds but I will always have the punch to equalise things and you can’t take it away from me. I can take one hell of a shot and with my punching power I always have the ability to make fights even,” declared Thompson.
Sky Sports 1 and HD1 will televise the Hatton Promotions bill from 10pm on Friday night.
