Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tony Thompson: Who will win?

[duffgun]

We're going to see an angrier, more ambitious Wlad Klitschko next time.

I don't know what happened Saturday night, but he didn't have the concentration or energy from the opening bell. That was not the same guy we saw last year. He didn't come out like he had something to prove.

Thompson is ok but i dont think he could beat wlad he might be able to win a few rounds.

[Derranged]

Tony Thompson is a real, defensive southpaw heavyweight, not a bloated cruiserweight like Ibragimov.
Not that Ibragimov was bad but there was no chance of him countering Wladimir except with great timing, which he did not have. Atleast Thompson has size but the question is, does he have the skills or the speed?

IMO Thompson will be knocked out mid/late but it could go the distance, depending on how well he can take Wladimir's punches (because eventually they will land).
Klitschko's powerful jabs and rights could go straight through Thompson's high guard.

Eh, he looks kinda slow and easy to hit, and not too powerful.....

[TheGreatA]

I don't think Thompson is easy to hit, he blocks lots of shots like Eddie Chambers. But the problem is, against Wlad he won't be able to block Wladimir's straight, powerful punches that will go right through his guard.

Thompson is quite slow (but not that slow for a 36 year old, 6'5, 240 lb man) and not a very powerful puncher.
His advantages are that he is a southpaw, he goes to the body, punches in combinations and throws a decent amount of punches for a heavyweight.

I think it would be good to have Thompson fight Povetkin so we will eliminate one contender for Wlad's title.

[The Hammer]

Tony Thompson is the best American-born heavyweight at present.

Maybe some of the younger ones like Johnson, Scott, Abell, Chambers, Arreola, Chapman and Witherspoon will improve, and not end up as overage "prospects" like Donnell Holmes and Tye Fields.

[Leo Pradun]

I think the Povetkin fight might happen earlier, Wlad did say hes ready to fight as soon as possible so I he might fight 2 more times this year. I heard they were trying to get a big fight card with wlad and vitali on it in germany in the fall so i dont know

[Pugilistic™]

wlad by tko

[Consiglieri]

Certainly, nobody in their right mind who follows the heavyweights would pick Thompson over Klitschko. Klitschko has a far more proven track record.

But there have been surprises before.

I think Thompson has been overlooked a lot for title fights and deserves a shot.

[The Hammer]

Good to see the fight between Wlad and Thompson is now official: July 12 at the Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany. It will be televised by HBO on that Saturday afternoon.

The IBF decided to give Wladimir until Nov 30 to fight Povetkin (over 4 1/2 months after this fight). So it is very likely he'll fight three times this year.

[Ironside]

wlad by tko

Nice sig, I'm stealin it.

[Johnny Rebel]

Wladimir by KO in seven.