Carl Thompson

[Lenny Cravats]

One of my favourite fighters, not sure he was ever in a dull fight.

There’s a great interview with him on YouTube where he looks back on his career, will have to see if I can find it again.

Yes, he was.

Unfortunately, it was the only time I saw him live... It was his last fight, I think on the Hatton - Maussa undercard.
Won on points in an absolute snoozer.

Loved watching Carl fight (apart from that one, though). I watched the Haye - Thompson fight on the big screen in Exchange Square in Manchester. Absolutely mental. The class they both showed after that fight was almost as memorable as the action itself.

Wasn't it on delayed on a Saturday afternoon on BBC 1.

Yeah, that's right. It was Saturday afternoon I was watching it!

[rob h]

Thompson was a warrior. No quit in him and always dangerous.

I liked Benn a lot as a kid, but watching some of his fights back now I feel he was overrated.

I do still love watching the Barkley fight though, just for the pure violence of it really and given that Barkley was ex gangbanger ect. No fucks given by Benn in that fight.

[olij999]

Always loved watching Carl's fights. Did things the proper way - won the EBU title away in Italy, first defence away in France, won WBO title away in Germany. No favours given to Carl. Loved the madness of many of his fights - such bravery and endurance fighting through those wobbly patches while relying on his own power and skill to turn things round. Hope he is keeping well.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yes, he was.

Unfortunately, it was the only time I saw him live... It was his last fight, I think on the Hatton - Maussa undercard.
Won on points in an absolute snoozer.

Loved watching Carl fight (apart from that one, though). I watched the Haye - Thompson fight on the big screen in Exchange Square in Manchester. Absolutely mental. The class they both showed after that fight was almost as memorable as the action itself.

Wasn't it on delayed on a Saturday afternoon on BBC 1.

Yeah, that's right. It was Saturday afternoon I was watching it!

Was that fight too - Haye thought he had carl finished and went hell for leather, and then started blowing out of his arse.

I thought Haye showed a lot of bravery, still remember him waving Carl in, hoping to lead him on to something.

Thompson had some great wins - it's a shame his fight with Nelson was stopped so quickly, because he was in with way bigger punchers than Nelson and rallied to win.

[chinarich]

This is from a couple of years ago but Thompson seems in a good place, I hope the gym survived Covid lockdowns…

[big lennox]

He was as tough as old boots. I was at the Ponds Forge Leisure Centre when he boxed Sebastian Rothman. That was a frightening fight and frightening ko. I will never forget it.

Whilst it is arguable the referee stopped his fight against Nelson too early, I still think Nelson would have won. The wrong style for Thonpson. His fight against the late Ezra Sellers was epic as well.

He seems really content and a decent human being. He can be very proud of what was a superb career.

[JamesPhilips]

I remember he beat Nicky Piper. Not sure what the matchmaker was thinking. Piper was also matched with other Maurice hard Core in his 5th fight or something…. Guess allegedly or whoever Piper was with hadn’t learnt about feeding prospects stiffs at the time. I remember Piper being pushed hard from early days

[littlepug]

Thompson was a warrior. No quit in him and always dangerous.

I liked Benn a lot as a kid, but watching some of his fights back now I feel he was overrated.

I do still love watching the Barkley fight though, just for the pure violence of it really and given that Barkley was ex gangbanger ect. No fucks given by Benn in that fight.

Not sure he was overrated, he wasn’t elite but definitely a world class operator, knocking over Barkley who still had 2 further world titles to yet win, taking the title off Galvano in Italy, being unlucky in most eyes to get a draw against a still unbeaten Eubank, taming a young lion in Wharton over 12 in a mature performance and going to war and coming out on top v the Gman are not easy tasks, he wasn’t always pleasing on the eye but he knew enough to get the job done, the fact he didn’t cross swords with Jones and Toney gets mentioned but shouldn’t detract from what he did do.

[Controversial]

Loved watching him fight. He was actually two years older than his claimed age too, so 42 when he beat Haye.

[handsofstone]

I remember he beat Nicky Piper. Not sure what the matchmaker was thinking. Piper was also matched with other Maurice hard Core in his 5th fight or something…. Guess allegedly or whoever Piper was with hadn’t learnt about feeding prospects stiffs at the time. I remember Piper being pushed hard from early days

I watched the Piper fight recently, he was undefeated coming in, Thompson dropped him heavy but ref far too quick to wave it off

[orbtastic]

I think he outweighed Piper fairly handily, even Piper said he was surprised on fight night.

The fight with Crawford Ashley was interesting whilst it lasted, turned away holding his eye saying he'd been thumbed. I don't think Ashley was into dirty tricks but he got his jab going well, decent puncher too.

i was ringside for that loss to Nelson, I felt it was far too quick for my liking and their bating of Thompson was pretty classless beforehand (there were 4 belts, why pick on him and follow him round and then make him look bad on live TV) but stylistically he probably would have lost to Nelson but you never knew with Carl, he may well have ridden the storm and turned the heat up in the later rounds.

[handsofstone]

You wonder in this day and age of social media if Thompson would get slated for quitting in the first Rocchigiani fight with a dislocated shoulder, 11th round ahead on cards to become World champion, he looked in agony, he was lying on canvas after fight trying to get it popped back in

[fizzjambo]

Is he the most exciting fighter ever from these shores? I say yes and imo has one of the biggest hearts I've seen, he gets hurt and comes back, gets on top then gets stopped on a regular basis, I've been watching a lot of him lately

Eubank X2
Nelson
Haye
Sellers
Piper
Rocchigiani x2
Rothmann


All wars apart from maybe Rocchigiani rematch, if anyone's got a spare 10 minutes check out the Terry Dunstan highlights on YouTube, pure insanity

Along with Danny Williams my favourite fighter of all time. Rock hard, brave as hell and brought it every time. Under rated skills as well. The Rothmann ending still puts the hairs up on the back of my neck now. Was on the good old BBC as well rather than any of the corporate shills running the game these days.

[polecateddy]

In a way Carl was quite lucky the ref let him get through the end of that first round against Haye. I think a few would have called it a night for Carl’s health. But also it was lucky Haye got that lesson because I think his cardio training was poor going into the fight. No road work, all gym work.

[Noxy]

Carl Thompson is a legend. One of my favorite fighters.

[Spud]

What a good thread nice to Carl get the credit he deserves.