Welter Mark Thomson

rooney · Post by **rooney** » 27 Oct 2007, 04:15

How did the fight go between him and Saunders?

states · Post by **states** » 27 Oct 2007, 04:25

He didn't fight Saunders, who presumably pulled out. Instead he faced late sub Frank Harroche-Horte ( His record: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer ), who was a very decent fighter. Thompson scraped by on the ref's scorecard (a single point winner, I think) and was perhaps a bit lucky to do so. He landed some meaty looking shots, but he took an awful lot in return.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 27 Oct 2007, 04:25

He didn't fight Saunders in the end, fought a foreign sub whose name I won't try and replicate here and won a very debatable points decision.
To be frank I was really disappointed with Thompson, even taking into account the fact he was fighting a late sub. It appears he's learnt nothing from the Vuma fight - all the same basic flaws were there - no fluidity in his movement, loading up on every shot, telegraphing everything and a worringly porous defence. He was extremely lucky that he was fighting someone who didn't carry any sort of power as he seemed staggered on a number of occasions and in the later rounds was blowing out of his arse.
He seems to completely rely on heart and power and worryingly, in his post-fight interview, seemed unable to recognise the shortcomings in his performance and kept emphasising the importance of heart in terms of overcoming an opponent.
Consequently I can't see him even reaching British title level as a more experienced pro will just tuck up, ride out the storm and pick him off.

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 27 Oct 2007, 04:45

do you think thompson is another george hillyard ?

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 27 Oct 2007, 04:59

I must admit i have never seen Thompson fight but i am not sure i follow the comparisons with Hillyard. George was found out for one reason or another way below British title level while Thompson dropped and went 8 with world rated South African Vincent Vuma. Do explain?

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 27 Oct 2007, 05:46

Thompson's work was far too predictable and the import took a lot of his shots on his gloves.

Thompson has a lot of work to do to add variety and set up his power shots, as oppossed to just trying to batter through his opponent's defences.

Exciting fighter nonetheless!

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 27 Oct 2007, 06:33

rhino222 wrote:do you think thompson is another george hillyard ?

In a word, no. And while I've highlighted his shortcomings I should also give credit to his courage and clear 'love of the game' - he is genuinely one of those fighters who will take on anyone, which is an increasingly rare thing, and as Terry said, he's guaranteed to be in exciting fights because of his style.
However, he's destined for a short career given his obvious flaws and not too much should be read into the Vuma knockdown either. We all know he's got power, but aside from that punch (shot to the body if I remember rightly) he pretty much got a sustained beating in there - bit like Katsidis vs Earl in that while knockdowns were traded, one fighter was clearly on top for the vast majority of the fight.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 27 Oct 2007, 10:16

I'm always the first to moan about fighters being given soft fights etc, but I really cant understand Thompsons management putting him in with the sort of opposition he has faced recently. He;s a really decent fighter and good to watch, but he still needs to learn the basics such as defence and using his jab and using his brain in there, if he carries on the way he is now he wont last long at all and that would be a shame as I think he has the talent at least to get to British title level, but he needs to be tought how to fight.....

spud66 · Post by **spud66** » 27 Oct 2007, 10:44

A draw would have been a gift for thompson but to win is a different matter ..he didnt look good last night. always looking for the same shots predictable is the word am looking for. The french boy caught him with decent shots and if he was a puncher he would have been gone by the 4th or 5th...lucky boy a think

E · Post by E » 27 Oct 2007, 13:45

He's got good heart, but doesn't even think of defence. Easy to hit and aggressive, but sometimes he should think about blocking a shot with a different part of his body other than his face.....

I like him - he'll never be in a dull fight.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:00

Are we being too harsh on a 13 fight novice whos just beaten a guy who lost a razor thin MD to Klose in his last fight?

E · Post by E » 27 Oct 2007, 14:06

Wales wrote:Are we being too harsh on a 13 fight novice whos just beaten a guy who lost a razor thin MD to Klose in his last fight?

well he has talent and heart but eats punched like pepperami

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:57

Deserter wrote:
rhino222 wrote:do you think thompson is another george hillyard ?
In a word, no. And while I've highlighted his shortcomings I should also give credit to his courage and clear 'love of the game' - he is genuinely one of those fighters who will take on anyone, which is an increasingly rare thing, and as Terry said, he's guaranteed to be in exciting fights because of his style.
However, he's destined for a short career given his obvious flaws and not too much should be read into the Vuma knockdown either. We all know he's got power, but aside from that punch (shot to the body if I remember rightly) he pretty much got a sustained beating in there - bit like Katsidis vs Earl in that while knockdowns were traded, one fighter was clearly on top for the vast majority of the fight.

you have described thompson in the same terminology that i would do for george, i know thompson is a league above in terms of the level he fights at but im referring to the all action 'take one to give one' style etc....

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 27 Oct 2007, 15:37

E wrote:
Wales wrote:Are we being too harsh on a 13 fight novice whos just beaten a guy who lost a razor thin MD to Klose in his last fight?
well he has talent and heart but eats punched like pepperami

Yep, but after only 13 fights thats surely something to work on. I think he was winding up a bit too much looking for a big KO. subsequently he tired and didnt look as good.

At 26 a good prospect IMO. never going to be ina dull fight or go into a shell thats for sure.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 27 Oct 2007, 19:21

rhino222 wrote:
Deserter wrote:
rhino222 wrote:do you think thompson is another george hillyard ?
In a word, no. And while I've highlighted his shortcomings I should also give credit to his courage and clear 'love of the game' - he is genuinely one of those fighters who will take on anyone, which is an increasingly rare thing, and as Terry said, he's guaranteed to be in exciting fights because of his style.
However, he's destined for a short career given his obvious flaws and not too much should be read into the Vuma knockdown either. We all know he's got power, but aside from that punch (shot to the body if I remember rightly) he pretty much got a sustained beating in there - bit like Katsidis vs Earl in that while knockdowns were traded, one fighter was clearly on top for the vast majority of the fight.
you have described thompson in the same terminology that i would do for george, i know thompson is a league above in terms of the level he fights at but im referring to the all action 'take one to give one' style etc....

OK. See where you're coming from. Stylistically they are different though - Thompson has got one punch KO power and has a really un-co-rodinated 'herky-jerky' style.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 29 Oct 2007, 13:21

Thompson seems to have some harsh critics on here. That's two very tough opponents Mark's been in with this year...i think he deserves cutting some slack when judging him.

He's clearly punching with a lot of power, and if he'd had the usual pushovers some of our prospects get fed, he'd have probably looked like dynamite, but he had one tough-bastard frenchman to deal with instead.

He's got a lot to learn and I bet he'll be the first to admit it, but he's thrilling the crowds in the process....so more please!

I thought he did enough to win too, but looks like i'm in the minority.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 29 Oct 2007, 17:41

THEBUTCH wrote:Thompson seems to have some harsh critics on here. That's two very tough opponents Mark's been in with this year...i think he deserves cutting some slack when judging him.

He's clearly punching with a lot of power, and if he'd had the usual pushovers some of our prospects get fed, he'd have probably looked like dynamite, but he had one tough-bastard frenchman to deal with instead.

He's got a lot to learn and I bet he'll be the first to admit it, but he's thrilling the crowds in the process....so more please!

I thought he did enough to win too, but looks like i'm in the minority.

I hear what you're saying fella, but what greatly concerns me is that he appears to have learnt nothing from the Vuma fight - and the entire point of a fight like that is the experience you gain from it. In the post-fight interview he also seemed unable to acknowledge or grasp the fact that he's going to have to refine his style massively if he's going to progress.
Surely the Vuma experience should have taught him to tighten up more, mix up his shots rather than loading up all the time etc?

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 30 Oct 2007, 09:28

Yeah, that was there for all to see, but the opponent was really tough and I think Thompson had to go at full pelt just to stay on top of the guy.

He was matched tough and I don't think he got opportunity to show what he might have learnt from the Vuma fight.