Carl Thompson vs David Haye *IBO Cruiserweight title* [10-09-2004] #boxing #boxeo #uk #ko

Undefeated British Cruiserweight David Haye takes a big step up by facing former WBO, European, British and current IBO World champion Carl Thompson tonight at London, England's Wembley Arena. Haye, 10-0 (10), will be the first of Britain's "young guns" of the cruiserweight class to take on one of the older, established fighters in Carl Thompson. Thompson has impeccable credentials, having won many titles of note as well as the WBO world belt. Most recently Thompson, 32-6 (24), disposed of highly regarded Sebastian Rothmann with a single punch to win the IBO belt for the second time. Thompson had gotten off the canvas in the fourth to drop former WBU titlist Rothmann in the fifth and ninth but found himself on the brink of disaster later in that same ninth round. As Rothmann closed in for the kill, Thompson caught the South African with a perfect overhand right, sending him face first onto the canvas. Rothmann got back on his feet but was declared by the referee in no condition to continue. It's that type of power and experience, which Thompson possesses that has caused many in Britain to question Haye's willingness to step in with "The Cat". While in his last outing, Haye did put away former IBF world champion "King" Arthur Williams in three rounds, Williams at thirty nine years of age did not appear to have the skills and abilities that Thompson appears to still have despite being a year older. Regardless, it's Haye's rock solid belief in himself that inspires him to such a challenge at only twenty three years of age. The fans in Britain have been very enthusiastic of late about the cruiserweight division there, with younger fighters Haye, Mark Hobson and Enzo Macarrinelli vying for fights and attention with the more established Thompson and WBO king Johnny Nelson. "This fight is very big in Britain and it's been in all the national papers," said Haye. "Obviously the BBC are doing a lot of coverage and at the press conference we just had today, there were at least thirty journalists and about five camera crews there. There's a lot of interest and this is by far the biggest fight of my career. I'm just looking forward to it." "There are a lot of British fighters that are forever telling you that they're the best in the world but they never prove it. They can never fight outside their country and they never fight anyone from the States, and if they do, they (the American fighters) are completely shot." "I'm going to prove to people that British fighters aren't protected constantly. There are guys here in Britain, like myself, who are willing to take on all comers and fight the best out there and I think that fighting Carl Thompson is a step in the right direction for me." #boxing #boxeo #uk #ko