With the new bridgerweight division finally gaining a level of acceptance across the boxing world, Chris Thompson wants to be among the pioneers who add respectability to the weight class.
Despite walking around at a meaty 110kg, Thompson says he has no issue dropping down to 102kg, the maximum allowable poundage for bridgerweight fighters.
A natural athlete, Thompson has no problem training hard and treats the boxing gym like a refuge. As he has for the past few weeks in preparation for his August 23 fight at Emperors Palace against Romania’s Alexandru Jur.
“I’m ready to blow the house down,” he said this week, fully two weeks away from the international showdown.
He considers Jur to be a decent opponent against whom he wants to be tested – “that will bring the best out in me” – but makes the point that each time Jur has stepped up, he has been defeated.
“I’ve watched video, but you can’t read too much into it – not all of his opponents have been very good. He will definitely try and pressure me. He’s a bit smaller, more naturally closer to bridgerweight than I am, but he’s keen and gets stuck in.”
While Thompson produced the goods in his last fight, dominating heavyweight Juan Roux, he’s not naïve enough to think he can’t raise his game. Asked what he must improve, he responded: “Everything.”
He wants to be more active and more aggressive, which will come as bad news to the visitor, who won’t be facing a complacent opponent in Thompson.
Former opponent Akani Phuzi has provided the South African with high-class sparring. The pair go hard at one another, notwithstanding their friendship and mutual respect. It’s a helpful kinship: Phuzi is as close in style to Jur as it gets.
Thompson especially enjoys the prospect of the tight turnaround between fights, barely two months in this instance, and is hoping for yet another bout before the end of the year.
He’s already enjoying the drop in weight, saying he is faster than ever, but still hitting hard.
Never shy to stick his neck out, he said his intention is to outclass and knock Jur out.
It’s three years since he last earned a stoppage, so Thompson is eager to demonstrate he can crack at the weight.
Whatever happens, it won’t be dull come August 23. It seldom is when Thompson gloves up.
