Carl Thompson says, "S...

By Elliot Worsell: Fight-of-the-year jukebox Carl Thompson can't help but generate excitement. There's a crash dummy quality to him that in one instant makes you cringe, and in the other, leap in ecstasy. He's one of a rare breed of fighters who can control the emotions of an audience like a malevolent puppeteer. He's the boxing pill fight junkies knock back while witnessing a night at the fights.Only this drug has no comedown. The thrill is everlasting. It's highly addictive and it leaves us craving for more. Carl 'The Cat' Thompson has been off the shelf for 10 months and domestic fight fans need their fix. The evergreen IBO cruiserweight champion explains his recent hiatus from the game:"It's all been down to an injury which has been stopping me run," Carl told Secondsout.com. "I went to a specialist and he didn't think it was a hernia, which was good news. I'm waiting for an MRI scan to explain exactly what it is, and then I'll be able to make plans. I can do everything else, but can't do any roadwork. That's what's been keeping me away from the ring." "I'm definitely not finished, though. I'm going through a bit of an unfortunate situation - which isn't my fault - but as soon as I can get back in the ring, I hope to do so. Once I'm back I'll probably have to make a defence against (Sebastiann) Rothmann, and if the money's right to make that fight, I have no problem doing it."Right now, Pound Sterling is Carl Thompson's toughest, most feared opponent out there. A man who has won the British, European, WBO and IBO belts, fears no one else in the cruiserweight division. But his desire to be financially stable and provide for his family will forever be launching one-two combinations at him like a battering ram."The thing is, not many promoters seem to want to pay the money for me to fight Rothmann," Thompson said, explaining his financial difficulties. "So why should I risk myself, and put myself in a hard fight like the first one, to fight for bad money? I was the challenger first time, so I understood why I had to take a cut. I'm not being greedy, but now I'm champion, and have shown what great fights I can bring to the people, shouldn't promoters pay what I'm worth? The fact is fans won't be bored when Rothmann and me fighting again. So we should get the money to put it all on the line."In their first meeting Thomson incredibly rallied from behind to knockout the South African out in a ninth round that appeared to signify the end of Carl's gusty effort. He operated his own helter-skelter on the audience that night and left them wanting more. Which they won't get, unless the money's right, Carl explains:"If I don't get paid what I deserve that fight won't go ahead, and it's as simple as that. It's not a case of me running or anything. It's just I'm in a position now to demand a little better than what I'm being offered. People keep saying I'm not in the position to ask for better money, so if that is the case, I won't be involved anymore." "I've been involved with this sport for a very long time and yet I haven't really made a good amount of money from it. I can be just as exciting as the Ricky Hattons and Joe Calzaghes of this world - and while Ricky no doubt deserves all that he gets after what he did against Kostya Tszyu - I believe I bring just as much excitement to my fights, and yet I'm not making their kind of money. I'm not even getting a fraction of what these guys get." "People say to me, 'why don't you finish on top, Carl?' Well I'd love to do that, but who's going to pay the bills for me? I'd love to get out now, but I still have bills to pay and money to make from my job. There are journeymen up and down the country losing every week to support their family. I haven't lost a fight since 2001 and people still tell me to quit. Pay my bills for me and I will!"A far cry from the human blitzkrieg Thompson portrays on fight night, Carl is an honest, genuine character who appears to resemble the antithesis to James Toney in that he respects absolutely every fighter who graces the ring. Thompson knows, more than most, just how hard his occupation is. Nevertheless, he also provides substance to the saying 'nice guys come last' - at least where money's involved."I just wanted to live a normal life and make some money, but it doesn't happen that way. I'm not naturally outspoken, but I feel as though I have to be to get people to notice me and bring in money to pay the bills. I'm not gonna change now because that would be phoney, but if I knew that from the beginning, I would have opened my mouth more." The Manchester-born warrior continued: "People think I don't like talking much, but if I'd have known where it would have got me, I'd have been a lot more controversial. I just don't understand why you should have to disrespect other hard-working boxers to make more money, or for people to sit up and listen to you. The sport is hard enough as it is for all the boxers to then start disrespecting each other."Rant at the institution aside, Thompson, despite in his early forties, still talks as though he only signed professional forms and passed his first medical last week. In a world of cynical matchmaking, protected records, and handpicked contests, Thompson provides light relief. He'll fight anyone; he doesn't care."If anyone else is feeling brave and offers good money, I'll fight them. I'll fight any fighter out there. If one of the other champions gives me a shot at one of their titles I'd love a fight with them. I believe I have the capability of upsetting one or two of these champions, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that one of them might feel brave. They might think I'm past it and make a big mistake."Others have been there, done that, and got the bumps and bruises to prove it. Underestimate "old man" Thompson at your peril. In recent years, Thompson has won the aforementioned IBO title from Rothmann, as well as devoured leading British prospect David Haye in a much-anticipated title defence last September. One man, who faced Thompson in March 1999, and escaped the fire relatively unscathed, was WBO titlist Johnny Nelson. The Sheffield veteran stopped Carl in the fifth round, and it's haunted Thompson ever since."I know in my heart Johnny Nelson didn't beat me, it was just because of a mistake by the referee," argued Thompson, trying to reach a balance of disdain and respectfulness. "You can't knock Johnny Nelson, though, as he's very good at what he does. Nobody wants to fight Nelson because he's so good at what he does." "If it's worthwhile fighting Johnny Nelson again, I'll fight Johnny Nelson. Johnny does a lot of talking, but I think a lot of it is to do with hype. I don't play that game. If Johnny tells me face to face he wants to get it on, I can take him serious. But if he just keeps talking and writing in papers then I don't know what to think. If he wants to fight me, it's got to be done with a 50/50 purse or else I'm not going to bother." "I'm going to be the one that makes the fight that takes the chances and gives the fans what they want by leaving my chin hanging out. Johnny wouldn't take those chances. I'm the only fighter that has ever put Johnny Nelson in an entertaining fight."So what of the age factor, then? Most boxers into their forties, not called Bernard Hopkins, are either retired, winding down or losing plenty. Yet, Thompson, at 41, and Nelson also, at 38, can't kick the habit of winning. Press Carl on the age issue, and one gets a sense he'd like to show you just how old he is. He's 41, but he sure as hell doesn't feel like it. "People are still knocking me despite what I've done, saying that I'm too old and past it. But I don't care," he adamantly declared. "I love proving people wrong as that's what keeps me motivated. People just forget things so easily. I'll use the David Haye fight as an example. People forget what I did because they'd rather listen to fighters who talk a lot, rather than someone who is quiet and likes to keep away from it all. They want to listen to the controversial fighter and it becomes a bit of a joke. Don't get me wrong, it's great that fighters promote themselves and hype up fights, but just remember those who don't do that, too.""As for my age, I feel just like the young kid I was when I started boxing. I still have that same approach now that I did all those years ago. I'm in the gym everyday training and determined to prove people wrong. I still have the same ambition and drive I did when I was getting started. Actually, I think I still look quite young for my age!"Well, as young as a one-man boxing highlight-reel can look after 17 brutal years in the sport. Thompson, as he stated before the Haye fight, has "been doing this shit for years". His act never becomes tiresome, though. How could it? Until Thompson returns to the ring to financially support his family and soothe the cravings of fight fans, we'll just have to sit cold turkey - until the ultimate fight fix arrives. *** In Part 2, Thompson breaks down the July 22nd British cruiserweight title fight between Mark Hobson and ex opponent David Haye.