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Thompson to fight Boone
NEW YORK (March 21, 2006) – For Anthony Thompson, his message is clear.
“I want to step up and fight guys in the top 10,” the promising super
welterweight said. “I hope to fight for a world title soon. I am
confident in my ability and I will be ready.’’
Thompson (20-1, 15 KOs), of Philadelphia, will attempt to deliver his
message to Darnell Boone (10-4-1, four KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio,
Friday, March 31, in the “ShoBox: The New Generation” main event on
SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast). In the co-feature
from Maywood Activity Center in Maywood, Calif., southpaw Victor Ortiz
(12-1, eight KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., by way of Liberal, Kansas, will
face Freddy Barrera (10-0, one KO), of Colton, Calif. The doubleheader
will be promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc.
The following night on April 1, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will
continue its 20th anniversary celebration with a world heavyweight
championship bout between World Boxing Organization (WBO) Champion Lamon
Brewster and once-beaten challenger Sergei Liakhovich.
A classy, religious, respectful and modest young man outside of the
ring, Thompson turns into an aggressive-minded, crowd-pleasing, exciting
Philly fighter between the ropes.
“When Thompson turned pro, he was considered as promising a prospect as
any young fighter in the United States,” said ShoBox analyst Steve
Farhood. “Now, he is clearly ready to move up and realize his potential.
In Boone, you have a warrior who has knocked down Andre Ward and beaten
some notable opponents in James Countryman and Rasheem Brown. He will be
a tough test for Thompson.”
“I am not a guy who likes to go around beating up people and punching
them in the face,” Thompson said. “I do not talk trash. I am a very
nice, humble person, and I like to do things for people. That is what
really brings me joy.”
Thompson deserves any happiness that comes his way. A single father,
Thompson twice has suffered through unthinkable tragedies. Two of his
daughters died before their first birthday.
In 1996, Thompson lost six-month-old Yakira to the rare Zellweger
syndrome. Four years later, two-month-old Yasheva lost her battle with
the same hereditary disease.
“I had to see a part of me die,” Thompson said. “Your kids are a
reflection of you.’’
Yet, Thompson has found the strength to carry on through religion.
“I am a Hebrew Israelite,” Thompson said. “I can read Hebrew a little.
That is why my nickname is ‘The Messenger.’ I have a grip on life and I
realize that there is nothing out there. This world is nothing but
illusion, and if you live by the world, that is what you will resemble.
That is not a good thing. You want to have something positive. The whole
duty of man is to fear and serve God. That is the bottom line.
“I do not put any burdens on myself. It makes life that much easier. I
just hope that I can live up to the expectations everyone has for me. I
am going to give my best.”
The Hebrew Israelite faith has many of the same beliefs and observes the
same holidays of the Jewish faith. For a time, Thompson would not fight
on Fridays.
“After I lost my only fight, I talked to my father about my boxing
career and my religion,’’ Thompson said. “My father, who is very devout,
said ‘you are a man now and have a family to support.’ So, now I fight
on Fridays.’’
During an impressive amateur career, the lifelong Philadelphia resident
compiled a 151-9 record and won numerous titles, including national
championships, Golden Glove titles, and PAL crowns.
“I won five straight national titles in 2000,” said Thompson, who
started boxing when he was 10 years old. “I do not think anyone in
amateur boxing has ever done that.’’
Despite his success in the nationals, the heralded amateur failed to
make the 2000 United States Olympic team. He was considered a virtual
lock to make the 2004 squad, but opted instead to turn pro. First,
though, Thompson went to school at Temple University in Philadelphia for
a semester.
“I had a 3.0 grade point average,” Thompson said. “It was hard to leave
school, but I had to follow my heart. I do not regret it.’’
Thompson turned pro at age 20 on March 17, 2002, and won his initial 15
starts. However, in a stunning result, he suffered a third-round TKO to
Grady Brewer on Feb. 28, 2004, in Las Vegas. After boxing effectively
and winning the first two rounds, Thompson got caught with a vicious
left uppercut that sent him down to the canvas. The referee stopped the
bout without a count at 2:10.
“I tried to put the Brewer fight behind me quickly,” said Thompson, has
won five straight since, including a third-round knockout over Adrian
Lopez on Dec. 23, 2005. “I lost focus in that fight, but Brewer is a
tough guy and definitely underrated. I just got caught with a good
shot.’’
Boone, 26, has been fighting as a pro for more than 18 months. He has
fought from 156 to 169 pounds, and has been very active in the ring with
11 fights in the past 13 months. He fought seven times in 2005. His bout
against Thompson will represent his fifth appearance of 2006.
In his last eight bouts, Boone has fought on the road against hometown
or “house” fighters, all of whom were favored to win. During that span,
Boone notched three impressive wins against previously undefeated
prospects and had two questionable losses.
In his last outing, Boone dropped an eight-round unanimous nod (79-73
and 77-75 twice) to Enrique Ornelas (22-2 going in) on March 3, 2006.
After Ornelas built an early lead, Boone rallied in the second half.
However, it was not enough to secure the decision. Following the
announcement of the winner, the fans booed.
In one of Boone’s most noteworthy performances, he scored a devastating
knockdown of 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward on Nov. 19, 2005.
After Ward went down in the fourth, he managed to recover for the sixth
and final round. Ward edged Boone on all three judges’ scorecards
(59-55, 58-56 and 57-56), but suffered the first knockdown of his
career. Although Ward took the decision, Boone established himself as a
tough challenger.
“Everybody knows I won that fight,” said Boone.
In the super lightweight co-feature, Ortiz, 19, has won five consecutive
contests since suffering his lone loss on a first-round disqualification
to Corey Alarcon on June 3, 2005, from Oxnard, Calif. Ortiz dropped his
foe in the first, but he got up and action resumed. Moments after the
referee had separated the boxers from a clinch, Ortiz scored another
knockdown that put Alarcon flat on his back. This time, Alarcon did not
get up. However, the punch was ruled illegal by the referee and Ortiz
was disqualified.
“I thought the decision was total bull,” Ortiz said. “The referee said,
‘Box out.’ He did not say break. I think it was a cop out what Alarcon
did. People saw that I was not hurt and I did not lose this fight. The
ref never called a break. He was tongue-tied. He just tapped me on my
arm. Alarcon was already weak and did not want to fight.”
A fast, smart, talented youngster who was the National Junior Olympic
champion and National PAL champion in 2003, Ortiz has won three
consecutive bouts inside of the distance. In his most recent effort,
Ortiz stopped Nestor Rosas in the fifth round on Feb. 10, 2006, in San
Antonio, Texas.
Barrera is a busy fighter who makes for fast-paced, exciting bouts. His
streak of points victories ended in his last start when he scored a
fifth-round KO over southpaw Daniel Gonzalez on Feb. 17, 2006, from
Ontario, Calif.
“It was the best feeling I have had,” said Barrera, referring to his
first knockout. The referee halted matters at 2:25 as Barrera was
unloading rights and lefts on Gonzalez.
“Gonzalez’ body shots slowed me down, but he never hurt me,” Barrera
said. “I was able to land the right hand whenever I wanted. I think the
right hands were what worked for me best.”
The telecast represents the 74th in the “ShoBox” series, which debuted
on SHOWTIME in July 2001. “ShoBox” features up-and-coming prospects
determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world
title. A number of fighters who have appeared on the series have gone on
to become world champions, including Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz,
Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and Scott Harrison.
Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood
serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast is
Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.
