Thompson, Rahman Look to Gain Heavyweight Titles on Consecutive July Weekends!

The odds against it happening are very long, but two Beltway veteran heavyweights have the opportunity to win world titles on consecutive weekends in July.




 Photo by Klitschko Management Group



On Tuesday, there was the first press conference for the July 7 heavyweight title bout between WBA/IBF/IBO/WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko and top challenger Tony Thompson. The bout will be held at the Stade de Suisse in Bern, Switzerland.  The bout will be shown on the Epix Cable Network.

Wladimir Klitschko: “So far I’ve been better in every rematch than I was in the first fight. Still I can’t become careless because through many rounds of sparring, Thompson knows me better than every other opponent.”

Tony Thompson: [The first defeat] was a valuable lesson for me. This can be a disadvantage for Wladimir. I will be the first heavyweight boxer to become a world champion at over 40 years of age.”

Yes, we know George Foreman won the title at the age of 46, but that was his second reign as champion.  Thompson referred to winning his first title at 40.


The WBA, in its infinite wisdom, refers to Klitschko as a "Super Champion" because he holds a number of world titles.  This means there must be a regular champion in the WBA and that man is Alexander Povetkin.  On July 14, Povetkin (24-0, 16 KO's) will put his WBA title on the line against the number one contender -- former two-time world champ Hasim Rahman (50-7-2, 41 KO's).  The bout will be on July 14 at another outdoor venue -- Upton Park in London, England.  The bout is the co-feature to the grudge match between the returning David Haye and fellow Englishman Dereck Chisora.