Tony Thompson Gets Luis Ortiz

By Michael Woods

He asked, it was answered. Sunday night, he got the call and he didn’t hesitate: Damn right, I want the fight!

March 5, Tony Thompson gets a chance to show 44 ain’t nothing but a number. He will fight the Cuban rumbler Luis Ortiz, on HBO.

“I’m happy to be back on HBO fighting for another world title,” said Tony Thompson. “If you look at my competition and his [Ortiz], it’s not even close. This isn’t the amateurs. I’m going to use my experience as a professional to take him places he’s never been. Odlanier Solis was a great Cuban amateur but he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist, and I beat him twice. Ortiz thinks he has it tough. I’ve been avoided for my entire career. Just about all my fights have been on short notice and in foreign countries. If I fought the guys Ortiz fought, I’d be undefeated too. If Ortiz is King Kong, I’m Godzilla; Godzilla coming to whoop some ass!”

Yep, TT wants to see that rematch, Kong VS Godzilla…

“Godzilla won the first one, who else lol,” the DC-based boxer told me.

Thompson lost his last outing but foe Malik Scott is a cutie, not a rumbler. This is a better style matchup, arguably, for Thompson. “Hell yeah if you mean he won’t run from me,” Thompson said.

No, it’s not ideal, such short notice but Thompson gets it: “I’m a warrior and this is just another step in proving I’ll fight anybody, anywhere.”

Family man Thompson has a tribunal which weighs in on his career choices. Wife Sydnee Thompson and 7 kids, ages 26,25,24,19,17,16,15 are rooting on pop. “They are excited. Yes, it’s late notice and I’m not 34, I’m 44, lol, but the wife knows I’ve done more with less and this is another opportunity to do so.

“I’m glad I get to put on for my city one time before I leave this sport…so King Kong better come hungry!”
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Luis Ortiz needs a rumble partner after Alexander Dimitrenko bailed for a March 5 faceoff. And NYFIGHTS has found a willing contender who tells us he’s in shape, and not at all afraid of the beefy Cuban who opened eyes worldwide with a sharp outing against Bryant Jennings Dec. 19.

Tony Thompson, the DC based lefty, tells NYF that he’s a man with a plan.

Dimitrenko is 6-7, 260 pounds but apparently wanted more money to tangle with the ascending Golden Boy boxer. He was mollified, but still bailed, according to what his US rep told ESPN.

Enter Thompson?

“Of course we want it! Can we beat the big Cuban? I can beat anyone when in shape and healthy. I am as in shape and healthy as can be at this point. Let me eat dinner, with my wife and we will talk more.”