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Thompson hurt by ban

Stuart Brennan
15/ 5/2004

CARL Thompson has protested his innocence after being banned from boxing for six months for wearing illegal gloves.

The 39-year-old Manchester fighter was found to have detached thumbs on his gloves when referee Richie Davies performed a routine check ahead of Thompson's fight with Sebastian Rothmann for the International Boxing Organisation cruiserweight title in February.

The gloves were changed ahead of the fight, which Thompson won with a spectacular come-from-behind ninth round knockout.

But Davies reported the matter to the British Boxing Board of Control, and on April 21 Thompson was banned for six months, fined '2,000 and ordered to pay '750 costs.

Thompson was devastated by the Board hearing's findings, not because of the fine or ban, but because he feels his reputation has been sullied.

"I take it so personally," said Thompson. "I've been in this game 15 or 16 years and had countless title fights and not once have I disrespected an opponent.

"I couldn't go out there and hurt someone like that.

"I wouldn't dream of going out there and thumbing him.

Checks

"At the hearing they said that at the end of the day I must have known the thumbs were detached. But I had a fight to fight. The last thing I was thinking about was checking the gloves for anything wrong.

"I had a drug official in the dressing room with me the whole time, so how could I have done what they said I did? "I was told I should have brought the drug official as a witness but why couldn't the Board have got him? They seemed to bring everyone else who was involved.

"To be honest, I didn't think it would go this far. I'm shocked.

"The Board are only doing their job but I cried at the hearing - I was so shocked by what they were saying."

The Board said that scientific analysis of the gloves showed a blade had severed the thumb attachments, and that an allegation of misconduct against Thompson was proved.

They also decided that a further licence application from chief second Maurice Core, should be turned down, although they will consider a second application after September 1.

Thompson's ban expires in August, and he is already being touted as an opponent for former Olympic representative David Haye.