It’s hard to get too enthusiastic about this stay-relevant fight for veteran Tony Thompson and fringe contender Malik Scott. Like many Heavyweight affairs these days, the action just never caught fire. Thompson plodded around the ring for the scheduled 10 rounds, looking his age as he tried to the find the target, often unsuccessfully.
To be fair to Thompson, he did achieve the only knockdown of the fight, courtesy of a thudding right-hand to the temple. Scott hit the deck hard in that 9th round, but managed to survive the sixty seconds remaining.
Despite the knockdown, it was Scott who stood out – just enough – in this encounter. Scott was the sprightlier of the two, and being almost twenty years younger was much to thank. Scott didn’t come anywhere close to whopping Thompson’s butt in this slow-burner, but he was the clear winner.
Official scorecards came in 95-94, 96-93, and 98-91, all for Scott who now stands at 38 wins, 2 defeats, 1 draw, 13 knockouts. Thompson now falls to 40 wins, 6 defeats, 27 knockouts, and really should consider optioning retirement in the near future.
Scott vs Thompson Undercard
On the Scott vs Thompson undercard, Lightweight prospect Gervonta Davis made quick and easy work of Cristobal Cruz. Davis knocked down his man twice in the 3rd round before the referee put a halt to the contest. Gervonta now improves to 13 wins, no defeats, 12 knockouts, while Cruz falls to 40 wins, 19 defeats, 4 draws, 24 knockouts.
Sergey Lipinets had his work cut out for the first half of his Junior Welterweight 10-rounder with Lydell Rhodes, who utilized his speed to great effect. But Lipinets took over in the second half, overwhelming a tiring Rhodes with power shots. The 10th round saw Rhodes take a savage beating, suffer a knockdown, and even receive a point deduction from the referee for holding.
At the final bell, scorecards came in at 96-93 and 98-91 twice. Lipinets now moves up to 8 wins, no defeats, 6 knockouts, while Rhodes picks up his first pro setback, dropping to 23 wins, 1 defeat, 1 draw, 11 knockouts.
What are your thoughts on the Scott vs Thompson card, boxing fans?
