Thompson Makes It Interesting

Ross Thompson has no future as a world-class fighter. Fernando Vargas will prove that tonight.

But Thompson might have a heck of a future as a promoter.

Nothing wrong with that. If you can’t be Shane Mosley or Felix Trinidad, why not be Don King or Bob Arum? The money is just as good and the chances of longevity are a lot better.

Despite being a 30-1 underdog in tonight’s potential yawner of a title match against Vargas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Thompson has shown a promoter’s touch in keeping this fight in the headlines and on the evening news.

Thursday and Friday are crucial days in selling a Saturday fight. And that’s when Thompson was at his best. Certainly better than he figures to be tonight when he tries to take Vargas’ International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight title.

THURSDAY--Thompson, the mandatory challenger for Vargas as the IBF’s No. 1 contender, arrived at the prefight news conference armed with fighting words.

And quickly, things deteriorated into outright fighting.

“He’s a bum,” Thompson said of Vargas. “He’s a bogus champion. He’s had the red carpet laid out for him by Main Events [Vargas’ promotional organization]. They can’t tell me to shut up. I don’t care who says it’s the Fernando Vargas show. This is the Ross Thompson show.”

And then Thompson proceeded to prove it when he mounted the dais and found Vargas standing up to confront him.

Thompson sucker-punched the champion from Oxnard with a right hand that bloodied Vargas’ mouth. Vargas responded with a left hook that knocked Thompson off the dais.

Thompson, scrambling back, found Vargas’ promoter, Gary Shaw, in his path. No matter. Thompson threw another punch that cut Shaw’s lip.

When calm was finally restored, Thompson resumed his tirade.

“I’d like to apologize for that little scene,” he said. “I got caught up in the emotions.

“This guy [Vargas] can’t fight. He’s a decent but ordinary fighter. All these reporters say I shouldn’t be here. They haven’t seen me fight. You have to understand that I have all this rage built up because of the disrespect put on me.

“This is my time. This is my time to win the title.”

FRIDAY--The weigh-in, another non-event.

But not with promoter Thompson around.

Rather than risk another potential fight before the fight, it was decided to forgo the traditional joint appearance by the fighters at the scales.

Instead, Vargas came into the press center at 10 minutes before five Friday afternoon and weighed in at 153 pounds, one pound below the limit.

Thirty minutes later, Thompson arrived and stepped on the scales.

His weight: 156 pounds, two pounds too many.

More fuel for the flickering interest in tonight’s bout.

“You guys are killing me,” Thompson said to Roger Bloodworth, one of Vargas’ trainers who was standing nearby.

“Not yet,” Bloodworth replied. “That comes [Saturday] night.”

Under Nevada State Athletic Commission rules, Thompson had two hours to lose the two pounds. If not, the two men could still have fought, but it wouldn’t have been for Vargas’ title.

The way they felt about each other at that point, they would have fought for free in the casino if necessary.

It wasn’t necessary.

After one hour and 16 minutes of working and sweating, Thompson returned, stripped off all his clothes and weighed in at 153 1/2.

For the first time in two days, he publicly broke into a smile and shrugged off Thursday’s scuffle.

“It’s part of boxing,” Thompson said. “And it helps sell tickets.”

That appears to be the thing Thompson does best.

THE FIGHT

Unless he pulls off a huge upset, Thompson will be remembered as the answer to a trivia question. Who was the man Vargas fought between his major bouts against Ike Quartey and Trinidad?

Vargas (19-0, 17 knockouts) is coming off his biggest win to date, a decision in April over Quartey. All but signed is an even bigger match, a Dec. 2 bout against Trinidad, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Vargas admits that he’s grateful for Thompson’s histrionics.

“At first, it was hard to get up for this fight,” Vargas said even before Thompson punched him. “I’m glad [that Thompson has acted the way he has]. This is a blessing in disguise.”

Thompson, 24-3-1 with 16 knockouts, has lost to James Page, Oba Carr and someone named Adrian Stone.

Vargas said that he now plans to pay Thompson back for his cheap shot by punishing him in the ring.

“If I’m a bum,” Vargas said, “what is he?”

THE UNDERCARD

In the semi-main event, what figures to be a more competitive bout than the one that follows, Vernon Forrest (31-0, 25 knockouts) and Raul Frank (23-3-1, 12 knockouts) will fight for the vacant IBF welterweight championship.

ENOUGH ALREADY

Handlers for Mosley have sent word to Oscar De La Hoya that it’s time to either step in the ring or step aside.

There is a tentative date of Jan. 20 for a rematch between the two welterweights. But Mosley, who beat De La Hoya on a split decision in June, wants to know this week if the fight is going to happen. If not, the Mosley camp is looking at a match against Arturo Gatti in December.

De La Hoya has been distracted by the upcoming release of his music CD, and questions about whether he wants Arum to remain his promoter.

De La Hoya is contractually tied to Arum, who met this past week with Richard Schaefer, De La Hoya’s chief advisor.

“As it stands,” Schaefer said, “Bob is his promoter.”

Hardly a stirring vote of confidence.