Shak team: River has lit fire under our boy!
Only days away...explosive clash between River and Thompson
IF the ring action matches the war of words waged between River Wilson-Bent and Shakiel Thompson, we are in for a barnstormer.
Coventry’s River has certainly pulled out all the stops in attempts to get under the skin of the Steel City prospect who carries a sleeping draught in either fist.
That, says Thompson’s team, is a very bad move, that will be his downfall.
“We needed someone to light a fire under Shak,” said the KO artist’s manager, Kevin Murray, “and River has done that. I don’t know who has been advising him, but it’s just spurred Shak into working harder. It’s as if River is trying to talk himself into the fight.”
Murray says matter-of-factly: “River is going to get stopped.”
On Friday night at Sheffield’s Park Community Arena, the talk stops and the tear-up begins, with southpaw Thompson’s IBF European and WBO global titles on the line.
It’s hard not to be sucked in by the self-belief displayed by 30-year-old River in the build-up.
River says, with justification, that he’s faced far better opposition than Thompson in a glorious 23 bout career. He has been in the trenches, Thompson has not. He’d beat everyone Thompson has beaten. He appears to have no doubt about the outcome and told me: “Everything has aligned for this one. And the new….”
In a feisty head-to-head before the GBM promoted bout, he told Thompson: “They call you the Hidden Secret, I’ll make you the Forgotten Secret.”
He has won the verbal exchanges, but he is whistling down the wind, says Kevin Murray. It’s bravado before facing a 27-year-old beast who has won all 12 pro contest, eight by stoppage.
Murray said: “Every fighter has to have a fight that takes them to that next level. River has tried, but been unable to climb to that next level.
“Shak is a very, very special fighter with freakish power, he is a beast of a man. I would be stunned if it went the distance and he is looking to put on a performance that will make people sit up and say, ‘wow’.”
The now obligatory head-to-head produced interesting exchanges.
River: “He’s a very beatable champion…we know what we need to do. He has a lot of weaknesses, but he has his strengths, too. I’m here to beat Shakiel Thompson, the titles are coming to Coventry, end of.
“I’m going to win – whatever I have to do to win, I’ll do. The belts are coming home to my newborn baby and little girl.”
Thompson: “You have been beaten by people who aren’t the best lads in the world. You have been hurt on Coventry shows, definitely hurt.
“He’s not got under my skin, it’s just a big test and one I’m going to pass. It’s one I’m looking forward to and it’s going to be one that everyone will see and know why they call me the best kept secret.
“He’s been in with the best in the country, some of the best in the world. I want to show everyone what I can do. He ain’t going to hear the 10th round bell.”
FightCity analyst Adam Harper, former English light-middleweight champ and an expert on the modern game, pulled no punches over the task facing River.
“My biggest concern for River Wilson-Bent is the miles on the clock,” he said. “Four, fives years ago I could understand the argument for a River victory, but I think now there are a lot of miles on the clock. I believe the miles on the clock will be the ultimate factor.
“River’s had some very hard nights and they’ve all aged him as a fighter. I hope I’m wrong – I really do – and it is said without malice, but I don’t think he can beat someone as big, fresh and powerful as Shak Thompson. Boxing isn’t a fairytale and these stories don’t usually have a happy ending.
“Is River, at this stage, fast, skilful and clever enough to stay away from Thompson for the entire fight? No, I don’t think he is. When the going gets tough a fighter reverts to type, River will attempt to fight fire with fire and that will be his undoing, in my opinion.
“Again, I hope I’m wrong, but I think River will be stopped in the middle rounds.”