Dan Goossen, promoter of world rated American heavyweight boxer Tony “The Tiger” Thompson, announced today that he plans on filing an immediate petition with WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarel, Esq. on his fighter’s behalf as the result of the organization’s top-ranked contender pulling out of his scheduled September 16th bout with Thompson in Germany.

 

Universum’s Klaus-Peter Kohl, promoter of the “Universum Champions Night” event scheduled to be held in Stuttgart’s brand new Porsche Arena, released an apologetic statement announcing that #1 WBO contender Luan Krasniqi has rejected the terms of an offer to fight the sixth-ranked Thompson and caused cancellation of not only the main event, but the entire show.

 

"I'd been hearing rumblings that Krasniqi was hesitant to fight Thompson, and unfortunately it was true,” said a disgusted Nate Peake, Thompson’s co-manager along with NBA All-star and New York Knick, Steve Francis. 

 

“Tony has been in training camp preparing for the fight, anxious to go to Germany to take the next step in his career toward the title.  This is a very disappointing development for Tony and Team Tiger.  We’ll just keep moving forward though."

 

If Goossen gets his way, Team Tiger may not have to wait very long to find out what’s next.

 

"This is very unprofessional of Krasniqi,” Goossen insisted.  “Tony accepted every condition that was thrown at us, because he knew that he would knock him out and immediately get his chance at the world championship. 

 

“I'll be requesting the president of the WBO to call for a title elimination bout with any top available contender willing to take on Thompson for the right to challenge champion Sergei Liakhovich in his long overdue mandatory title defense. 

 

“You can't be a #1 contender and pull out of commitments like Krasniqi did (for the reason he did) and be rewarded," said Goossen.  “He took himself out of the picture and the shot at the title.  It’s Tony Thompson’s turn to show the world who he is.”