Pro FCR - 7 Rounds
This has probably been the most awaited Pro debut of ANY Fighter in IKF History! Twenty one year old Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson of Simpsonville, South Carolina, USA (189, 6', Ray Thompson) had swarmed through the amateur ranks winning 16 Titles - 6 of them IKF Titles including 3 IKF National Tournament Titles and of the 16, 3 of them World Titles including the IKF Amateur World Title on way to an undefeated record of 33 wins with 18 wins coming by KO/TKO. What was hard here was finding an opponent for Thompson to take on in his Pro debut. A duty no pro fighter seemed to want. Already, three fighters had pulled out of previous matches with the Wonderboy but a call to New York didn't go unanswered as former kick Pro World Champion Kadir Kadri (R) of West Babylon, New York, USA (PKB: 13-6-1/5, AKB: 14-4-1/6, 192, 6'1", 22, Thomas Ingargiola) answered back with a resounding, "I Accept!"

So it was to be... The Wonderboy's PRO DEBUT! May 15th, 2004 in South Carolina, USA! The anticipation leading up to this bout was far worse than the action of the fight. Palms sweating, hearts throbbing, all wondering things like "How would the Wonderboy take a shot to his head without headgear?" or "How good is the former Pro World Champion Kadir?" or "Would Thompson be strong enough and have enough stamina to go all 7 rounds if needed?" After all the waiting, there was only one thing left for both these fighters to do and that was "Bring It ON!"

Ding for Round 1: After the fight I had asked Kadir's cornerman if there was any one thing that took Kadir out of the fight mentally or physically. He had told me that before the fight Kadir had told him he was worried about Thompson's round kick to his ribs. Well, nothing like getting right to the point for Kadir... "THREE" seconds into the opening round Thompson landed his powerful left leg round kick squarely on Kadir's right rib cage. As Kadir's cornerman put it, this fight "Mentally" for Kadir, was over at that moment, and from the sound of the impact, it might have very well been the beginning to the end physically for Kadir as well.
Thompson's stance is a lot like boxer Roy Jones. Hands up but open, baiting his opponent to strike and when you do, Thompson is so fast, the opening closes and you find yourself eating his right hand. Such was the case all night long for Kadir. I asked him hours after the fight if he tried to punch Thompson when his hands were open like that and he simply answered, "I tried man, I REALLY tried. He was just too fast. It was open and in an instant, it was closed!" Kadir found out about the frustration other Thompson opponents have faced through his career. For Kadir, he experienced it in the first few seconds of the opening round and it didn't get any easier for him either. A few seconds later and Thompson landed a spinning kick to Kadir's jaw, Kadir tried to retaliate but Thompson answered with a right, a left, another right... Well you get the picture. At the midway point Thompson started shooting left hooks to Kadir's head and body. The round didn't come soon enough for Kadir. Mentally game and here to fight, Thompson had taken Kadir out of his game plan in only 3 seconds of the fight... This bout started way faster than I expected for Thompson. He started like a Dennis Alexio or a Kentucky Derby horse straight out the gate and into a sprint! will Kadir last at this pace? We will soon see. However one thing was sure here, Thompson was having NO RUDE awakening to the Pro division as all 3 judges gave Thompson the round, 10-9.

Ding for Round 2: This was a different Stephen Thompson tonight. NOT just because he shed the headgear, but because he has matured greatly as a MAN! He has grown up and has developed himself with the help of his trainer/father Ray Thompson into a Top Fighting Machine! Will he continue or will he "EVER" meet a match? Or is it here in Kadir? Did Kadir just get surprised in round 1? Will he change his strategy in round 2? Lets see.
The bell rings and right away these two start throwing kicks, but nothing to highlight. than Thompson begins his combination, "Right hand, Left hand, Left hand, Right hand and BOOM, a right leg kick to the side of Kadir's head!" But wait, Kadir tries to counter back, chasing Thompson across the ring.... but this is like chasing a cat into a corner and in turn, the cat becomes a TIGER... Or in Thompson's case, a LION! Thompson's avoids Kadir's attack with his swift footwork and when ready, fires a right hand to Kadir's head that lands square! One, Two punches later and a boot to boot sweep... What kind of Wheaties does this kid eat in the morning? Another Left, a Right and another HEAD KICK! But Kadir comes back, he lands a left leg round kick of his own on Thompson's face, but it doesn't faze Thompson at all as he answers back with a spinning kick that misses but lands a strong left followed by a right to Kadir's head. WOW! No surprise here, Thompson 10-9 on all 3 judges cards!

Ding for Round 3: Do I really need to stress my fingers typing this round out? FINE!... I continue on... Within 5 seconds of round 3, a left leg to the ribs, a right hand to the head... Yes, by Thompson. More of the same. A few seconds later, spinning right leg side kick by Thompson's drives Kadir into the corner hard! still Kadir continues to try to penetrate Thompson's defense but to no avail. Every attempt is answered by more of the same by Thompson. Kudos to Kadir for staying tough through all this. Many have fallen before him and many will fall again by the hands and feet of Thompson, but Kadir stays in there. Nothing new on the score cards, 10-9 Thompson on all 3!

Ding for Round 4: How do you want this round description to start? The truth? Kadir comes out of his corner a defeated man in his eyes. He has experienced what many fighters don't want to, "He's been worked!" Better him than me or anyone else reading this! Kadir shows Gladiator GUTS and comes out to face the Lion again! Few would have even come out for another round, but here he comes, with no thought of giving up! The first contact is Thompson's right foot on Kadir's jaw as if to say, "Welcome to round 4... Remember me?!" Kadir stays strong, despite soon taking a spinning side kick to his chest by Thompson only seconds later. Then suddenly, "Here comes the storm! Raining down on Kadir!" It all starts with a straight left, then a right, a left uppercut, a right leg round kick, another left, another right, another left, another right and then the BIG Finish! A left hook to Kadir's ribs that sends him wincing to the canvas. It hurt us at ringside it was such a good shot! Referee Dan Stell steps in to start his count. It will be the first given 8 count of Thompson's pro career and it comes from the most unlikely of shots, a BODY SHOT! Will Kadir stand? Of course this Gladiator will, but still clearly in pain, as ANY of us would be! But NO MERCY here by Thompson. A Lion knows when their pray are hurt, injured and they know how to go after them. Thompson's first strike after the 8 count? A precisely placed left hook to.. you guessed it, Kadir's left rib cage and yes, Kadir goes down again for his second count of the round. But hey, he's up again. what a warrior! No giving in here. Not now, or at least, not yet! Thompson waste little time and throws a left leg round kick to Kadir's ribs which he blocks on his arms but Thompson fires his right leg which scores on Kadir's head. This is followed immediately with "TWO" right leg side kicks to Kadir's body. do you really need to read all this? the round ends and again no surprises. with the 2 8 counts, Thompson wins the round 10-7 on all 3 judges cards.

Ding for Round 5: Well, good thing for me this bout is about to end. My fingers are getting tired. Thompson opens the round with a left leg round kick that Kadir blocks. Then, at 16 seconds into round 5, history is made as Thompson lands another crushing left hook to Kadir's ribs. It didn't take referee Dan Stell too long to waive this bout over after looking at Kadir's face. Thompson gets his first Pro win by TKO. The official time of referee Dan Stell's stop is 19 seconds into round 5. Oh and don't forget the quick Thompson back flip in the ring to "Seal the Win!" At the time of the stop all three judges had this bout at 40-34. This ones in the history books, and all Stephen Thompson must be thinking about is, "Who's NEXT!?"

Kudos to Kadir for the first praise, SHOWING UP when others left Thompson hangin! Kudos to him for going toe to toe with Thompson from the start, never backing down and showing a true warrior spirit! We are sure to see Kadir back in the ring again on another event. But for tonight, all hats go off to Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson!