Boxing star reveals that a lack of funding killed his promising tennis career
British boxer Jordan Thompson has revealed that his first love in the realm of sport was tennis but his dreams were cut short by a lack of funding.
Thompson, who challenges Australia’s IBF world champion Jai Opetaia at Wembley’s OVO Arena on Saturday, said that he had dreams of playing at Wimbledon after a promising junior career.
However, he couldn’t stump up the financial support that is required to launch a professional tennis career.
“I was top 10 in the under-16s and under-18s nationally,” Thompson explained to the BBC.
“I was number one in Lancashire for a while. I travelled the world, up and down the United Kingdom. I loved it.
“A lot of sponsorship was needed and it was tough to get.
“That was the main reason I couldn’t fulfil my potential – a lack of funding.
“I come from a hard-working family. I never went without food in my belly or a roof over my head, but I didn’t have the luxury of a millionaire funding my tennis career.”
While quite a few would shake their heads at how one gets from tennis to boxing, Thompson said that the sports present similar challenges especially when it coes to the mental aspect.
“They are actually very, very similar sports,” Thompson said.
“Both do end up in your head a little bit, they’re emotionally volatile.
“You may have your team, but you have to rely on yourself when you’re in battle. The ups and downs, the twists and turns. You can be match point up, have a bad game and then suddenly you’re match point down.
“Same in boxing – everything can be going right and next thing you have taken a shot and you’re on your back.”
Thompson admits that he was absolutely shattered as a human being after his tennis dream died.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was lost, searching for answers about myself and life,” Thompson said.
“I didn’t have a job, I wasn’t working. I was just in the gym, training.”
While training in his local gym, Thompson said that he fell into boxing and found it a great fit.
“Boxing just happened to find me, rather than me finding boxing,” he added.
“As I got more and more involved, people told me I had a bit of natural talent and ability.
“I remember sparring with professional boxers preparing for British title shots when I was an absolute raw novice and still holding my own.”
Despite a family background in combat sports, Thompson added that he was never that keen on being a boxing champion.
“We’re a big-time talented family,” he proudly says. “With my mum and dad being in combat sports I was never a stranger to fighting.
“But although there was always a little hint there, I was never that young kid who wanted to become a big-time famous boxer.”
The 30-year-old boxer is now just one bout away from possibly becoming a world champion.
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