A proposed bout between up-and-coming Quebec hockey enforcer turned mixed martial artist Steve Bosse and British heavyweight James “The Colossus” Thompson planned for TKO 35 on October 3 likely won’t see the light of day according to Thompson’s agent Ken Pavia. 

Pavia says that taking a fight against a 3-1 opponent with just over one year of MMA experience “didn’t make sense” at this point in the career of his fighter who has fought under the EliteXC, Cage Rage and PRIDE banners. Thompson is 3-7 in his past 10 bouts, losing his most recent fight to former internet brawler Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson via TKO in the main event of EliteXC’s “Primetime” show on CBS May 31 after winning the opening two stanzas on the judges’ scorecards. 

TKO president Stephane Patry confirmed Monday that Thompson’s camp had rejected the match but would not name a possible replacement opponent for Bosse, saying that it would likely be a big name as he is on the cusp of being granted a shot at the TKO heavyweight strap. The title was unofficially vacated by champion Krzysztof Soszynski with the fighter’s drop down to light heavyweight. 

“We wanted a good opponent with a recognizable name for Bosse like we had in Wes Sims for his last fight,” Patry said. “We’ll bring in someone who can test him. He doesn’t want any easy fights. If he wins that fight his next fight will likely be for the [TKO heavyweight] title.”

Soszynski, who will be featured as a contestant on the ninth installment of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series told TGFN that he has no intention of moving back up to heavyweight any time soon as he feels his body is better suited for the lighter weight class he now competes in. Undefeated at light heavyweight, Soszynski has not fought for the Quebec promotion since May of 2006. He has one fight remaining on his contract, which he intends on fulfilling.

A pairing between Bosse and Icho Larenas for the championship is a possibility Patry says, but the former TKO heavyweight titleholder who lost to Sebastian Gauthier in Xtreme MMA in May needs to get back on track with a win before being considered a title contender. 

Larenas pulled out of a planned September Xtreme MMA event that was moved from August, stating he had already committed to fighting for another promotion in October so he may soon be announced as competing on the TKO card as well.

Patry says the rest of the fight card is coming together nicely and could include three title fights.

Featherweight champion Hatsu Hioki will return to defend his belt for the first time since defeating former champion Mark Hominick at TKO 29 in February 2007 when he takes on Stephane Vigneault as the card’s co-main event. 

The promotion is in the process of finding suitable opponents to face welterweight champion Jesse Bongfeldt and bantamweight champion Adrian Wooley.

A potential bout between Mark Hominick, who recently re-signed to a multi-fight deal with the Montreal-based promotion, and Thierry Quenneville is in negotiations. 

Chris Horodecki, who is waiting in limbo while the future of the IFL is decided, will likely finish out the last fight of his TKO contract by the end of 2008 Patry predicts. He would not commit to whether or not the 20-year-old would be on promotion’s scheduled October or December card.

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TKO 35

Friday, October 3, 2008

Bell Centre

Montreal, Quebec

TKO Featherweight Championship Bout

Hatsu Hioki vs. Stephane Vigneault 

TKO Welterweight Championship Bout

Jesse Bongfeldt vs. TBA

TKO Bantamweight Championship Bout

Adrian Wooley vs. TBA

Steve Bosse vs. TBA

Mark Hominick vs. Thierry Quenneville