[moviezone]

The Philadelphia Daily News had some interesting information on the retirement of junior middleweight Anthony Thompson (24-3, 18KOs). A little over a week ago it was announced that Thompson had re from the ring and as a result his August 22 rematch with Grady Brewer (26-11, 15KOs) was off. Brewer handed Thompson his first loss back in 2004 with a third-round TKO. During the last five years, Thompson had been requesting a rematch.

Thompson told the paper that he re due to a chronic eye condition. He claims to have been fighting "partially blind" for the last 3 years. When asked about the pre-fight exams that he passed for the last three years, Thompson claimed that his cousin, also named Anthony Thompson, was the actual person taking the eye exams.

Manager Cameron Dunkin and Thompson's trainer Derek "Bozy" Ennis are not buying the story. They said it's not the first time that Thompson pulled out of fights with a wild story as the reason. Dunkin said Thompson was paid an advance for the fight.

"Anthony took an advance [of $2,000 on his $15,000 purse], he signed a contract, he was showing up at the gym every day to train. Then Bozy began calling me. He'd say, 'Anthony is complaining about his eyes, his ankles, his hand. He says he doesn't feel good. But what's really the matter is that he's scared to death of [Brewer]," Dunkin said.

Thompson said that his vision was more important than continuing his career.

"There's nothing more important than my eyesight," Thompson said.