Post-Fight UPDATE: Vince Thompson won all 8 rounds. Fight went without a knock-out. He won by unanimous decision by the three judges.

By Bob Sims

It's been more than six months since undefeated heavyweight boxer "Vicious" Vincent Thompson has been in the ring.

The wait has been well worth it.

Thompson (10-0, 2 KOs) is fighting Joell "Joe Slick" Godfrey (14-6-1, 6 KOs) on the ESPN Friday Night Fights tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Ameristar Casino Conference Center in St. Charles, Mo., on ESPN 2.

It will be Federal Way boxer's first appearance on national TV. The fight is scheduled for eight rounds.

"I thank God for this opportunity first and foremost," said Thompson by phone from his hotel room today. "This dude (Godfrey) is done. He is not ready for me. I'm going to stop him in Round 3 or 4."

The main event on the Friday Night Fights card features lightweights Ji-Hoon "Volcano" Kim (23-7, 18 KOs) against undefeated Alister "Ali" Rahimov (23-0, 12 KOs).

Thompson, who is no longer fighting for Brian Halquist Productions, last fought on Nov. 5 last year, when he won in a technical decision over Tacoma's Jonte Willis (8-3-1, 3 KOs) in the eighth round at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

Since then, Thompson said he has been training "extremely hard" at Vision Quest in Auburn, waiting patiently for the right shot to come his way. ESPN called.

Thompson said he has been going 20 rounds in his workouts, 15 rounds in the ring, three rounds on the heavy bag, and the last two "perfecting" his orthodox technique. Thompson is a southpaw, but prides himself in being versatile enough to switch to a right-handed stance.

"I've also been working on my counters, slipping (punches) and agility," Thompson said. "I can tap-dance like Sugar Ray Leonard."

Thompson's opponent, Godfrey, beat Leo Bercier at Fitzgerald's Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Miss., in a six-round decision earlier this month.

"He (Godfrey) fights in spurts and likes to lay on the ropes," Thompson said. "He's a journeyman fighter. That's all he is. I'm going to send him back on his journey."

Thompson has another local connection. One of his three coaches, Jack Stafford, Jr., is a West Seattle High School alumni, class of 1980, the same class as Alki Arts Gallery owner, Diane Venti, and King County Executive, Dow Constantine.

His father, Jack Stafford, Sr. coached former two-time heavyweight champ Pinklon Thomas who lived in Seattle.

The West Seattle Herald did an article on Jack Stafford, Jr. here .

Stafford, Jr. gave Robinson Newspapers his prediction. "Vince stops Godfrey early, I think by the 4th or 5th round. Vince is too fast for this guy he won't know what to do with Vince. The kid works harder than any heavyweight around. He throws 200 punches a round. That's in 3 minutes. Bang !

"Funny. He calls me uncle," Stafford said of Vince. "Cracks me up. I love the kid like my own."