Ashland City boxer Tyler 'Short Fuse' Tomlin will try to remain unbeaten in Showtime debut

Six-time Tennessee Golden Gloves boxing champion and undefeated professional Tyler “Short Fuse” Tomlin from Ashland City, Tennessee will make his Showtime debut Friday on SHOBOX: The Next Generation when he meets Chann Thonson in an eight-round lightweight bout.

The fight will open the live telecast at 8 p.m. CST from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Tomlin is 13-0 with nine knockouts and Thonson, from Quebec, Canada, is 10-0 with seven knockouts.

"I am right on track as far as weight cut and everything else and this is probably the best shape I've ever been in getting ready for a fight," Tomlin said.

Tomlin, 22, hopes to carry over the momentum he gained in his last fight, which came in February when he knocked out Charlie Serrano in the second round at Austin Peay.

"That's the first fight I just felt extremely calm; got in there and boxed like I was supposed to," Tomlin said. "I plan on building on that performance on Friday. It's a huge event and obviously one you might get psyched out about, but I believe I'll be able to handle it. I'm just going to get in there and handle business."

Tonlin said the enormity of this fight is comparable to his bout at Bridgestone Arena in 2020 when he claimed a decision over Jose Zaragoza when fighting on the same card with Nashville boxer and former IBF super middleweight champ Caleb Plant and Vincent Feigenbutz.

Tomlin said he has been striving for the composure he achieved in his last fight since he began his pro career in 2019.

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"If you let your emotions get to you, you don't fight right," he said. "It's such a calculated game if you make one mistake that might be the end of the night for you. You've got to be calm, go in there and just execute the game plan."

Tomlin credited Thonson, 30, who is coming off a knockout of Walberto Ramos in March, for being a formidable opponent.

"Chan's a really good boxer and he's going to get in there and test me," Tomlin said. "With it being such a big weekend and a big fight in general I'm excited for that test. In my last couple of fights I haven't had the opportunity to get tested like I want to. I've been knocking these guys out pretty quickly. I want to get in there, get tested and kind of show everybody what I'm all about."

Tomlin said he holds on edge over Thonson with his footwork and speed. They both possess plenty of power, he said, in their punches.

"We're pretty even with power but I think my power's going to get there first," Tomlin said. "I've got good defense, good movement, all the things to set up my power. Whereas Chan, I feel like, gets his power from coming forward and being a wrecking ball. I don't think he can fight backing up and hurt me. The way I fight, I put on pressure, I put on combinations and that really starts to break people down."   

The event will include the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction at nearby Canastota, New York, where Tomlin's promoter Lou DiBella, who was enshrined into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020, will be inducted along with the 2021 and 2022 classes. The 2020 and 2021 class induction were postponed because of COVID-19.

“It’s going to be an honor fighting in front of so many great hall of famers," Tomlin said. "It’s extra special that my promoter Lou Dibella will be getting inducted. I just want to soak it all in and be special on fight night.”

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tyler Tomlin, Ashland City boxer, Showtime debut vs. Chann Thonson