Tony Thompson's cautious approach against Wladimir Klitschko backfired horribly, the American said after his failed challenge for the Ukrainian's WBA, IFB and WBO heavyweight titles.
Klitschko floored Thompson in the sixth round in Bern, Switzerland, on Saturday to retain his titles and score the 51st knockout of his career.
Thompson, 40, lamented allowing Klitschko to take the initiative.
"Wladimir’s just so sound efficiently, it’s hard to land any punches," he told boxing.com.
"So I probably got overcautious, over-respected him too much trying to land, get him to come in to land a shot," he added.
"But you can’t do that because it gave him too much confidence. And once his confidence got high he was like a train. It’s hard to stop from coming ahead.”
It was Thompson's third career defeat and second at the hands of Klitschko, who scored an 11th-round knockout in Hamburg, Germany, in 2008.
Thompson's record stands at 36 wins and three defeats with 24 knockouts, while Klitschko goes to 56 wins and three losses.
