Tony Thompson insists that he wants to finish his boxing career at the top of the sport.
Thompson faces British heavyweight David Price on Saturday as he looks to respond from a sixth-round defeat to Wladimir Klitschko in July, and the American has admitted that he will retire from boxing if he fails to win at the Liverpool Echo Arena at the weekend.
The 41-year-old told reporters: "I started boxing as a club fighter, but I am not going to finish my career that way.
"The fire is still there because I find it hard coming to grips knowing that if I lose to Price I have to quit.
"To stay on this big stage, I have to beat big time boxers like Price."
The former world title challenger has won 36 of his 39 professional fights.
