Noons vs. Thomson Not Happening In April

[Keithlewis]

Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh “The Punk” Thomson and EXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons were rumored to be matched up against each other at the upcoming April 11 Strikeforce event on Showtime!, but Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently confirmed that Noons in fact will not be participating in the event, intending instead to focus on his boxing career.

Noons (7-2) claimed the Elite XC 160-pound championship just before the company went under when he defeated UFC veteran Nick Diaz in November of 2007. Most recently he defeated Yves Edwards in June 2008 with strikes in only forty-eight seconds.

Thomson (16-2, 1 NC) became the Strikeforce lightweight champion with his win over PRIDE veteran Gilbert Melendez in a one-sided five round decision in June. Most recently he stopped Ashe Bowman with strikes in just over one minute at the Playboy Mansion.

While the bout between champions is not set to take place, Coker assured that Thomson would still be featured on the card. As it stands the only confirmed matches are between legendary Frank Shamrock and Nick Diaz, and a middleweight bout between IFL veteran Benji Radach and former EXC middleweight contender Scott Smith.

[broncofan]

Wonder if KJ thinks his boxing career is going to pay more

[JuniorVT]