- Pinklon Thomas
Infobox_Boxer
name = Pinklon Thomas
realname = Pinklon Thomas
nickname = Pink
weight =Heavyweight
nationality = American}
birth_date = Birth date and age|1958|2|10|mf=y
death_date =
birth_place =Pontiac, Michigan ,United States
home =Pontiac, Michigan
style = Orthodox
total = 51
wins = 43
KO = 34
losses = 7
draws = 1
no contests = 0Pinklon Thomas (born
February 10 ,1958 inPontiac, Michigan ) is a former boxer whose trademark pinkboxing trunks and a left jab were key distinguishing characteristics.A native of
Pontiac, Michigan who also lived on military bases inSouth Carolina andWashington state, Thomas eventually settled inWyncote, Pennsylvania .World champion
Thomas, with a record of 24-0-1, would finally get his World title shot against reigning WBC champion
Tim Witherspoon in August 1984, in Las Vegas, NV.Witherspoon was said to be in constant turmoil with promoter Don King, and Thomas boxed his way to a clear cut (although scored majority) decision.
As Witherspoon had lost controversially via a razor-thin split decision to IBF champ
Larry Holmes the previous year (and Holmes had vacated the WBC title rather than fight Witherspoon again orGreg Page ), many saw Thomas as #1 in the world.In June 1985 Thomas underlined his credentials, fighting an exciting war with ex-champ
Mike Weaver , and scoring a dramatic one-punch knockout in the 8th round.By March 1986 when he signed to defend via wily veteran
Trevor Berbick , many wondered whether Thomas was taking the challenge seriously, concentrating as he was on managing other fights and a record career. The powerfully-built Jamaican relieved Thomas of his WBC title, clubbing him to a 12 round unanimous defeat.Thomas came back and reeled off three kayo wins over journeymen, generally deemed unimpressive by the boxing press, before setting up a May 1987 challenge to WBC and WBA Heavweight champion
Mike Tyson . Although Thomas took the fight with a serious shoulder injury, he enjoyed success outjabbing Tyson. After a long break for a torn glove, action resumed in the 6th round where Tyson knocked Thomas out with a brutal fifteen punch salvo, knocking the extremely durable Thomas down for the first and last time in his lengthy career. Although he got up inside the count, the fight was waved off.Decline
Thomas would never be in contention for the world title again, taking dangerous fights against top contenders.
In December 1988 he returned from a 19 month layoff to fight #1 Heavyweight contender
Evander Holyfield . Thomas looked rusty and past his best as he was outclassed over 7 rounds, after which he was pulled out by his corner. Long-time trainerAngelo Dundee advised Thomas to retire and stopped working with him. Holyfield would go on to win the World Heavyweight title three times and be named one of the all-time greats.Thomas returned in 1990 to outpoint journeyman Curtis Isaac over 10 rounds, before being outpointed himself by the erratic and extremely awkward
Mike "The Bounty" Hunter . A few months later he was beaten up byRiddick Bowe and pulled out after 8 rounds. Bowe would go on to defeat Holyfield and become Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the World.In February 1991 he took on hard hitting heavyweight
Tommy Morrison but was cut and shaken up in the opening round, and pulled out on his stool. Morrison went to win the WBO belt.Thomas attempted one final comeback in 1992, beating twelve journeymen before outpointing former outstanding amateur
Craig Payne for the obscure IBO belt. In his final fight in January 1993 he was upset by journeyman "Poncho" Carter.He tried comeback in 1999 for a fight with old foe
Tim Witherspoon , but could not confirm a fight withLarry Holmes for the winner so chose not to participate.Retired
While Pinklon is still involved in the sport, he has 'changed gears' to a more trainer/counselor standpoint, assisting those pugilists in the 'next generation.'
As of 2004 he was working as a drug counselor at the "Center for Drug Free Living" in Orlando, Florida, with young offenders. Pinklon currently works as an assistant at an alternative school in Orlando,Florida called C.E.P. were he works with juvenile children to help them do better in life.
External links
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