# Duane Thomas (boxer)

Duane Thomas (February 1, 1961 – June 2000), was an American professional boxer in the super welterweight (154 lb) division. He was born in Detroit, Michigan.

## Professional career

Thomas turned pro in 1979 and won the Vacant USBA Light middleweight title in 1983 against Nino Gonzalez. He would go on to win the WBC Light Middleweight Title with a 3rd-round TKO over John Mugabi in 1986 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Thomas would lose the title eight months later, in Merignac, France, in his first defense to Lupe Aquino by decision. In 1988 he challenged WBC Light Middleweight Title holder Gianfranco Rosi, but was dominated and TKO'd in the 7th. He was an elite fighter during his era.

## Professional boxing record

| 34 fights | 31 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 2 |
| By decision | 9 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 34 | Win | 31–3 | Abraham Bruno | UD | 6 (6) | 2000-04-08 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Thomas Covington | UD | 8 (8) | 1989-10-13 | Manuel Lujan Exhibition Hall at Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 29–3 | Gianfranco Rosi | TKO | 7 (12) | 1988-01-03 | Palazzo Dello Sport, Genoa, Italy | For WBC super welterweight title |
| 31 | Loss | 29–2 | Lupe Aquino | UD | 12 (12) | 1987-07-12 | Sports Complex, Mérignac, France | Lost WBC super welterweight title |
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | John Mugabi | TKO | 3 (12) | 1986-12-05 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBC super welterweight title |
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Bobby McCorvey | TKO | 2 (10) | 1986-10-17 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Tony Ojo | TKO | 2 (12) | 1986-07-28 | Grahams Studio West, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | Retained USBA super welterweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Lopez McGee | UD | 10 (10) | 1986-01-07 | New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Mark McPherson | TKO | 10 (12) | 1985-05-16 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained USBA super welterweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Sumbu Kalambay | PTS | 10 (10) | 1985-04-06 | Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Lloyd Richardson | TKO | 1 (10) | 1984-12-20 | Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Tony Harrison | TKO | 8 (10) | 1984-06-15 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Clayton Hires | KO | 4 (12) | 1984-04-19 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | Retained USBA super welterweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Donald King | TKO | 10 (12) | 1983-11-19 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained USBA super welterweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Nino Gonzalez | TKO | 8 (12) | 1983-05-26 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won vacant USBA super welterweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Jesse Abrams | KO | 2 (10) | 1982-09-04 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Willie Ray Taylor | KO | 4 (10) | 1982-07-25 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 16–1 | Buster Drayton | TKO | 7 (10) | 1982-04-29 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Tony McMinn | TKO | 1 (10) | 1982-02-27 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Fred Reed | TKO | 2 (?) | 1982-01-23 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Carl Crowley | KO | 1 (10) | 1981-12-03 | Coliseum, Jackson, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Jose Luis Santana | TKO | 10 (10) | 1981-09-10 | Twenty Grand Showroom, Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | David Braxton | SD | 10 (10) | 1981-02-19 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Jerry Hall | DQ | 1 (10) | 1980-12-12 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Allen Avery | KO | 2 (6) | 1980-12-02 | Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Randall Jackson | KO | 1 (8) | 1980-10-23 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | James Leftwick | KO | 1 (?) | 1980-06-13 | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Lamont Hopkins | TKO | 3 (6) | 1980-02-22 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Lenny Villers | UD | 6 (6) | 1980-01-24 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Rodney Cummings | UD | 6 (6) | 1979-11-15 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Harvey Wilson | KO | 2 (6) | 1979-10-18 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Dave Myrick | UD | 4 (4) | 1979-08-02 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Ron Tillman | TKO | 4 (4) | 1979-06-28 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ken Rocky Fusco | SD | 4 (4) | 1979-04-20 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |

## Death

Duane Thomas had just made a comeback after 11 years out of the ring, when he was murdered in Detroit over a drug dispute, in 2000.