# Pinklon Thomas

Pinklon Thomas (born February 10, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1993. He was boxing's first 'Centennial Champion' (1886-1986) and held the WBC heavyweight title from 1984 to 1986. He is considered one of the best boxers of his generation. He beat former heavyweight champions Mike Weaver, Tim Witherspoon, James Tillis and future cruiserweight champion Alfonso Ratliff. He also drew with future WBA Heavyweight Champion Gerrie Coetzee. Thomas was known for his pink boxing trunks and a powerful left jab.

## Early life

A native of Pontiac, Michigan, who also lived on military bases in South Carolina and Washington, Thomas eventually settled in Orlando, Florida.

## Professional career

Thomas turned professional after just three amateur fights.
Thomas took on a number of contenders and champions before his first championship; After a win over multiple time world title challenger James Tillis, in 1983, Thomas took Gerrie Coetzee to a draw, who later that year won the WBA heavyweight belt, and defeated the eventual WBC cruiserweight champion, Alfonso Ratliff By 1984, with a record of 24–0–1, he would get his first world title shot against reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon in August 1984, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thomas won the WBC Heavyweight Championship with a hard-fought 12-round battle over "Terrible" Witherspoon. Ten months later, he defended his title against ex-champion Mike Weaver, stopping Weaver with a single punch in the eighth round. Thomas lost the WBC title to Trevor Berbick in March 1986 by a decision.

### Thomas vs. Tyson

Thomas came back and reeled off three ko wins before setting up a May 1987 challenge to WBC and WBA Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Although Thomas allegedly 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 in which Tyson had regained his energy and Tyson knocked Thomas out with a brutal fifteen punch salvo, knocking the extremely durable Thomas down for the first and only time in his career. Although he got up inside the count, the fight was waved off.

### Later career

Thomas went in and out of retirement over the following years, taking fights against top contenders.
In December 1988 he returned from a 19-month layoff to fight #1 heavyweight contender Evander Holyfield. Thomas looked rusty as he was outmatched over 7 rounds, and the fight was stopped. Long-time trainer Angelo Dundee advised Thomas to retire and stopped working with him.
Thomas returned in 1990 to outpoint Curtis Isaac over 10 rounds, before being outpointed himself by the erratic and unpredictable Mike "The Bounty" Hunter. A few months later he fought Riddick Bowe and pulled out after 8 rounds. Bowe would go on to defeat Holyfield and become undisputed world heavyweight champion.
In February 1991 he took on hard hitting heavyweight Tommy Morrison but was cut and shaken up in the opening round, and the fight was stopped in between rounds. Morrison went on to win the WBO belt.
Thomas attempted one final comeback in 1992, winning twelve fights before outpointing Craig Payne. In his final fight in January 1993 he was upset by journeyman "Poncho" Carter.
A comeback fight in 1999 with old foe Tim Witherspoon was not to be, because a fight with Larry Holmes for the winner could not be confirmed.

## Retirement

Thomas now has a foundation, Project P.I.N.K. (Pride in Neighborhood Kids), and is a motivational speaker.

## Professional boxing record

| 51 fights | 43 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 34 | 5 |
| By decision | 9 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 51 | Loss | 43–7–1 | Lawrence Carter | TKO | 7 (12), 0:47 | Jan 29, 1993 | Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. | Lost WBF (Federation) heavyweight title |
| 50 | Win | 43–6–1 | Craig Payne | SD | 12 | Nov 14, 1992 | Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. | Won inaugural IBO and WBF (Federation) heavyweight titles |
| 49 | Win | 42–6–1 | Mike Owens | TKO | 3 (10) | Oct 22, 1992 | Club Rogues, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 41–6–1 | Dion Burgess | TKO | 5 (10), 2:06 | Oct 2, 1992 | Robarts Arena, Sarasota, Florida, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 40–6–1 | Kevin Nesbitt | KO | 1 (10) | Sep 25, 1992 | Adam's Mark Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 39–6–1 | Frankie Hines | KO | 1 | Sep 19, 1992 | Bill Sapp Recreation Center, Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 38–6–1 | Larry Beilfuss | KO | 1 (10) | Sep 5, 1992 | Howard Johnson Hotel and Conference Center, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 37–6–1 | Adolph Davis | KO | 1 (10) | Aug 22, 1992 | Denver, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 36–6–1 | Danny Wofford | UD | 10 | Aug 14, 1992 | Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 35–6–1 | James Smith | KO | 1 (10) | Aug 8, 1992 | Demopolis, Alabama, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 34–6–1 | Bobby Jones | TKO | 1 (10) | Aug 1, 1992 | Forest City, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 33–6–1 | Terry Miller | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 31, 1992 | Government House Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 32–6–1 | Danny Sutton | UD | 10 | Jun 27, 1992 | Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 31–6–1 | Herman Jackson | KO | 3 (10), 1:44 | May 29, 1992 | Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 30–6–1 | Tommy Morrison | RTD | 1 (10), 3:00 | Feb 19, 1991 | Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 30–5–1 | Riddick Bowe | RTD | 8 (10), 3:00 | Sep 7, 1990 | University Physical Activities Center, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 30–4–1 | Mike Hunter | UD | 10 | Jun 12, 1990 | Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 30–3–1 | Curtis Isaac | UD | 10 | May 23, 1990 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 29–3–1 | Evander Holyfield | RTD | 7 (10), 3:00 | Dec 9, 1988 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 29–2–1 | Mike Tyson | TKO | 6 (12), 2:00 | May 30, 1987 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | For WBA and WBC heavyweight titles |
| 31 | Win | 29–1–1 | Danny Sutton | TKO | 7 (10), 2:54 | Mar 7, 1987 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 28–1–1 | William Hosea | TKO | 7 (10), 1:10 | Nov 22, 1986 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–1–1 | Narcisco Maldonado | KO | 5 (10) | Oct 16, 1986 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | |
| 28 | Loss | 26–1–1 | Trevor Berbick | UD | 12 | Mar 22, 1986 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–0–1 | Mike Weaver | KO | 8 (12), 1:42 | Jun 15, 1985 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–0–1 | Tim Witherspoon | MD | 12 | Aug 31, 1984 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Bruce Grandham | RTD | 5 (10), 0:01 | Jun 20, 1984 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | Leroy Boone | UD | 10 | Oct 27, 1983 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Michael Greer | TKO | 5 (10), 1:15 | Sep 24, 1983 | Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Alfonso Ratliff | TKO | 10 (10), 2:36 | Mar 26, 1983 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Draw | 20–0–1 | Gerrie Coetzee | MD | 10 | Jan 22, 1983 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | James Tillis | TKO | 8 (10), 0:58 | Aug 14, 1982 | Stouffer's Inn on the Square Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Jerry Williams | KO | 2 (10), 1:29 | Jul 3, 1982 | Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Luis Acosta | RTD | 2 (10), 3:00 | May 23, 1982 | Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Johnny Warr | PTS | 8 | Jan 23, 1982 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Curtis Whitner | KO | 2 (10) | Nov 25, 1981 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Lee Mitchell | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 16, 1981 | Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Jerry Williams | UD | 10 | Aug 28, 1980 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Frank Brown | KO | 4 (10) | Jun 15, 1980 | Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Jerry Williams | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Feb 10, 1980 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Bobby Jordan | TKO | 5 (10), 3:00 | Dec 14, 1979 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Leroy Caldwell | KO | 10 (10), 2:48 | Jul 18, 1979 | Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Willie Stoglin | TKO | 2 (10), 2:52 | Jul 2, 1979 | High School, Sedro-Woolley, Washington, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | George Jerome | TKO | 2 (8), 1:20 | Jun 7, 1979 | Jantzen Beach Center, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Lee Holloman | KO | 2 (10), 2:28 | May 23, 1979 | Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Foma Leota | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 26, 1979 | Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Elmo Tex Henderson | TKO | 5 (10) | Apr 4, 1979 | Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena, Billings, Montana, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Lew Lockwood | TKO | 4 (8) | Feb 20, 1979 | Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Roger Braxton | TKO | 7 (8) | Jan 8, 1979 | Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Mustafa El Amin | TKO | 3 (6) | Oct 31, 1978 | Saint Martin's University Gym, Lacey, Washington, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ken Arlt | SD | 6 | Aug 29, 1978 | Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |