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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes51Loss Lawrence CarterTKO7 (12), Jan 29, 1993 50Win43–6–1 Craig PayneSD12Nov 14, 1992 49Win42–6–1 Mike OwensTKO3 (10)Oct 22, 1992 48Win41–6–1 Dion BurgessTKO5 (10), Oct 2, 1992 47Win40–6–1 Kevin NesbittKO1 (10)Sep 25, 1992 46Win39–6–1 Frankie HinesKO1Sep 19, 1992 45Win38–6–1 Larry BeilfussKO1 (10)Sep 5, 1992 44Win37–6–1 Adolph DavisKO1 (10)Aug 22, 1992 43Win36–6–1 Danny WoffordUD10Aug 14, 1992 42Win35–6–1 James SmithKO1 (10)Aug 8, 1992 41Win34–6–1 Bobby JonesTKO1 (10)Aug 1, 1992 40Win33–6–1 Terry MillerKO2 (10)Jul 31, 1992 39Win32–6–1 Danny SuttonUD10Jun 27, 1992 38Win31–6–1 Herman JacksonKO3 (10), May 29, 1992 37Loss30–6–1 Tommy MorrisonRTD1 (10), Feb 19, 1991 36Loss30–5–1 Riddick BoweRTD8 (10), Sep 7, 1990 35Loss30–4–1 Mike HunterUD10Jun 12, 1990 34Win30–3–1 Curtis IsaacUD10May 23, 1990 33Loss29–3–1 Evander HolyfieldRTD7 (10), Dec 9, 1988 32Loss29–2–1 Mike TysonTKO6 (12), May 30, 1987 31Win29–1–1 Danny SuttonTKO7 (10), Mar 7, 1987 30Win28–1–1 William HoseaTKO7 (10), Nov 22, 1986 29Win27–1–1 Narcisco MaldonadoKO5 (10)Oct 16, 1986 28Loss26–1–1 Trevor BerbickUD12Mar 22, 1986 27Win26–0–1 Mike WeaverKO8 (12), Jun 15, 1985 26Win25–0–1 Tim Witherspoon12Aug 31, 1984 25Win24–0–1 Bruce GrandhamRTD5 (10), Jun 20, 1984 24Win23–0–1 Leroy BooneUD10Oct 27, 1983 23Win22–0–1 Michael GreerTKO5 (10), Sep 24, 1983 22Win21–0–1 Alfonso RatliffTKO10 (10), Mar 26, 1983 21Draw20–0–1 Gerrie Coetzee10Jan 22, 1983 20Win20–0 James TillisTKO8 (10), Aug 14, 1982 19Win19–0 Jerry WilliamsKO2 (10), Jul 3, 1982 18Win18–0 Luis AcostaRTD2 (10), May 23, 1982 17Win17–0 Johnny Warr8Jan 23, 1982 16Win16–0 Curtis WhitnerKO2 (10)Nov 25, 1981 15Win15–0 Lee MitchellKO1 (10)Apr 16, 1981 14Win14–0 Jerry Williams10Aug 28, 1980 13Win13–0 Frank BrownKO4 (10)Jun 15, 1980 12Win12–0 Jerry Williams5 (10), Feb 10, 1980 11Win11–0 Bobby JordanTKO5 (10), Dec 14, 1979 10Win10–0 Leroy CaldwellKO10 (10), Jul 18, 1979 9Win9–0 Willie StoglinTKO2 (10), Jul 2, 1979 8Win8–0 George JeromeTKO2 (8), Jun 7, 1979 7Win7–0 Lee HollomanKO2 (10), May 23, 1979 6Win6–0 Foma Leota2 (10)Apr 26, 1979 5Win5–0 Elmo Tex HendersonTKO5 (10)Apr 4, 1979 4Win4–0 Lew LockwoodTKO4 (8)Feb 20, 1979 3Win3–0 Roger BraxtonTKO7 (8)Jan 8, 1979 2Win2–0 Mustafa El Amin3 (6)Oct 31, 1978 1Win1–0 Ken Arlt6Aug 29, 1978

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