Known as Pink, Pinklon Thomas was a former WBC Heavyweight champion who reigned between 1984 and 1986. His signature included pink trunks and a sledgehammer left hand that took him to 43 wins and 34 knockouts over 15 years.

Career

Thomas was born in Pontiac, Michigan on February 10, 1958. While living in Orlando, Florida, he pursued amateur boxing in 1978. Later that year, he would make his professional debut, defeating Ken Arlt in Seattle. He would march on to a 20-0 record before facing a draw against Gerrie Coetzee in January 1983.

The rest of 1983 saw Pinklon Thomas reignite a winning streak. In the second half of 1984, Thomas would win the WBC Heavyweight title, defeating Tim Witherspoon. With a greatly reduced schedule, he managed one defense before losing to Jamaican boxer Trevor Berbick in March 1986.

Pinklon Thomas drifted through the remainder of the 1980s and the early-1990s having a few victories. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Thomas had another major battle with drug abuse. He would defeat heroin and cocaine in 1989. The late-1980s saw him lose to Mike Tyson in 1987 and Evan Holyfield in 1988.

He would also suffer a significant loss to Riddick Bowe in 1990. In each of these bouts, he managed to hang in the fight for several rounds before falling to his younger opponent. With his career winding down, Thomas had one last hurrah in 1992.

The former WBO champion fought at least one bout a month starting in May and several a month starting in August. Thomas would take the IBO and WBF World titles in November 1992, defeating Craig Payne by split decision. He would lose the titles in his final match in January 1993.

After retiring from boxing, Pinklon Thomas turned to motivational speaking and working to keep children away from gangs and drugs.

REFERENCE
-http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/880
-http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-05-22/lifestyle/9105210635_1_pinklon-thomas-heavyweight-title-boxing
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT3kXJajJH8