Was Driving Through Pinklon Thomas' home town not too long ago

Sweet.

I once got to spar a round with him. He almost broke my jaw after he cracked me in the ribs, haha. It was light sparring and going well and then I hit him with a (southpaw) jab right on his eyeball (he didn’t get his eye closed) late in the round ... he blinked a few times and his expression changed, more serious.

I said uh oh to myself and loaded up on a left hand hoping better get him before he gets me and then maybe the bell will ring. He slipped it to the side and hit me a right in the ribs that took my breath away and then a right to the jaw that had it clicking for like 4-6 weeks (but didn’t swell up, fortunately).

Bell rang soon after. He could have taken me out at any time even though he was well past prime (on that comeback trail where he beat a bunch of nobodies hoping, I suppose, for another big payday). Friend got a photo of me taking the body shot right when it landed. But Pinklon hung around and took pictures and couldn’t have been a nicer guy. I have that photo and one of me and him together on my fridge to this day.

Thanks for the thread bringing up the memory.

 

Gotta be honest. Off all the 80s heavyweights, I thought he would be one of the ones that wouldn’t still be around.

 

It is ironic that both Page and Dokes are gone, along with Berbick and Tate, but Pink is still around, but power to him, seems like a good dude.

 

Thanks for sharing SP, by the way my favorite Saint lol

 

Great story. Thanks. And that clicking of the jaw comment brought back memories.

 

Yeah, he seems like that to me too. I loved his jab, especially vs Witherspoon.

 

That was the rub with that era .. none of them could hold it together for more than a few fights .. two fights later he loses to Berbick who was also a tough guy but inconsistent ..

 

Awesome story!!!! I have such a soft spot for all those “lost Heavyweights” as some refer to them from the 80’s. I grew up watching them and though Tyson and Holmes were the monsters of the decade I was fascinated by all the “other guys”. My introduction to boxing began in the late 70’s - early 80’s. My dad always watched the fights and I was like a sponge. I immediately fell in love with the sport. My basement “man cave” walls today are filled with boxing memorabilia of course some of the big hitters are down there but so are “the other guys” posters and magazine covers of Dokes, Weaver,Coetzee, Thomas, Berbick, Witherspoon, Spinks and on and on. My wife was kind enough just to let me go completely wild so the entire basement is just loaded with boxing!!! Love them 80’s guys. I still revisit the old fights on vhs on a vcr even though the thought of it is a bit hilarious having a vcr hooked up to a 70 inch 4K HDTV LOL.

 

He seemed to age overnight. The loss to Berbick was very surprising and he looked horrible in the tuneups before facing Tyson. Tyson finished off what was left. Anbody who beat Pinklon post Tyson was just using him as a name on their resume. It is surprising that with his history of heroin abuse and the fact he kept fighting far too long, taking unnecessary punishment that he's still around.