Pinklon Thomas W 12 Tim Witherspoon

[SuzieQ49]

anyone see this fight on film?


I think this is an underated win for Pinklon Thomas. He beat spoon worse than holmes did. Pinklon Thomas was a very good fighter with one of the best jabs of that era. IMO tysons best heavyweight victim.

- I think Thomas gets underated because he never got to fight holmes like witherspoon did.....but what if larry had given the # 1 rated pinklon thomas his deserving unfication match? Thomas might have beaten an aging larry badly and then thomas would be regarded as top 20 heavyweight of all time.

Thomas did finally get his shot but it was vs a peak mike tyson, who destroyed him. but no shame, tyson would have done the same thing to witherspoon too, just like he did to tubbs and thomas.

[kenmore]

anyone see this fight on film?


I think this is an underated win for Pinklon Thomas. He beat spoon worse than holmes did. Pinklon Thomas was a very good fighter with one of the best jabs of that era. IMO tysons best heavyweight victim.

- I think Thomas gets underated because he never got to fight holmes like witherspoon did.....but what if larry had given the # 1 rated pinklon thomas his deserving unfication match? Thomas might have beaten an aging larry badly and then thomas would be regarded as top 20 heavyweight of all time.

Thomas did finally get his shot but it was vs a peak mike tyson, who destroyed him. but no shame, tyson would have done the same thing to witherspoon too, just like he did to tubbs and thomas.

I saw the fight on television when it was broadcast live in 1984. I remember being very surprised at the ease with which Thomas dominated Witherspoon. Thomas's left jab was the punch of the night...he was in complete control of the bout.

Based on Thomas's performance that night, I expected him to be one of boxing's two or three dominant heavyweights for years. I thought Thomas was the goods.

I was totally surprised when Thomas lost his title to Trevor Berbick in 1986. I don't know why Thomas never lived up to expectations...he seemed to have the talent and all the tools.

[mr. magoo]

Pinklon Thomas is another fighter who in my opinion is regarded for what he could have been and not necessarily for what he actually was. The Witherspoon win was a very good victory, but outside of that fight he has very few notable wins. Mike Weaver was past his prime and hadn't beaten a rated fighter in nearly 4 years. James Tillis was Ok when Thomas beat him, but never amounted to anything specatacular. Pinklon supposedly gave a great effort against Gerrie Coetzee in a bout that I did not see, but the outcome was a draw during a time when most of Thomas's peers were beating him. Pinklon losing to Berbick didn't help him much either.

[SuzieQ49]

Funny how Spoon dealt with holmes jab very well during their 12 rounder, but spoon had no answer for thomas's jab.

[SuzieQ49]

Magoo Weaver only 2 years ago fought a very good rematch vs undefeated michael dokes which I thought weaver was robbed....this was just 2 years prior to the thomas -weaver fight. Weaver did Knockout contender carl truth williams 2 years later and would take razor ruddock to a split decsion, so clearly weaver was still a dangerous puncher when he fought thomas.

[SuzieQ49]

One thing about Pinklon Thomas is he is very very durable. Only tyson ever knocked him down and out.......which adds to tysons legacy.

[Russell]

One thing about Pinklon Thomas is he is very very durable. Only tyson ever knocked him down and out.......which adds to tysons legacy.

And Holyfield and Bowe both mauled him worse than Tyson.

What's your point?

[redrooster]

Anyone see the fight with weaver? This is a very good fight if you are looking for action. Anyways, Trevor berbick is the man responsible for ending the career of Thomas. I thought Pinky was used up after this fight while Berbick, after reaching the pinnacle of his career, came crashing down in his next fight being crushed by Tyson.

[mr. magoo]

Magoo Weaver only 2 years ago fought a very good rematch vs undefeated michael dokes which I thought weaver was robbed....this was just 2 years prior to the thomas -weaver fight. Weaver did Knockout contender carl truth williams 2 years later and would take razor ruddock to a split decsion, so clearly weaver was still a dangerous puncher when he fought thomas.

He was certainly still capable of punching at this time like so many other big hitters can do into old age. I'll also ad that in addtion to the Williams win, he also chalked up two others against Pritchard and Duplooy.

However, we also have to look at how he was dusted in one round by Smith right after the Thomas fight. Also,reaching a tie verdict with a very troubled Michael Dokes, and a full two years earlier, doesn't say much about what he was in 1985 either. Razor Ruddock was 11-1 when he beat Weaver and was recently beaten by journeyman Dave Jaco. This was not quite the same Ruddock who fought Tyson in 1991. Carl Williams had an allergic reaction when standing in the same room with a fighter who had anything resembling a left hook, so I'll attribute that win to stylisitic issues more than Mike being anywhere near his prime.

Although still competitive, Weaver was in his prime between probably 1978-1982. Pinklon did not beat a peak Hercules, no matter how we cut it.

[SuzieQ49]

And Holyfield and Bowe both mauled him worse than Tyson.

What's your point?


Bowe and Holyfield fought far far worse version of Pinklon Thomas than Mike Tyson did. They fought a washed up 100% coked up pinklon thomas.


did holy and bowe even floor thomas?

[SuzieQ49]

He was certainly still capable of punching at this time like so many other big hitters can do into old age. I'll also ad that in addtion to the Williams win, he also chalked up two others against Pritchard and Duplooy.

However, we also have to look at how he was dusted in one round by Smith right after the Thomas fight. Also,reaching a tie verdict with a very troubled Michael Dokes, and a full two years earlier, doesn't say much about what he was in 1985 either. Razor Ruddock was 11-1 when he beat Weaver and was recently beaten by journeyman Dave Jaco. This was not quite the same Ruddock who fought Tyson in 1991. Carl Williams had an allergic reaction when standing in the same room with a fighter who had anything resembling a left hook, so I'll attribute that win to stylisitic issues more than Mike being anywhere near his prime.

Although still competitive, Weaver was in his prime between probably 1978-1982. Pinklon did not beat a peak Hercules, no matter how we cut it.


I dont think weaver was in his prime in 1985, i just think he still was a dangerous puncher

[mr. magoo]

I dont think weaver was in his prime in 1985, i just think he still was a dangerous puncher

Agreed. He was still dangerous.

[SuzieQ49]

bump

[Mendoza]

And Holyfield and Bowe both mauled him worse than Tyson.

What's your point?

And Tommy Morrison blew Thomas out in one round. One of Morrison's hooks literally took off Thomas’ eyebrow off. The gash was wide and deep. Thomas was forced to retire at the end of a one round beating.

[Mantequilla]

Thomas was appalling in every fight after losing to Berbick.he was already on a rapid downslide and coke addled when Tyson fought him.

[SuzieQ49]

And Tommy Morrison blew Thomas out in one round. One of Morrison's hooks literally took off Thomas’ eyebrow off. The gash was wide and deep. Thomas was forced to retire at the end of a one round beating.


Pinklon Thomas was far past his prime when he fought Morrison, in fact thomas was 100% shot when he fought Morrison. Prime for Prime Pinklon knocks out morrison out easily.

Mendoza, I know your a big fan of spoon, but quit trying to hide witherspoon getting schooled by pinklon thomas and anwer the thread.

[Mendoza]

Pinklon Thomas was far past his prime when he fought Morrison, in fact thomas was 100% shot when he fought Morrison. Prime for Prime Pinklon knocks out witherspoon easily.

Mendoza, I know your a big fan of spoon, but quit trying to hide witherspoon getting schooled by pinklon thomas and anwer the thread.

Huh? Thomas beat Witherpsoon fair in square by narrow margin, but Thomas did not " school " Witherspoon, let alone come close to knocking him out.

If you think Thomas " knocks Witherpsoon out easily, that is your opinion. I do not think many here would agree with that.

[SuzieQ49]

You tried using the Tommy Morrison fight as an example to degrade thomas's legacy, despite thomas being 100% shot going into the morrison fight.


If you think Thomas " knocks Witherpsoon out easily, that is your opinion

Now your just putting words in my mouth


I do not think many here would agree with that.

Neither do I


Huh? Thomas beat Witherpsoon fair in square by narrow margin, but Thomas did not " school " Witherspoon

Thomas won the clear decision, outjabbed spoon badly. I had it 115-112 Thomas. Spoon easily delt with holmes jab, yet couldn't figure out thomas's jab.

[Cobra33]

Holmes was past his prime when he fought Witherspoon and still pulled out the win.
While Thomas did have a good jab he was nowhere near the jab Holmes had.
Holmes would have outpointed Thomas bcause the jab is the only thing Thomas had going for him.
In the Weaver bout Thomas was greatly troubled by Weaver and up until landing the knockout punch it was anyones fight.

[Mendoza]

SuzieQ49 You tried using the Tommy Morrison fight as an example to degrade thomas's legacy, despite thomas being 100% shot going into the morrison fight.

No I did not. I just don't think Thomas was as good as you're making him out to be. Thomas had good mobility and a quick left, but he had a weak right hand. Losing to Tyson is ok, but getting beaten up by Bowe and Holyfield showed Thomas was not a special fighter. In fact a weak punching Mike Hunter beat Thomas.


Now your just putting words in my mouth

You said, " Pinklon Thomas was far past his prime when he fought Morrison, in fact thomas was 100% shot when he fought Morrison. Prime for Prime Pinklon knocks out witherspoon easily. "

>>Again, NO Pinklon THomas would not knock Witherpsoon out easily! This is what you said. Do you want to retract this statement? Now I must go. Perhaps I can read this post on Monday night.

[kenmore]

I don't think the Bowe, Holyfield and Morrison losses bear on Thomas's legacy, as those bouts occured when Thomas was well past his prime.

In assessing Thomas's true ability level, we should focus on his performances between 1982 and 1987. The Tyson loss pretty much closed the door on Thomas's prime. After that, he was shot.

[SuzieQ49]

I meant Prime Thomas knocks MORRISON out easily .




No I did not. I just don't think Thomas was as good as you're making him out to be. Thomas had good mobility and a quick left, but he had a weak right hand. Losing to Tyson is ok, but getting beaten up by Bowe and Holyfield showed Thomas was not a special fighter. In fact a weak punching Mike Hunter beat Thomas.



So Ali getting beat up by holmes shows he was not a special fighter? because thats how shot and washed up thomas was when he took on bowe and holyfield.

[SuzieQ49]

In assessing Thomas's true ability level, we should focus on his performances between 1982 and 1987. The Tyson loss pretty much closed the door on Thomas's prime. After that, he was shot

I agree

[mr. magoo]

Thomas's lifestyle choices, which invovled heroin use, cought up to him by the time he was around 30. Upon losing to Tyson in 1987, he took about a year and a half off before stepping in with Holyfield. Pinklon was basically done for by that point. Around 1990, he tried to launch a comeback and got badly outboxed by a cruiserweight named Mike " the bounty" Hunter. Not long after he would get beaten by Bowe. By the time he fought Morrison, he was nothing more than a shell of fighter.

[SuzieQ49]

Thomas's lifestyle choices, which invovled heroin use, cought up to him by the time he was around 30. Upon losing to Tyson in 1987, he took about a year and a half off before stepping in with Holyfield. Pinklon was basically done for by that point. Around 1990, he tried to launch a comeback and got badly outboxed by a cruiserweight named Mike " the bounty" Hunter. Not long after he would get beaten by Bowe. By the time he fought Morrison, he was nothing more than a shell of fighter.


What a waste of talent. I watched Thomas vs Morrison on youtube, what happened to that fluid sharp fast rock solid thomas i watched against witherspoon just 4 years earlier? sad what drugs do to you

[Mantequilla]

Thomas had looked terrible from Berbick on, not from Tyson.

[kenmore]

Thomas had looked terrible from Berbick on, not from Tyson.

True, but in the period between the Berbick and Tyson fights Thomas was still close enough to his prime that these bad performances reflect on his peak ability level. This period -- 1986-87 -- we could regard as the bad side of the prime Thomas.

As for Thomas's performances after Tyson, I say forget it. He was so far gone he simply was nothing like his former self.

[ironchamp]

Lets not forget that during the Tyson fight, Pinklon still looked good enough to be considered a Class A fighter in the division. What happened afterwards is simply a matter of poor lifestyle choices. He declined from the Berbick fight onwards but he was still very formidable.

The Holyfield fight, I believe he was far gone. I dont even count the Morrison fight because IMHO a prime Pinklon Thomas would outbox and stop Tommy Morrison using his superior jab.

[Sonny's jab]

Thomas looked sluggish and lethargic, older than his 28 years, during the Berbick fight and two or three nothing fights afterwards, and he wasn't right for Tyson either. But he wasn't yet shot.

He was shockingly bad against Holyfield. I think Holyfield's people knew Thomas was past it but not to that extent, it really was supposed to be something of a test, but Evander just obliterated him.

(Converesely, I dont think Holyfield's people could have guessed that Mike Dokes had as much left and would prove such a stiff test as he did.)

I suppose it shows how heroin fucks you up worse that cocaine does.

:lol:

[mr. magoo]

Thomas looked sluggish and lethargic, older than his 28 years, during the Berbick fight and two or three nothing fights afterwards, and he wasn't right for Tyson either. But he wasn't yet shot.

He was shockingly bad against Holyfield. I think Holyfield's people knew Thomas was past it but not to that extent, it really was supposed to be something of a test, but Evander just obliterated him.

(Converesely, I dont think Holyfield's people could have guessed that Mike Dokes had as much left and would prove such a stiff test as he did.)

I suppose it shows how heroin fucks you up worse that cocaine does.

:lol:

I think the big difference is, Dokes had temporarily stopped using and was clean for a period during the late 80's. He also fought 7 times in 1988, whereas Thomas hadn't done anything in some 18 months before fighting Holyfield. Dokes was in visibly good shape, and quite possibly the best he had been in years or ever. The sad part, is that he resumed his lifestyle after the Holyfield fight and was arrested on a number of occasions for possesion of cocaine among other crimes. I believe he is currently in prison.

[Sonny's jab]

Yes, if I remember rightly Dokes imprisoned and beat his woman so bad that he probably deserves to rot in jail.

The Holyfield fight was a bitter painful fight to lose like that, Dokes really gave it his all and came close to winning. Excellent effort. Still, it didn't destroy his career. It raised his credibility as a contender. There was talk of Tyson-Dokes soon afterwards, for mid-to-late '89.

The Ruddock fight was a bit of a bad break too. Ruddock threw the best punch of his life. That's heavyweight boxing for you.