SPACE COAST DAILY EXCLUSIVE: Boxing Champion Pinklon Thomas Talks About His Book ‘Back From the Edge of Hell’

ROGER MALONE TALKS WITH THE FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMP ABOUT HIS BOOK AND LIFE

SPACE COAST DAILY TV EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Don’t miss Space Coast Daily’s exclusive interview with heavyweight boxing champion Pinklon Thomas as he talks with Space Coast Daily Special Correspondent Roger Malone about his new book “Back From the Edge of Hell,” which chronicles his amazing true story of being lured into the gangster lifestyle and becoming a heroin addict at age 12.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Don’t miss Space Coast Daily‘s exclusive interview with heavyweight boxing champion Pinklon Thomas as he talks with Space Coast Daily Special Correspondent Roger Malone about his new book Back From the Edge of Hell, which chronicles his amazing true story of being lured into the gangster lifestyle and becoming a heroin addict at age 12.

When Thomas was 15, he quit school, commits armed robberies, steals from a drug lord and is hunted by hired killers. Boxing offers him a way out and he wins a world heavyweight title but remains in the clutches of drug addiction.

What then happens to Thomas comes in an unexpected way.

Thomas, now 60 years old, competed from 1978 to 1993 and held the WBC heavyweight title from 1984 to 1986. His distinguishing characteristics were his pink boxing trunks and a powerful left jab.

Thomas turned professional after just three amateur fights. 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.

He won the WBC Heavyweight Championship with a hard-fought 12-round battle over Witherspoon on August 31, 1984.

Ten months later, he defended his title against ex-champion Mike Weaver, stopping Weaver with a single punch in the eighth round.

He then lost the WBC title to Trevor Berbick in March 1986 by a decision.

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 out jabbing Tyson.

After a long break for a torn glove, action resumed in the sixth round where Tyson knocked Thomas out with a brutal fifteen punch salvo, knocking the extremely durable Thomas down for the first and last time in his lengthy career.

Although he got up inside the count, the fight was waved off.

ABOUT ROGER MALONE

Roger Malone, now a Space Coast winter resident, was a prominent television sports commentator and presenter for four decades in England.

Covering World Cups, Wimbledon tennis, top cricket and many other high-level sports competitions, one might say that Roger had the dream job – traveling the world and getting paid for providing commentary and stories of some of sport’s greatest moments.

Just sit for a cup of tea or a pint with the west-county of England sports junkie and you’ll hear of the day he interviewed Ali in his prime, Bobby Moore as a newly anointed star and Sir Alf Ramsey after England won the World Cup in 1966.

Today, Roger lives six months here in Brevard in his Merritt Island condo and half the year in Bristol, England, just minutes from his beloved Henbury Golf Club.

When he’s enjoying the sunshine during the winter on the Space Coast, most days you’ll find Roger playing golf at Cocoa Beach, The Savanahs, Viera East or any one of the fun golf courses on the Space Coast.

One thing is for sure – you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more knowledgeable, experienced soccer mind on this planet. A lovely and congenial man to spend time with, Roger Malone earned the trust of the many star sports personalities he interviewed as they always knew he would treat them, and the game, with respect, honor and integrity.

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