Duane Thomas (boxer)

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Duane Thomas
Born(1961-02-01)February 1, 1961
DiedJune 13, 2000(2000-06-13) (aged 39)
NationalityAmerican
Statistics
Weight(s)Light middleweight
Height5 ft 9+12 in (177 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights34
Wins31
Wins by KO21
Losses3


Duane Thomas (February 1, 1961 – June 2000), was an American professional boxer in the super welterweight (154 lb) division. He was born in Detroit, Michigan.

Professional career[edit]

Thomas turned pro in 1979 and won the Vacant USBA Light middleweight title in 1983 against Nino Gonzalez.[1] He would go on to win the WBC Light Middleweight Title with a 3rd-round TKO over John Mugabi in 1986 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.[2] Thomas would lose the title eight months later, in Merignac, France, in his first defense to Lupe Aquino by decision. In 1988 he challenged WBC Light Middleweight Title holder Gianfranco Rosi, but was dominated and TKO'd in the 7th. He was an elite fighter during his era.

Professional boxing record[edit]

34 fights 31 wins 3 losses
By knockout 21 2
By decision 9 1
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
34 Win 31–3 Abraham Bruno UD 6 (6) 2000-04-08 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
33 Win 30–3 Thomas Covington UD 8 (8) 1989-10-13 Manuel Lujan Exhibition Hall at Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
32 Loss 29–3 Gianfranco Rosi TKO 7 (12) 1988-01-03 Palazzo Dello Sport, Genoa, Italy For WBC super welterweight title
31 Loss 29–2 Lupe Aquino UD 12 (12) 1987-07-12 Sports Complex, Mérignac, France Lost WBC super welterweight title
30 Win 29–1 John Mugabi TKO 3 (12) 1986-12-05 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won vacant WBC super welterweight title
29 Win 28–1 Bobby McCorvey TKO 2 (10) 1986-10-17 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
28 Win 27–1 Tony Ojo TKO 2 (12) 1986-07-28 Grahams Studio West, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Retained USBA super welterweight title
27 Win 26–1 Lopez McGee UD 10 (10) 1986-01-07 New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
26 Win 25–1 Mark McPherson TKO 10 (12) 1985-05-16 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained USBA super welterweight title
25 Win 24–1 Sumbu Kalambay PTS 10 (10) 1985-04-06 Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24 Win 23–1 Lloyd Richardson TKO 1 (10) 1984-12-20 Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
23 Win 22–1 Tony Harrison TKO 8 (10) 1984-06-15 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
22 Win 21–1 Clayton Hires KO 4 (12) 1984-04-19 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Retained USBA super welterweight title
21 Win 20–1 Donald King TKO 10 (12) 1983-11-19 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained USBA super welterweight title
20 Win 19–1 Nino Gonzalez TKO 8 (12) 1983-05-26 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won vacant USBA super welterweight title
19 Win 18–1 Jesse Abrams KO 2 (10) 1982-09-04 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
18 Win 17–1 Willie Ray Taylor KO 4 (10) 1982-07-25 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
17 Loss 16–1 Buster Drayton TKO 7 (10) 1982-04-29 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Tony McMinn TKO 1 (10) 1982-02-27 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Fred Reed TKO 2 (?) 1982-01-23 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Carl Crowley KO 1 (10) 1981-12-03 Coliseum, Jackson, Tennessee, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Jose Luis Santana TKO 10 (10) 1981-09-10 Twenty Grand Showroom, Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 David Braxton SD 10 (10) 1981-02-19 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Jerry Hall DQ 1 (10) 1980-12-12 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Allen Avery KO 2 (6) 1980-12-02 Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Randall Jackson KO 1 (8) 1980-10-23 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 James Leftwick KO 1 (?) 1980-06-13 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Lamont Hopkins TKO 3 (6) 1980-02-22 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Lenny Villers UD 6 (6) 1980-01-24 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Rodney Cummings UD 6 (6) 1979-11-15 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Harvey Wilson KO 2 (6) 1979-10-18 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Dave Myrick UD 4 (4) 1979-08-02 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Ron Tillman TKO 4 (4) 1979-06-28 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Ken Rocky Fusco SD 4 (4) 1979-04-20 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.

Death[edit]

Duane Thomas had just made a comeback after 11 years out of the ring, when he was murdered in Detroit over a drug dispute, in 2000.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Duane Thomas of Detroit scored an eight-round technical knockout..." United Press International. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Berger, Phil (December 6, 1986). "THOMAS STOPS MUGABI IN 3d". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "Raider Kicker Janikowski Acquitted of Bribery Charge". Los Angeles Times. June 14, 2000. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Gary Guiden
USBA super welterweight champion
May 26, 1983 – 1986
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Donald Curry
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Thomas Hearns
WBC super welterweight champion
December 5, 1986 – July 12, 1987
Succeeded by