Tommy Thomas (boxer)
Thomas Franklin "Tommy" Thomas (June 8, 1954 – October 31, 2021), nicknamed "Franco", was an American professional heavyweight boxer and police officer from Clarksburg, West Virginia. During a professional career from 1977 to 1986, Thomas compiled a 34–8 record with 21 knockouts, reached No. 6 in the world heavyweight rankings, and was recognized as the West Virginia state heavyweight champion.
Early life and amateur career
Thomas grew up in Summit Park, West Virginia, and graduated from Victory High School in 1972. Before turning professional, he compiled a 46–10 amateur record. In 1977, he won the West Virginia and Pittsburgh Golden Gloves championships and reached the national semifinals of the Golden Gloves tournament.
Professional boxing career
Thomas fought his first professional bout in 1977. He was recognized as the West Virginia state heavyweight champion from 1979 through 1986 and reached No. 6 in the World Boxing Association heavyweight rankings.
On November 6, 1981, Thomas faced Jimmy Young at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on the card headlined by Larry Holmes and Renaldo Snipes. Thomas was ranked eighth by the World Boxing Council at the time and lost to Young by unanimous decision.
On March 20, 1982, Thomas challenged Michael Dokes for the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title at the Playboy Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dokes retained the title by knocking Thomas out in the fifth round.
Thomas later fought former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks on June 29, 1985. His final professional fight was on April 2, 1986, when he traveled to South Africa to face Pierre Coetzer. Thomas finished his professional career with 34 wins and eight losses in 42 fights, including 21 wins by knockout.
Law enforcement career
Thomas worked in law enforcement while he was still active as a professional boxer. By 1986, he was serving with the police department in Shinnston, West Virginia, and he later joined the Clarksburg Police Department. In Clarksburg, Thomas worked as a regular-duty officer and served for about 15 years as the department's D.A.R.E. officer, visiting schools to educate children about drug use. He remained in the position until health problems led to his retirement.
Thomas was named The Exponent Telegram Citizen of the Year in 2001. In 2010, he received the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director's Community Leadership Award.
Boxing club and later life
In 1998, Thomas opened the Tommy Thomas Boxing Club at the Clarksburg Recreation Center on Duff Avenue. The club provided boxing training without an additional fee and was intended to give young people a place to train and spend time off the streets.
Thomas died in 2021 at age 67. In August 2025, the Clarksburg Recreation Center was renamed the Tommy Thomas Recreation Center in his honor.
Professional boxing record
Thomas finished his professional career with 34 wins and eight losses in 42 bouts, including 21 wins by knockout.
Result |
Opponent |
Method |
Date |
Location |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss |
Pierre Coetzer |
KO/TKO, 2 |
April 2, 1986 |
West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa |
Sources differ on whether the stoppage was recorded as a KO or TKO. |
Loss |
Leon Spinks |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
June 29, 1985 |
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, California |
|
Win |
Wesley Smith |
KO, 4 |
May 1985 |
Charleston, West Virginia |
The club record gives May 15, while BoxerList gives May 24; BoxRec lists the bout only as May 1985. |
Loss |
Kip Kane |
Split decision, 10 |
March 30, 1985 |
Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio |
|
Win |
Wesley Smith |
Unanimous decision, 12 |
October 1984 |
Clarksburg, West Virginia |
The club record gives October 3 and identifies the bout as being for the Tri-State heavyweight title. BoxerList gives October 4, while BoxRec lists the bout in October and identifies the title as the West Virginia state heavyweight title. |
Loss |
James Broad |
KO/TKO, 3 |
May 3, 1984 |
Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
Sources differ on whether the stoppage was recorded as a KO or TKO. The bout was for the ESPN heavyweight title. |
Win |
Mike Cohen |
KO/TKO, 7 |
August 22, 1983 |
Beckley, West Virginia |
Sources differ on whether the stoppage was recorded as a KO or TKO. |
Win |
Larry Givens |
KO, 8 |
July 1983 |
Logan, West Virginia |
The club record gives July 29, while BoxerList gives July 31; BoxRec lists the bout only as July 1983. |
Win |
Butch Chambers |
KO, 2 |
July 11, 1983 |
Beckley, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Claman Parker |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
June 6, 1983 |
Beckley, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Eddie Smith |
KO, 2 |
April 1983 |
West Virginia |
The club record gives April 15 in Beckley. BoxerList gives April 19 in Shinnston, while BoxRec lists the bout in April in Shinnston. |
Win |
Melvin Hosey |
KO, 2 |
February 12, 1983 |
Wheeling, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Grady Daniels |
Points, 10 |
October 2, 1982 |
Charleston, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Claman Parker |
Points, 10 |
May or June 1982 |
Beckley, West Virginia |
BoxerList gives May 15 and BoxRec lists the bout in May, while the club record gives June 15. |
Loss |
Michael Dokes |
KO, 5 |
March 20, 1982 |
Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
For the NABF heavyweight title. |
Loss |
Jimmy Young |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
November 6, 1981 |
Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|
Win |
Jerry Hunter |
KO, 2 |
October 3, 1981 |
Elkins, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Baker Tinsley |
KO, 4 |
September 26, 1981 |
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
Win |
Billy Ratliff |
KO, 7 |
January 9, 1981 |
West Virginia |
The club record lists Fairmont, West Virginia, while BoxRec and BoxerList list Fremont, West Virginia. |
Win |
Jim Ingram |
KO, 5 |
December 5, 1980 |
Clarksburg, West Virginia |
|
Win |
[Henry Patterson |
KO, 7 |
August 2, 1980 |
Nathan Goff Armory, Clarksburg, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Harvey Steichen |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
June 21, 1980 |
Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
Win |
Jerry Thompkins |
KO, 7 |
May 10, 1980 |
Nathan Goff Armory, Clarksburg, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Harvey Steichen |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
February 9, 1980 |
Nathan Goff Armory, Clarksburg, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Bobby Jordan |
Points, 10 |
November 3, 1979 |
Fairmont, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Lou Rogan |
KO, 4 |
August 3, 1979 |
Nathan Goff Armory, Clarksburg, West Virginia |
Thomas was recognized as West Virginia heavyweight champion following the bout. |
Win |
Al Byrd |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
May 16, 1979 |
Armory, Clarksburg, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Len Lawson |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
April 26, 1979 |
Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington |
|
Win |
Macka Foley |
KO, 6 |
March 1, 1979 |
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
|
Win |
Elliott Bryant |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
January 8, 1979 |
Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington |
|
Loss |
Jim Ingram |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
October 22, 1978 |
Sahara Hotel, Reno, Nevada |
|
Win |
Elliott Bryant |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
September 17, 1978 |
Sahara Hotel, Reno, Nevada |
|
Loss |
Oliver Philipps |
Majority decision, 10 |
August 19, 1978 |
Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
Win |
Al Neumann |
KO, 9 |
May 10, 1978 |
Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska |
The club record identifies the bout as Thomas's victory for the Alaska heavyweight title. |
Win |
Vic Van Fleet |
KO/TKO, 5 |
April 12, 1978 |
Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska |
The club record lists a KO, while BoxerList lists a TKO. |
Win |
Al Neumann |
Unanimous decision, 10 |
March 15, 1978 |
Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska |
|
Win |
Bruce Hannan |
KO, 3 |
February 22, 1978 |
Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska |
Thomas fought twice on the same card. The club record spells the opponent's surname "Hannon"; BoxRec lists "Hannan". BoxerList omits this bout from its displayed fight table despite listing Thomas with 42 professional bouts. |
Win |
Travis Pickering |
KO/TKO, 3 |
February 22, 1978 |
Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska |
Thomas fought twice on the same card. The club record lists a KO, while BoxerList lists a TKO. |
Win |
Baker Tinsley |
KO/TKO, 3 |
January 8, 1978 |
Hyatt Regency Ballroom, Knoxville, Tennessee |
The club record lists a KO, while BoxerList lists a TKO. |
Win |
Amos Haynes |
KO/TKO, 3 |
December 29, 1977 |
Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
The club record lists a KO, while BoxerList lists a TKO. |
Win |
Dave Mounts |
KO, 3 |
December 18, 1977 |
Fairmont, West Virginia |
|
Win |
Leonard Langley |
Points, 4 |
September 18, 1977 |
Fairmont, West Virginia |