From Boxing to Bicycles: The Marlon Thomas Story
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
48 bout veteran Marlon ‘Trouble Man’ Thomas terrorized the lower weight classes between 1991 and 2014. Fighting out of Detroit, Michigan, Thomas compiled a professional record of 37-9-1 with 21 knockouts, and one No Contest. At 136 to 161 pounds. All bouts fought by Thomas were in Michigan, save a 12 round decision loss for the international Boxing Federation World Super Lightweight title to Antonio Diaz in May 1999.
Thomas, who will turn 48 years old in December 2020, has gone running around the ring, to running a bicycle shop, in Detroit, Michigan. Thomas has boxing gyms in Detroit, Michigan, and Inkster, Michigan. Former boxing champions and contenders have run restaurants, run schools, operated gyms, done personal training, gone into such business ventures as sales and insurance, and ventured intro sports commentating and actors.
A boxer running a bicycle shop? The bicycle shop happens to have boxing gym nearby on the same property where Thomas trains fighters. Marlon Thomas is probably the only pro boxer eve r to venture into the world of selling and repairing bicycles.
Robert B: “Are you ever gonna make a comeback, Marlon?”
Marlon T: “I am thinking about it. I was always thinking about coming back.”
Robert B: “Why go into the bicycle business?”
Marlon T: “I wanted to find a way to interconnect with the public and help some kids out.”
Robert B: “You have a boxing gym nearby (The Awada Gym). So does this new business venture give you the best of both worlds?”
Marlon T: “Most definitely. When you can reach out and help someone else, that’s wonderful.”
Robert B: “You have been out of the ring for almost six years. Do you miss it?”
Marlon T: “Yeah. I miss it a great deal.”
Robert B: “You fought as high up in weight class as super middleweight. If you returned to the ring, what weight would you want to be at?”
Marlon T: “Probably 160 pounds.”
Robert B: “Would you like to fight for a Michigan title?”
Marlon T: “Actually, I’d just love to get back in the ring again.”
Robert B: “So, it’s not for the money, it’s to inspire the younger fighters you work with.”
Marlon T: “Absolutely.”
Robert B: “What’s the story with (your light heavyweight) Taylor Duerr?”
Marlon T: “I’m with him. We just took a step back and pulled back from each other. I was in a car accident two years ago (and I needed recovery time for my hands and legs). So, I put someone else to work with (train) Taylor for a while.”
Robert B: “What other fighters are you working with?”
Marlon T: “Right now, just Taylor, and a couple of amateurs too.”
Robert B: “Do you think the coronavirus has affected boxing? Will boxing recover?”
Marlon T: “It has affected boxing a great deal. I’s hard for promoters to pitch cards and promote fighters with no boxing fans. Promoters cannot sell tickets with no fans in the place, so it’s kind of difficult. We have to find a way to make boxing work so promoters can pay fighters (on upcoming boxing shows).”
Robert B: “How did you learn how to fix bicycles”
Marlon T: “When I was younger, I always had little bikes to put together. When I was younger, I had bicycles I could not afford to fix, so I had to work to fix them by myself. Everybody had me putting me putting bikes together.”
Robert B: “And you always dreamed of having a bike shop of your own.”
Marlon T: “Anything to do something for the public. I just try to put my two hands in something that is positive at all times.”
Robert B: “Today many boxers use steroids, HGH and other performing enhancing drugs.”
Marlon T: “Everybody is trying to find an edge in sports. As boxing and other sports progress, athletes find ways to make their bodies stronger. Some people have the money to do it, some don’t. I don’t think with the combat, your body and brain getting hit, I don’t think it mix. Illegal substances drugs and steroids giving boxing and professional sports a black eye. People die on the ring. People die in the ring. You want people to come out safe. So putting something in your body to come out your body is not good.”
Robert B: “Have any boxers come to the bicycle shop to visit you?”
Marlon: “Yes, and to find out when the gym next door to the bike shop in Detroit my will reopen, and ot find out when my other boxing gym in Inkster will reopen.”
Robert B: “Michigan is opening up from isolation protocols on Monday June 8, 2020.”
Marlon T: “I imagine I will open up my gym too. Not just the one attached to the bicycle shop in Detroit (I am working with the Awada family at the bicycle shop and their gym in Detroit). I have a gym in Inkster too.”
Robert B: “How do you feel when kids and adults come into the bicycle shop? Does anybody recognize you from your boxing years?”
Marlon T: “Yeah. And Phil Awada makes sure everybody (who comes in our bicycle shop) knows about me. I did what I did in my career, I feel I can comeback and do it. We all get hit in the body, and Phil had said Phil would back it and would put up the money for my comeback, so I will do it.”
Robert B: “How did you survive the mean streets of Detroit Mazerati Rick built?”
Marlon T: “The streets of Dewtroit made me. I came out fighting in the storm with the storm. To fight in the storm, I can find at any given time. I know I go in it to the end, as long as I finish the fight. I fought the late former World Welterweight champion Vernon Forrest for all 12 rounds in his hometown. I been in Oscar De La Hoya fighting him in his own camp. I never cared who (I fought in the ring with).”
Robert B: “But you like a challenge.”
Marlon T: “That’s what life is all about. I know if I go down that dark alley I’m coming out! I’ve been jumped, I’ve been stabbed, and there’s (still) no quit in my (in my life). I shocked everybody I grew up with who said I wouldn’t make it. You gonna like what you because I’ve treated my body right. I’m a gym rat. I’ve been in the gym training the whole time. I gotta workout in my basement in my gym. I got rings, heavy bags, speed bags, my gym is a classic. I got every new workout machine made to keep the boxing game alive in Detroit. I paid my dues, and put back in. I got in the ring and mixed it up with Michael Moorer as a heavyweight and he cracked my ribs, what I know versus what you know. I boxed Thomas Hearns, Milt McCrory, all of them (and survived).”
COMMENTS
English