After his destruction of Vinny Pazienza in June, Roy Jones signed to fight Tony ‘The Punching Postman’ Thornton on September 30th, 1995 in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida. The HBO broadcast spotlighted it’s star, the most talented and exciting boxer the sport may have ever seen.
Tony Thornton was from Glassboro, New Jersey, a town not far from me. I had met him while I was a security guard at a local mall in 1989, and we talked about a bunch of stuff. He was coming back from an injury, and he encouraged me to come train at his gym with him in Kensington, Pennsylvania, a decrepit old place just outside of Philadelphia. I explained that it was a little far from me, but he was positive, and told me I could accomplish anything if I just tried.
Tony was a postman in Bellmawr, New Jersey, and I actually saw him on his route while in training for his fight with Jones. I had my own lawn service at the time, and he was walking past as I was on a property. He actually fought his whole career while working as a mail carrier, and only took a few days off for his bouts. He was incredibly disciplined, but I never forget thinking to myself, “This poor guy is working and training for Roy Jones at the same time!” I gave him two chances to beat Jones. Slim and none.
The fight itself went according to plan, with the champ easily disposing of Tony in the third. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him, but in reality, no one could touch Roy at this point in his career. It was in fact the last time Thornton ever fought, and at 36 retired from the ring.
Roy Jones was on top of the boxing world, and his future was limitless to me.
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