James A Thornton "Tony"
Sunrise 11-08-59 Sunset 09-10-2009
R.I.P "SHORTY"
I'm Free Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seems all to brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.
Tony Thornton
"The Punching Postman"
The Facts...A classy person and a solid pro, the "Punching Postman" passed away Sept. 10, 2009, as a
result of injuries suffered in an Aug. 30 motorcycle accident. Thornton had a distinguished career,
highlighted by three attempts at a world title. His 1992 challenge against WBO super middleweight
champ Chris Eubank should have gone his way, but Eubank squeezed by on points in Glasgow, Scotland.
One year later he lost on points Tulsa, OK, to James Toney in a fight Thornton simply did not do enough
to win. He mounted one last drive in 1995, winning the USBA title at 168 with a second-round blowout of
Darren Zenner at the Blue Horizon and that netted him his biggest payday when he was stopped in three rounds
later that year in Pensacola, FL, by Roy Jones. A popular fighter with a big following, Thornton did not lose
until his 19th fight when Doug DeWitt beat him in a 13th-round boxoff for the USBA middleweight title. He
was 9-0 from 1990 through mid-1992 with wins over Dave Tiberi, Karama Leota and Merqui Sosa. His final record was 37-7-1, 26 K0s.
