Conquering the World Stage of Boxing (Part II-End)

Nico Thomas's physical fitness remains exceptional. His body is still firm despite his 57 years of age. He spends some of his time teaching "members" privately, sometimes around the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK), and sometimes in other places, as requested.

Quoting the BoxRec, Nico had a professional boxing career for two decades from 1986 to 2006 before retiring. After that, he never went far from boxing. He participated several times in "veteran" boxing events aside from doing private training since 2015.

"I retired in 2006. School? I left SGO (Sports Teacher School), already in third grade, because I was asked by Mr. Tinton [Suprapto] to enter the professional level. I train members just so I can stay fit. Mostly here in GBK, but I also teach in the city," said Nico during an interview with Historia in 2022.

The career of Nico, the Ambonese boxer who was born on June 10, 1966, started from the amateur level in 1978 under the training of one of his brothers, Nyong Thomas. Then, when he began to step on the professional level under Tinton's Tonsco management, he was trained by his other brother, Charles Thomas.

Three years later, Nico followed his idol, Ellyas Pical, to wrap the world champion belt around his waist. Nico was the second Indonesian boxer to have a world champion belt (IBF version) after winning points from Thai boxer, Samuth Sithnaruepol, in the mini flying class on June 17, 1989.

However, it wasn't when he won the IBF title that Nico got the highest fee. Nico thought that there are things that needn’t be revealed about that moment. He never talked about his payment when he fought Samuth for the title. To him, there is another title belt, Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF), from which he got the highest pay as a professional boxer.

"My pro boxing career is actually well organized. If they carry out the rules as agreed on, the path is actually clear," he said briefly.

Once In the Fish Market, You Will Always Smell Fishy

Nicholas "Nico" Thomas' name soared after he clinched the IBF version of the mini flyweight class title in 1989. However, he only had the belt for about three months.

During a mandatory title defense against Filipino challenger Algerico "Eric" Chavez, Nico immediately lost the title. Fighting at GOR Lokasari on September 21, 1989, Nico was knocked down and unable to get up again in the fifth round.

"Yes, I lost the IBF title at that time. I lost by knockout to Chavez from the Philippines," Nico explained.

However, it wasn't the end of Nico's career. He bounced back when he switched gears to pursue another title, the Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF). He finally got the chance to win the OPBF mini flyweight title when it was vacant.

On February 11, 1995, Nico challenged Thai boxer Surachai Saengmorakot in Surabaya. Through 12 rounds, Nico finally won by numbers and won the championship belt. He defended the title for three years until Nico finally lost to Japanese boxer Uruf "Wolf" Tokimitsu on February 22, 1998.

In the OPBF version of the event, Nico admitted he had earned the highest fee in 1995. Nico got the fee when he fought to defend his title against a boxer whose name he forgot.

"At that time, I already won as the OPBF champion. For the rematch, promoter Mr. Turino Tidar wanted to pay me IDR 20 million. But at that time matchmaker Mr. Willy Lasut offered to defend the title abroad for 15 thousand dollars," he recalled.

Nico chose the latter. This also sparked protests against Nico.

"Well, they said Nico Thomas is not a nationalist. Sorry, bro. This is paid boxing, right? I must see the pay. I'm not greedy. I said okay, but Mr. Tinton objected. I went straight to the chairman of KTI (Indonesian Boxing Commission) Mr. Hendropriyono. Mr. Tinton is a friend of Mr. Hendro," added Nico.

Despite later losing his title in 1998, Nico was still able to live well from the results of his professional boxing. There are several supporting factors. Apart from being disciplined to the contract, there is his wife, Farida Ade Yani, who manages Nico's finances well.

"From the beginning, I trusted Mr. Tinton because his ambition was extraordinary. I also always had a contract which was to make sure boxers don't misbehave and to maintain the good relationship between boxers and managers," he continued.

"I also received money after I won the OPBF which rewarded 15 thousand dollars. That's all. When I won IBF, I didn't have money because I'm a bit wasteful. After I got married in 1989, I finally got a 'financial police'. That's my wife. If not, I wouldn't have survived. I retired in 2006 and didn't have any steady job aside from coaching boxing privately, but my children could still go to school," said Nico.

Nico's success wasn't without obstacles, because the promise of heaven from the "dark world" also tempted him. However, he remembered the advice of his mother, Helena Thomas, to always stay by God's side on the right path.

"When I first went to Jakarta [to enter pro boxing], my mother didn't give me anything. She just said: 'Remember Nyong, don't forget to pray'. That's all. I get goosebumps whenever I remember that," he added.

Now, Nico is harvesting the "fruit" of his struggles in the past. In his old age, he is still in good shape thanks to his good lifestyle. His family's stable economy also keeps him from having to hammer away in his retirement. That isn't the case for his senior, Ellyas Pical, that made Nico concerned for him.

"I'm sorry, but maybe that’s because I've been close to God for a long time. Sometimes people mock me because I don't really like to hang out. If I didn't control myself, maybe I would have gone to jail for selling stuff like that [drugs]. Eli Pical used to work at Milles discotheque. He called me once and said 'Nico, I work at Milles now'. I immediately said: 'Eli, remember. Be careful! Once you enter the fish market, you'll still smell fishy when you come out.' It didn't take long after that [that Pical was arrested]," said Nico as he stared into the clouds, concerned about the fate of Pical, who was imprisoned for his involvement in a drug case in 2005.