Aug. 11, 2009, was nightmare for Semajay Thomas.
A month earlier, 50-year-old Reynaldo Ortiz of Texas had been beaten to death next door to Thomas' home in West Town.
Acting on a tip, police approached the then-16-year-old that August night at home. They arrested the Rauner College Prep honors student and he later was charged with first-degree murder.
Just three months prior to his arrest, USA Boxing flew Thomas to the AIBA World Junior Boxing Championships in Armenia to represent the U.S. Thomas placed fifth at the event. But all of a sudden his one-promising career was stopped in its tracks.
>>EXTRA: Timeline of Semajay Thomas' life
"It was the worst day of my life," said Nate Jones, Thomas' trainer at the time and a 1996 Olympic bronze medalist. "I just couldn't believe it."
Gang members arrested in the case made statements claiming Thomas took part in the attack. Thomas was held in a juvenile corrections facility for 15 months as he awaited trial. It was a time he had hoped to spend traveling the world competing. Yet Thomas never lost faith in the truth.
"I never lost hope because I knew the truth would come to light," said Thomas, now 21. "I have faith in our justice system."
Thomas continued to train while incarcerated. He tore his sheets into long strips and made hand wraps. He also rolled up his mattress, stood it against the wall of his cell and used it as a punching bag. Instead of losing sight of his goal, Thomas trained as best he could and became an inspiration for other inmates.
"I ran around the rec room getting my road work in and when the other kids heard about what happened to me, some of them started running with me, in support of me," Thomas said.
At the murder trial in November 2010, three of the four eyewitnesses recanted their testimony, and there was no DNA or fingerprint evidence to tie Thomas to the killing. On Nov. 18, 2010, Thomas was acquitted and set free shortly thereafter. Jesus Duran and William Castillo later were convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison.
"It felt like the best moment of relief," he said. "I had an option the next day to stay home and party with family and friends I didn't see for 15 months or go to the boxing gym. I was in the boxing gym while everyone came to my mom's house to get together.
"When I walked into the party after training, it was just a great moment. Everyone started yelling and cheering, the media was there. It was just an overwhelming moment."
It didn't take long for him to get back to his winning ways. In February 2011, Thomas won the Illinois state tournament, his first men's division title. In July of that year, Thomas won the U.S. championships, became the top-ranked fighter in the country and earned the top seed in the Olympic Trials leading up to the 2012 London Games.
At the trials, Thomas lost to Pedro Sosa.
"I felt robbed of everything that night because when I was incarcerated they were telling me about Sosa, saying how he's the No. 1 guy in my weight class," Thomas said. "I made my mind up then that I wanted to fight him and get the No. 1 spot. He lost to the guy I beat in the finals of the U.S. championships.
"When we finally got a chance to fight the Olympic Trials, I was the No. 1 guy by then. I came home, I worked so hard to take the No. 1 spot. I respect the judge's decision, but it hurt me deeply."
After the loss, Thomas ate too much and was unable to make weight the next day for his follow-up bout in the double-elimination tournament. He said he regrets how that event played out but has learned from the experience.
"I learned no matter what not to give up because what's taken away from your life can easily be replaced with better," said Thomas, whose professional nickname is "The Truth."
Afterward, Thomas signed with professional manager Al Haymon, who counts Floyd Mayweather as one of his clients. On Saturday, Thomas (4-0, two knockouts) will put his undefeated record on the line at UIC Pavilion against Paul Pindroh (4-0-1, one knockout) of West Virginia.
"Being with Al Haymon is a blessing," Thomas said. "It's a dream come true. Everybody wants to be with Al Haymon. My co-manager is Fletcher Smith is a top NFL manager; I'm his first boxer. We will be looking to fight for a world championship sooner than everyone thinks."
Bill Hillmann is a RedEye special contributor.
SEMAJAY THOMAS VS. PAUL PINDROH
Welterweight bout
4:30 p.m. Saturday, UIC Pavilion
Tickets: Starting at $62, available via Ticketmaster
Thomas, a 21-year-old Chicago native (@SemajayThomas), will be featured on the Showtime Boxing undercard. Several fights will be televised starting at 8 p.m. on Showtime, including Chicago resident Andrew Fonfara (25-3, 15 KOs) vs. Doudou Ngumbu (33-5, 12 KOs) in a light heavyweight bout. Thomas' bout will not be televised.