Michael Dokes

Michael Dokes
Data
Birth Name	Michael Marshall Dokes
Fight name	Dynamite
Weight class	Heavyweight
nationality	US-american
birthday	August 10, 1958
place of birth	Akron
Date of death	August 12, 2012
Place of death	Akron
style	Left delivery
size	1.91 m
Range	1.98 m
Combat Statistics
Struggles	61
Victories	53
Knockout victories	33
Defeats	6th
draw	2
Profile in the BoxRec database

Michael Marshall Dokes (born August 10, 1958 in Akron , Ohio ; † August 12, 2012 there ) was an American boxer and WBA world champion. He competed in the heavyweight division and was known for his style of attack.

amateur

In 1974 he boxed in the light heavyweight division and finished second at the Golden Gloves and the Amateur Athletic Union (at the Golden Gloves he was defeated in the finals by Bobby Stewart and at the Amateur Athletic Union Leon Spinks ). He was also North American champion. From 1975 he boxed in the heavyweight division and won the Amateur Athletic Union. At the Pan-American Games he defeated Trevor Berbick in the semifinals in Mexico City , but lost in the final to the Cuban heavyweight star Teófilo Stevenson and took second place. In 1976 he won the Golden Gloves (victories against John Tate and Greg Page ) and was third in the Trials of the Olympic Games in the semifinals, where he was just inferior to John Tate on points.

His record was 147-7

professional

He made his professional debut in October 1976 at the age of 18.

In 1979 he defeated Wendell Bailey (13-0-0) and Jimmy Young , who had already had his best days. In 1980 he boxed twice against the future WBA cruiserweight world champion Ossie Ocasio . The first fight ended in a draw, the second ended by TKO in round 1 for Dokes. In 1981 he defeated Randall Cobb . In 1982 he was allowed to box for the WBA world title against Mike Weaver . The fight was scheduled for 15 rounds. Dokes won through a controversial first-round cancellation (for which some blamed his promoter Don King ). The rematch against Weaver took place on May 20, 1983. This fight was again scheduled for 15 rounds. Dokes reached a draw and thus defended his title. In his second title defense against the South African Gerrie Coetzee , however, he surprisingly went KO in 1983 and had to give up the belt again. In 1985 he boxed Randall Cobb (whom he had defeated before) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Title . Dokes defeated Cobb again and secured the title. Three years later Dokes secured the WBC Continental Americas Title again with a technical knockout in round 7 against James Pritchard and in the same year defended it against Rocky Sekorski over 12 rounds clearly on points (scoring: 112: 106, 112: 106, 112: 107).

Now his career stagnated for a few years, also due to persistent drug problems, until he lost to Evander Holyfield in 1989 in a sensational fight for the WBC Continental Americas Title , by TKO in round 10. After that fight, Mike Tyson said he had respect for Holyfield for the first time. In the same year he beat Wesley Watson by TKO in round 3 and Lionel Washington by TKO in round 8. With the win against Washington he secured the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Title . He defended this title the following year against Jorge Alfredo Dascola through TKO in round 11.

In 1990 he was knocked out against Donovan Ruddock so badly that many people feared for his health. In 1992 he beat Jesse Ferguson and Jose Ribalta, both over 10 rounds on points. In 1993, after signing with Don King, he got a title chance against the undefeated WBA and IBF world champion Riddick Bowe , but lost by knockout in the first round. In 1997 Dokes finally ended his professional career.

successes

Success as an amateur

• National Golden Gloves : Second 1974 light heavyweight division , 1976 heavyweight division winner
• Amateur Athletic Union : Second 1974 light heavyweight division, 1975 heavyweight division winner
• North American Championships : 1974 Heavyweight Winner
• Pan American Games : Second in 1975 heavyweight division
• Trials for the Olympic Games : Third in the heavyweight division in 1976
• Balance: 147-7

Success as a professional

• Jan. 30, 1982 - December 10, 1982: North American Heavyweight Champion (one title defense)
• December 10, 1982 - September 23, 1983: WBA heavyweight champion (one title defense)
• April 28, 1988 - March 11, 1989: WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion (one title defense)
• November 13, 1989 - April 4, 1990: WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Champion (one title defense)

• Balance: 53-6-2

Web links

• Michael Dokes in the BoxRec database

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Michael Dokes former champ passes away on Boxingscene.com

predecessor	Office	successor
Mike Weaver	Heavyweight Boxing Champion ( WBA ) December 10, 1982 - September 23, 1983	Gerrie Coetzee