Michael Dokes Passes Away

Michael Dokes has passed away following a battle with stomach and liver cancer.

Dokes won the WBA World Title in 1982 before losing it a couple of fights later to Gerrie "The Bionic Hand" Coetzee.

A very good talent. He lost his way early on. His later years were troubled.

RIP

RIP, sad news.

Sad news.

His fight with Holyfield was a cracker, and the first time Evander really proved his metal as a heavyweight.

If anyone hasn't seen it, then give it a watch. You won't be disappointed.

RIP.

I've never seen the fight with Holyfield as it goes, Tino, but have heard a lot of great reviews about it to go along with yours. Will definitely be taking a look soon, it's just a shame that it's a sad announcement such as this which has prompted me to.

Dokes was certainly a talent - I think he was probably stung badly by the criticism he received for the manner in which he took the title from Weaver, what with it being such a ridiculously soft stoppage, and the unsatisfactory draw in the rematch - none of which was his fault, of course. Sadly, it seemed to speed up his fall from grace, along with the other extra-curricular pitfalls which accounted for some other promising Heavyweights of the eighties.

A sad story, R.I.P

R.I.P

Rest In Peace Dokes. That Holyfield fight was something!

Yep - a watch of the Holyfield fight is well worth the time. Was on ESPN classic a year or two back and it's definitely a hidden treasure.

A lovable giant...A very talented heavyweight with fast hands who like many of his era ruined his prime by getting hooked on the white stuff....

No secret he came in high when he lost his WBA belt to the useless Coetzee and how he lasted ten rounds god only knows!!!

A superb Amateur champion champion and I remember his bloody war with Tex Cobb...the shocking first round win with Weaver and the hugely impressive warrior performance against Holyfield!!!!

A God-fearing Man...A man that was very close to his Mother..who supported him tirelesly in getting him clean.....

A guy who was humbler than most who had the belt in that era and a guy that always had time for fans .... like Pinklon Thomas!! who was another who tragically wasted his talent!!!

With Page and Berbick other 80's champions who have died tragically young....unlike Berbick who overachieved..both he and Page had so much more to offer Boxing-wise!!!

People will see the Ruddock fight and the Holy fight and think what was special about Michael....

But some of us know and we'll be proud to keep the secret old Son!!!

Rest in peace and be assured you were worthy of the tag of Heavyweight champion!!

peace....

Did assult his girlfriend and went to prison.

Like Biggs he had issues with drugs,

What a nice tribute..onetwo...

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:What a nice tribute..onetwo...

It's tears to a glass eyes stuff isn't it. However should say yours was a nice tribute Truss and very true, like so many of those guys around at the time so much talent wasted.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:A lovable giant...A very talented heavyweight with fast hands who like many of his era ruined his prime by getting hooked on the white stuff....

No secret he came in high when he lost his WBA belt to the useless Coetzee and how he lasted ten rounds god only knows!!!

A superb Amateur champion champion and I remember his bloody war with Tex Cobb...the shocking first round win with Weaver and the hugely impressive warrior performance against Holyfield!!!!

A God-fearing Man...A man that was very close to his Mother..who supported him tirelesly in getting him clean.....

A guy who was humbler than most who had the belt in that era and a guy that always had time for fans .... like Pinklon Thomas!! who was another who tragically wasted his talent!!!

With Page and Berbick other 80's champions who have died tragically young....unlike Berbick who overachieved..both he and Page had so much more to offer Boxing-wise!!!

People will see the Ruddock fight and the Holy fight and think what was special about Michael....

But some of us know and we'll be proud to keep the secret old Son!!!

Rest in peace and be assured you were worthy of the tag of Heavyweight champion!!

peace....

A loveable giant that spent 8 years in the nick for attempted murder, kidnapping and sexual assault....

Talented boxer by all accounts but done some horrible things during his life...

Everyone makes mistakes, but not all of them can be forgiven.

Would also like to add that a lot of people also believed that as a a young pretty inexperienced amateur he "beat" the great Teofilio Stevenson!!!

Yes he did beat his fiancee up... and as a guy who's been married probably nearly as long as the wally that brought it up has lived....

I might add that relationships are complex things and although it is somewhat unforgivable.... as with "Floyd" not everything is black and white in these cases!!

Especially for a black Man in certain parts of America!!

So shut it...the guy has died and If you are going to malign him I suggest you go and do it elsewhere....

RIP Michael.....I'll treasure the memories...especially the second Weaver fight in 100 degree heat as the sun went down in Vegas....

D15.... on youtube by the way..

True warriors....

Talented fighter no question, shame how his life planned out, I would go and berate the guy or call him a loveable giant, he did some well documented terrible things, but not the time to bring it up.

Mike seems to fall into the disfunctional 80's era, his fight with Evander was memorable still got it on VHS attic.

RIP

I hadn't seen Mike's fight with Holyfield but what a cracker it was.Holyfield was a great fighter,it's such a shame he didn't retire years ago when he would be remembered for his great performances. Dokes would be a hard man to stop by any of todays top heavies RIP Mike.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Would also like to add that a lot of people also believed that as a a young pretty inexperienced amateur he "beat" the great Teofilio Stevenson!!!

Yes he did beat his fiancee up.

I might add that relationships are complex ....

Doesnt give you the right to commit crimes like he did.

This notion that because they are boxers so there must be a reason is nonsense. He committed some grave crimes, if he was the average man on the street nobody would bat an eyelid, but because he is a boxer some people feel the need to justify it.