Michael Dokes

[Titan1]

If Dokes had waited another year to fight for the title, could he have improved his skill set and been a better fighter when he challenged for the title, as opposed to how his championship reign turned out?

[mr. magoo]

If Dokes had waited another year to fight for the title, could he have improved his skill set and been a better fighter when he challenged for the title, as opposed to how his championship reign turned out?

Given that his problems were highly attributed to substance abuse and lifestyle problems, rather than experience, my answer would be no.

The real question should be " If Dokes had stopped using his nose like a hoover vacuum cleaner, would he have prevailed as a fighter? "

In which case my answer might have been yes.

[Bigcat]

Dokes loses this one by a nose..

Oreck XL.. and Dyson have nothing on Mike......

That man had skills but just loved to party.......

[Duodenum]

No. Dokes had extremely short arms for somebody of his height and reach, with a larger proportion of that reach concentrated in his collarbone than usual. He was fortunate to get his shot against Weaver in the post Mancini/Kim hysteria. Otherwise, he never would have become a champion. Even if he lived as cleanly as possible, there would have always been a ceiling on how far he could climb up the ladder of contention.

[JohnThomas1]

Given that his problems were highly attributed to substance abuse and lifestyle problems, rather than experience, my answer would be no.

The real question should be " If Dokes had stopped using his nose like a hoover vacuum cleaner, would he have prevailed as a fighter? "

In which case my answer might have been yes.

Agreed. Personally i think Dokes minus coke would have beaten Coetzee. Brought along perfectly minus coke he could have been a better fighter for sure.

[tommy the hat]

Given that his problems were highly attributed to substance abuse and lifestyle problems, rather than experience, my answer would be no.

The real question should be " If Dokes had stopped using his nose like a hoover vacuum cleaner, would he have prevailed as a fighter? "

In which case my answer might have been yes.
I agree with Magoo here. Dokes' problems didn't stem from poor management or a lack of skill. He was a top flight amateur who beat up an old Ali in the gym regularly as a young pro barely out of his teens. Heavy cocaine use screwed Michael Dokes' career up. At one point it was so bad he was buying it by the kilo and he would snort or smoke every bit of it. Rather pathetic and a waste of God given talent if you ask me.

[MRBILL]

If Dokes had waited another year to fight for the title, could he have improved his skill set and been a better fighter when he challenged for the title, as opposed to how his championship reign turned out?

NOPE! Dokes was primed to beat Weaver in 1982. However, Referee 'Joey Curtis' blew the fight and night with his quick stoppage... Dokes was always lazy and into partying pretty hardy... I fully understand... Dokes lost to Gerrie Coetzee because he was unfocused... That was Dokes' life story.... Dokes had skill and ability, but he pissed it all away... Simple...

MR.BILL:patsch

[heehoo]

He also blew up to about 280 pounds and became a slow, plodding type as he got older. Too bad. He also nearly murdered his wife from what I understand and is in prison for it. Makes me feel less bad for him after seeing this:

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[Charles White]

He also blew up to about 280 pounds and became a slow, plodding type as he got older. Too bad. He also nearly murdered his wife from what I understand and is in prison for it. Makes me feel less bad for him after seeing this:

[Only registered and activated users can see links] Yeah, what's the story behind this, and when does he get out?

[heehoo]

From what I read, he is serving up to 15 years for this attack. That's pretty much all I know about it.

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[Charles White]

Thanks for posting sir. Messed up story.From what I read, he is serving up to 15 years for this attack. That's pretty much all I know about it. Thanks for posting sir. Messed up story.

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[heehoo]

Thanks for posting sir. Messed up story.

No problem, and yeah that is a messed up story.

[la-califa]

NOPE! Dokes was primed to beat Weaver in 1982. However, Referee 'Joey Curtis' blew the fight and night with his quick stoppage... Dokes was always lazy and into partying pretty hardy... I fully understand... Dokes lost to Gerrie Coetzee because he was unfocused... That was Dokes' life story.... Dokes had skill and ability, but he pissed it all away... Simple...

MR.BILL:patsch Dokes also benefited from the rematch. Weaver clearly outpointed Dokes. & somehow Dokes was awarded the decision.

[tommy the hat]

Dokes also benefited from the rematch. Weaver clearly outpointed Dokes. & somehow Dokes was awarded the decision.
Was scored a draw, but Dokes still kept his title as a result.

[heehoo]

The first fight between Weaver and Dokes is one of boxing's biggest robberies in my opinion.

[Waynegrade]

I agree, Dokes demons did him in. He had fast hands with some decent pop,good chin, nice combos. What a tragic story his life turned into...

[MRBILL]

The first fight between Weaver and Dokes is one of boxing's biggest robberies in my opinion.

Damn straight.:twisted:

[Seamus]

No. Dokes had extremely short arms for somebody of his height and reach, with a larger proportion of that reach concentrated in his collarbone than usual. .

This means absolutely nothing. The qualities of a great fighter are not measured in physiogamy, not matter how enamored of the male body some fans may be. Many heavies, many heavyweight CHAMPIONS, have had shorter arms (not just reach) and made it work for them on angles and leverage, quickness of a punch to the target, not the least of which were Marciano and Tyson. Height and reach- and the lack thereof- are only deficits when a fighter does not utilize their inherent advantages. As I was taught, if you're shorter than your opponent fight far shorter: if you are taller fight way taller. Never come to a compromise.

But I suppose by your logic, Julian Francis should be championship calibre.

[MRBILL]

Dokes also benefited from the rematch. Weaver clearly outpointed Dokes. & somehow Dokes was awarded the decision.


Hmmmm.. I got the rematch from 1983 on tape... I love that fight out in the Vegas desert heat.... Weaver landed the harder blows, but Dokes pulled the "Ali" trick of jabbing and circling to keep Weaver at bay.... I scored the fight 144 to 142 for Dokes..... BUT! The "Draw" seemed fair.... Late in the fight, Weaver was seen stalking / following, but not punching enough... Dokes always was jabbing, even while in retreat.... A very underrated heavyweight title fight.... It was close....:hey

MR.BILL

[nfc90210]

This seems as good a place to ask this as any; is Dokes still in prison or has be been paroles?

I just had a look for him on the Nevada Department of Correction Inmate Search and couldn't seem to find him.

[MRBILL]

Dokes also benefited from the rematch. Weaver clearly outpointed Dokes. & somehow Dokes was awarded the decision.

I have the "Dokes-Weaver" fights on tape....... Believe it or not.... I thought the 1983 remtch draw was fair........ Weaver was aggressive, and did land some big leather on Dokes, but Dokes had the better jab, speed, and lateral movement..... It was a great fight.... The draw was fine with me....:D

MR.BILL

Note:

Dokes was lazy and a slacker in the gym..... Dokes was 216 pounds for Weaver in 1982, and then Dokes came in at 223 for the '83 rematch.... That showed me where Dokes' mind was at.....:shock:

[Bigcat]

I used to watch James Broad box Michael Dokes in the gym when i was in my late teens, They had no fights to get prepared for and were just going at it for fun.. They were always so happy and jovial, clowning and saying how about some promoter come put the fight together for real.. Looking back its so sad to see Michael in jail and James die a vagrant in the gutter of hypothermia in some bis depot in southern nevada too proud to ask for money when he was flat broke.. All James had to do was ask for help and he had a lot of friends willing to do so.. Michael i am a little less forgiving about , all the skills in the world and he chooses over and over again to take the short easy route towards drugs and oblivian... I often look around the gym now and wonder who the next generation of Dokes' and Broads are , so many nowadays remind me of them .. Its a rough old world out there , and nice guys like Greg page pass away with so much love to give.. It makes no sense at all.....

[Titan1]

This seems as good a place to ask this as any; is Dokes still in prison or has be been paroles?

I just had a look for him on the Nevada Department of Correction Inmate Search and couldn't seem to find him.

I think Michael has been out of the joint for several months down, understand he was going back to Akron.