Classic Forum Opinion:Micheal Dokes vs Lamon Brewster?

[catasyou]

Who wins and a short breakdown?:think

[lefthook31]

Alot of people knock Dokes, but he was actually a pretty good boxer. He had drug problems that held him back, but during his prime he lost to Ruddock, Holyfield and Bowe, and the Holyfield fight was a great fight. I think he would destroy the limited Brewster, hes not that great.

[mcvey]

Who wins and a short breakdown?:think

Brewster is a powerful guy ,who can hit ,but he is slow of foot and hand ,and he is very predictable ,a prime [clean] Dokes boxes his ears off,imo.

[Muchmoore]

The Dokes that fought Holyfield wins by a wide UD. Brewster has a big punch and is durable so you can't count him out but Dokes at his best is on a different level.

[ChrisPontius]

Dokes would certainly outbox him, but i'm not sure if he can take Brewster's left hook, which is bound to land sooner or later. Holyfield and Ruddock both put his lights out with left hooks and while Ruddock matches Brewsters power, Holyfield doesn't. All of Dokes' losses were by stoppage, so it's either a rather wide decision for Dokes or TKO loss.

[Muchmoore]

Dokes would certainly outbox him, but i'm not sure if he can take Brewster's left hook, which is bound to land sooner or later. Holyfield and Ruddock both put his lights out with left hooks and while Ruddock matches Brewsters power, Holyfield doesn't. All of Dokes' losses were by stoppage, so it's either a rather wide decision for Dokes or TKO loss.

Good points, but I think it's safe to say that Ruddock's Smash was a better weapon than anything in Brewsters arsenal. Combined with the fact Dokes wasn't quite the same after the Holyfield war. Guys like Etienne who weren't durable were able to outbox and survive against Brewster so Dokes has to be the favorite imo.

But Brewster certainly has a good shot, all it takes is one punch.

[lefthook31]

Dokes would certainly outbox him, but i'm not sure if he can take Brewster's left hook, which is bound to land sooner or later. Holyfield and Ruddock both put his lights out with left hooks and while Ruddock matches Brewsters power, Holyfield doesn't. All of Dokes' losses were by stoppage, so it's either a rather wide decision for Dokes or TKO loss.
You think Brewster hits as hard as Ruddock?

[ChrisPontius]

You think Brewster hits as hard as Ruddock?

Who hits harder is anyone's guess, but i think they're in the same league. Ruddock had better skills though, whereas Brewster takes it in the durability department.

[Mr Butt]

dokes wins due to his superior speed a focused dokes wins a ud clearly

[Holmes' Jab]

Dokes, wide-ish decision.

[fists of fury]

Dokes was past his best by the time he fought Evander yet he gave him hell. His speed would be too much for Brewster, imo.

[Mendoza]

Dokes was a fast handed fighter. But his record vs punchers is a bit suspect. KO loss to Cotezee, KO loss to Ruddock. Ko loss to Bowe, and a draw to Weaver. While Dokes owns a KO in 1 over Weaver, it was highly controversial.

The truth is Dokes could not keep good punchers off. Brewster wasn't a great boxer, but he had fast hands, very good power, very good durability, and plenty of heart. I think he would catch up to Dokes and take him out late.

Outside of the Weaver match ( which as I said was controversial ) did Dokes beat anyone when they were currently ranked in Ring Magazine's top ten? I don't think he did. Can someone check?

Some fans may say, but Brewster lost decsions to Eitenne and Shufford. That is true, but Brewster wasn't ready for prime time in those losses. He found his style a bit later.

[Titan1]

Dokes' boxing ablility and movement would help him win a UD vs Brewster, if he's younger.

[anarci]

ID say Dokes would outbox him in a convincing decision almost a shut out. ID give Brewster a punchers chance but 8 out of 10 times he outboxes Brewster pretty easy.

[Unforgiven]

Alot of people knock Dokes, but he was actually a pretty good boxer. He had drug problems that held him back, but during his prime he lost to Ruddock, Holyfield and Bowe, and the Holyfield fight was a great fight. I think he would destroy the limited Brewster, hes not that great.


Dokes was certainly past his prime by the time he fought Bowe.

He lost to Coetzee in his prime. Though I guess he wasn't 100% for that, due to outrageous cocaine abuse. Anyhow, his record is very solid indeed.

I agree with your conclusion. Brewster was a limited slugger journeyman. Dokes would outclass him, outspeed him, demolish him.

[TheGreatA]

Dokes was certainly past his prime by the time he fought Bowe.

He lost to Coetzee in his prime. Though I guess he wasn't 100% for that, due to outrageous cocaine abuse. Anyhow, his record is very solid indeed.

I agree with your conclusion. Brewster was a limited slugger journeyman. Dokes would outclass him, outspeed him, demolish him.

I think he was used up by the Ruddock fight too. I'd say Dokes was in his prime in the early 1980's and had that one last good performance left in him against Holyfield in 1989. He had very quick hands at his best.

I never thought Brewster was really top class. Clifford Etienne actually outbrawled him and he lost to Charles Shufford too. I thought Meehan also beat him and eventually Lyakhovich did.

He might give Dokes some problems with his pressure and always has the "puncher's chance" but in this case I think Dokes is just the more skilled boxer. It's not like Dokes couldn't hurt Brewster either.

[anarci]

Alot of people knock Dokes, but he was actually a pretty good boxer. He had drug problems that held him back, but during his prime he lost to Ruddock, Holyfield and Bowe, and the Holyfield fight was a great fight. I think he would destroy the limited Brewster, hes not that great.
Dokes was past it when he fought all those guys especially Bowe, No way was he even close to his prime. He was still pretty good though when he fought Holyfield. Actually Dokes was in his prime like 7 years before all these fights back when he fought Weaver twice.

[Unforgiven]

I think he was used up by the Ruddock fight too. I'd say Dokes was in his prime in the early 1980's and had that one last good performance left in him against Holyfield in 1989.

I think the Holyfield fight was a real heartbreaking defeat. He gave his all, came close but came up short. In a terrific epic battle, no question. But that kind of defeat can finish a fighter psychologically, especially when it reverses the momentum of a sucessful comeback run. And the history of drugs and rehab made matters worse.

Interestingly, after Dokes lost to Holyfield he was being talked of as a Tyson challenger later on in the year, but that never materialised. Maybe if that had been made he would have sprung the upset that Douglas pulled and saved his career and set up a return with Holyfield.

[TheGreatA]

I think the Holyfield fight was a real heartbreaking defeat. He gave his all, came close but came up short. In a terrific epic battle, no question. But that kind of defeat can finish a fighter psychologically, especially when it reverses the momentum of a sucessful comeback run. And the history of drugs and rehab made matters worse.

Interestingly, after Dokes lost to Holyfield he was being talked of as a Tyson challenger later on in the year, but that never materialised. Maybe if that had been made he would have sprung the upset that Douglas pulled and saved his career and set up a return with Holyfield.

I doubt he would have done a Buster Douglas on Tyson. He would have had to have been in the shape he was against Holyfield (around 220 lbs) to stand any kind of a chance. However after the loss to Holyfield he got to around 255 lbs and after the Ruddock loss 280+ lbs. He just let himself go. As you said, it was a heartbreaking loss to Holyfield, he had trained long and hard for the comeback but it was not to be.

[Bummy Davis]

I think Mike Weaver was more explosive than Brewster and Brewster can be outboxed..Dokes held his own with Weaver although I thought Weaver beat him in rematch and 1st match was a farce...Dokes had good hand speed and some pop...Dokes take the nod

[mr. magoo]

Dokes had better boxing skills, but I don't know if he could fend off Brewster's relentless heart and attacking style. I think Dokes would build a wide margin of points early, but with his tendency to break down later in fights, as with the case against Coetzee, Holyfield and the Weaver rematch, I can see Brewster forcing a stoppage late. Dokes simply did not do well against pressure fighters would kept coming at him.

[mr. magoo]

I think the Holyfield fight was a real heartbreaking defeat. He gave his all, came close but came up short. In a terrific epic battle, no question. But that kind of defeat can finish a fighter psychologically, especially when it reverses the momentum of a sucessful comeback run. And the history of drugs and rehab made matters worse.

Interestingly, after Dokes lost to Holyfield he was being talked of as a Tyson challenger later on in the year, but that never materialised. Maybe if that had been made he would have sprung the upset that Douglas pulled and saved his career and set up a return with Holyfield.

Agreed on all accounts. The Holyfield fight was a very good showing of Dokes. He was still only around 30 years old, a fit 225 lbs, was training with better management than he had before, and was clean for the time in years. He was also staying busy and had fought some 7 times in 1988 before fighting Evander in early 1989. This was probably the last time we saw a truly galvenized version of Dokes. In fact, had THIS Dokes been in the ring with Gerrie Coetzee in 1983, I wonder if the outcome would have been different.

As for the Tyson fight never materializing, I seem to remember hearing something at the time about Dokes wanting too much money to take the match, and Don King terminating negotiations.. Probably a bad move on Dokes' part in hindsite, given that he was KO'd for less money and by a lesser opponent several months later..... For whatever reason, he did not maintain his physical form and gained some 15-20 lbs in the year between fighting Evander and meeting Ruddock.. He was also floored against journeyman Lionel Washington on the undercard of Holyfield vs Rodriguez. Not long after the Ruddock defeat, he was arrested for possesion of cocaine, perhaps implying that he had once again been using by the time he entered the ring with Razor.

[Bummy Davis]

Agreed on all accounts. The Holyfield fight was a very good showing of Dokes. He was still only around 30 years old, a fit 225 lbs, was training with better management than he had before, and was clean for the time in years. He was also staying busy and had fought some 7 times in 1988 before fighting Evander in early 1989. This was probably the last time we saw a truly galvenized version of Dokes. In fact, had THIS Dokes been in the ring with Gerrie Coetzee in 1983, I wonder if the outcome would have been different.

As for the Tyson fight never materializing, I seem to remember hearing something at the time about Dokes wanting too much money to take the match, and Don King terminating negotiations.. Probably a bad move on Dokes' part in hindsite, given that he was KO'd for less money and by a lesser opponent several months later..... For whatever reason, he did not maintain his physical form and gained some 15-20 lbs in the year between fighting Evander and meeting Ruddock.. He was also floored against journeyman Lionel Washington on the undercard of Holyfield vs Rodriguez. Not long after the Ruddock defeat, he was arrested for possesion of cocaine, perhaps implying that he had once again been using by the time he entered the ring with Razor.

As far as Dokes and Coeztee, I dont think any version of Dokes would beat Coetzee that night, other nights yes but That was the best version of Coetzee I have seen. He was patient, boxed well and he used both hands and put the pressure on but patiently...If Gerrie could have kept that form for other fights he may have come out victorious in other big fights such as Weaver and Tate IMO

[ThinBlack]

Dokes post-1985 would lose to Brewster by late stoppage, maybe unanimous decision.Pre-1985 Dokes(when he was at his best) would win by decison, Dokes' power being somewhat overrated.

[I am Legion]

During the first half of the 80s Dokes was neck and neck with Page for the title best uncrowned champ. He and Page were head and shoulders over the rest but both had peaked before their opportunity came along.

Post 85 Dokes was on the slide but I think he'd still have too much for Brewster, who was basically just a journeyman.
;););)

[mcvey]

Who wins and a short breakdown?:think

A clean Dokes outboxes the pedestrian Brewer, his handspeed would befuddle the predictable left hooker.

[ironchamp]

Who hits harder is anyone's guess, but i think they're in the same league. Ruddock had better skills though, whereas Brewster takes it in the durability department.

Just watching the delivery of those punches I'd wager that Ruddock hits a bit harder but its really anyone's guess.

As for the OP

I'd easily favor Dokes;

His handspeed and skills may produce a clinic that is one sided but compelling due to Brewster's equalizer.