Micheal Dokes VS Tom Fischer 1980

[D9Garrard]

I might be in a considerable minority being interested in this obscure fight and having been a "Roughhouse" Fischer fan growing up just outside of his stomping grounds in Ohio.

That being said, with Michael Dokes being a red hot prospect at the time on the verge of a tittle shot and expected super-stardom and with this fight being on the Ali-Holmes undercard, you would have thought it would have been televised or replayed at some time as part of the buildup. Especially since Fischer's height and speed limitations virtually guaranteed to showcase Dokes' considerable physcial gifts.

I've never found anyone who has seen even a snippet of this fight and have never found even a highlight clip either. Has anyone else seen any of this fight and does anyone else think it strange that this was the only prime Dokes fight not shown on TV?

[Holmes' Jab]

Nice post. I've never known of any avaliable footage at all of that fight either. Dokes was a real prospect for sure, fast hands, good fundamentals, and his fair share of power and skillset. Shame that along with Page that he could've possibly achieved more, yet didn't. Aside from good early 80's performances here and there I was always impressed at his showing against an up and coming (at heavyweight) Evander. He competed well in that one.

[D9Garrard]

What's interesting is that Tom's wife referenced a VHS copy of the fight when I talked to her once upon a time, so maybe it exists somewhere.

I remember being enough of a "mark" for Fischer to believe he had a shot at winning and was probably more disappointed at that result than at any other the entire time I've been a boxing fan.

Years later, though, I inherited a terrible secretary at an agency I was hired to run and had to fire her for a laundry list of transgressions. It was Michael's cousin. So I guess i got some small measure of revenge.....

[Holmes' Jab]

Interesting story, obviously not everyone (or not that many) might be interested but I'd be curious if there was footage. Early Dokes was an exciting fighter to watch. Any idea what the scoring looked like pre-stoppage?

[mr. magoo]

Randall Tex Cobb once said of Dokes that he had the fastest hands in the business (at heavyweight). Coming from a man who fought Holmes, it makes you wonder.

Cobb was so coked up in those days, we really can't give any merit to anything he said. Particularly where speed is concerned.

[Seamus]

Mike Dokes did have some of the fastest hands of any heavyweight... ever.

But those hands too often went for the next rail of blow.

[Russell]

Dokes has some of the most criminally underrated handspeed at heavy ever, in my opinion.

He gained damn near a hundred pounds over the course of his career thanks to his love of cooking. Can't judge him on anything except his early work, really.

[D9Garrard]

From the reports, Dokes won every round while Tom followed him doggedly around the ring looking for the home run shot until he finally got ground down and the ref stopped in in the seventh.

I thought Dokes was easily the real thing and then I saw Tex Cobb have him hanging on for dear life and praying for the final bell and said "Hmnnnn.."

He had talent, that's for sure.

[JohnThomas1]

Mike Dokes did have some of the fastest hands of any heavyweight... ever.

But those hands too often went for the next rail of blow.

:lol:

[Titan1]

From the reports, Dokes won every round while Tom followed him doggedly around the ring looking for the home run shot until he finally got ground down and the ref stopped in in the seventh.

I thought Dokes was easily the real thing and then I saw Tex Cobb have him hanging on for dear life and praying for the final bell and said "Hmnnnn.."

He had talent, that's for sure.

He actually had George Chaplin down for sure in their fight, though it was never counted.But he had that habit of tiring late in fights, which would be suicide against someone with the skill set of a Page, Holmes, or Tubbs.