Mickael Dokes, 1981. prospect.

[waldorf]

I check out some video of dokes in 1981 and the guy looks fantastic. He is around 6 feet one and in great shape and wieghs around 215 or so and he hammer weaver even putting him on the canvas, although the fight was stopped way too early dokes looked like a future champ. His hand speed was fanntastic and he looked foucused and everything. Unfortunatlety after a few yrs his disappered and became coke head and fat boxer. If you see some footage of him in 1981 he looks like a different fighter, i think his fights with e weaver were his best fights, one was a win, the other a draw............. in 1981 Dokes looked like a true professional.......... he seemed to have it all..........

[SnoopySmurf]

I remember him. I always thought that one day he'd take on Holmes but it never happened. Then Dokes got KO'd by the most hellacious uppercuts in heavyweight history from a very young Razor Ruddock. He was out instantly.

[jabsRstiff]

Back in '81....Dokes was one of the a few much-talked about heavyweight hopefuls.

Tthere was him, Greg Page, Gerry Cooney, & Quick Tillis....

Right after Dokes decisioned Tex Cobb in early '81, most of the talk about him was of his significant lack of power. In fact, the rap on him he was a "heavyweight who fights small". Right after that, however, he started racking up a series of impressive KO's....John L.Gardner, Lynn Ball, Franco Thomas....he really destroyed those guys.
Now, he had real power combined with his serious skills & speed....& he certainly seemed like the guy who would rule the heavies (Cooney, Page, Tillis...all suffered losses).
He smashed Weaver in '82 (premature stoppage aside), & that was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. He obviously became more interested in partying than in winning.
A real shame.

[THE REAL NINJA]

wow didnt know he died yesterday RIP big man ...Dokes was unable to fight for several years due to a problem with ******* and was unable to make a successful comeback in the ring. His last notable fight was a title shot against champion Rid**** Bowe where Dokes was stopped in the first round. Dokes was eventually sent to prison on assault charges.

Died 9th February 2006.

[Dynamite76]

Dokes was nice to watch, but he couldn't punch and had stamina problems.It was a blessing, to some extent, that Don King was his promoter.

[American_Ninja]

wow didnt know he died yesterday RIP big man ...Dokes was unable to fight for several years due to a problem with ******* and was unable to make a successful comeback in the ring. His last notable fight was a title shot against champion Rid**** Bowe where Dokes was stopped in the first round. Dokes was eventually sent to prison on assault charges.

Died 9th February 2006.

It hasent been verified that he died. I've checked every boxing site I know of and have seen no mention of it.

[ZOSOOSOZ]

I think Dokes' fight with Holyfield was voted best HW fight of the '80s.

[THE REAL NINJA]

It hasent been verified that he died. I've checked every boxing site I know of and have seen no mention of it.

ok thanks i had the same prob been looking all over

[mr. bojangles]

Back in '81....Dokes was one of the a few much-talked about heavyweight hopefuls.

Tthere was him, Greg Page, Gerry Cooney, & Quick Tillis....

Right after Dokes decisioned Tex Cobb in early '81, most of the talk about him was of his significant lack of power. In fact, the rap on him he was a "heavyweight who fights small". Right after that, however, he started racking up a series of impressive KO's....John L.Gardner, Lynn Ball, Franco Thomas....he really destroyed those guys.
Now, he had real power combined with his serious skills & speed....& he certainly seemed like the guy who would rule the heavies (Cooney, Page, Tillis...all suffered losses).
He smashed Weaver in '82 (premature stoppage aside), & that was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. He obviously became more interested in partying than in winning.
A real shame.

Good post. I agree.

[Dynamite76]

Back in '81....Dokes was one of the a few much-talked about heavyweight hopefuls.

Tthere was him, Greg Page, Gerry Cooney, & Quick Tillis....

Right after Dokes decisioned Tex Cobb in early '81, most of the talk about him was of his significant lack of power. In fact, the rap on him he was a "heavyweight who fights small". Right after that, however, he started racking up a series of impressive KO's....John L.Gardner, Lynn Ball, Franco Thomas....he really destroyed those guys.
Now, he had real power combined with his serious skills & speed....& he certainly seemed like the guy who would rule the heavies (Cooney, Page, Tillis...all suffered losses).
He smashed Weaver in '82 (premature stoppage aside), & that was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. He obviously became more interested in partying than in winning.
A real shame.

In addition, Michael had some serious ego problems, going back to his days as an amateur, when Clint Jackson had to straighten him out.