Michael Dokes

[wsbuf]

http://www.ohio.com/sports/101247104.html

Seems like many of the 80's heavyweights have fallen on hard times either voluntary or from some hardship. Was it the 1980's culture?

[iamasadlittleboy]

The King effect perhaps

[hhaehre]

The King effect perhaps

Yeah, it's always King isn't it.
I don't have a great deal of sympathy for the likes of Dokes. He failed to take responsibility for his own life and actions and now the time has come to pay the piper.

[Darling]

http://www.ohio.com/sports/101247104.html

Seems like many of the 80's heavyweights have fallen on hard times either voluntary or from some hardship. Was it the 1980's culture?

Thanks. Interesting article.

[HomicideHenry]

last time i seen him on an interview he was in bad shape

[Robinson]

I think it was the case of instant celebrity, the care free party culture and
a generation after the 'Me' decade where people are less and less accountable
for actions and do not take heed to consequence.

It is perhaps worse now. Alot of the 1990s grungers only feeling the headaches
from that decade now, and who is to say what tommorows party-social cats
will feel.

Dokes like any individual had good oppurtunity to lead a decent life. He is where
he is because of his own decisions and actions.

Tim Witherspoon seems to be pretty happy and living a good life with his family
these days. As a contrast to say a Dokes.

[allworld80]

Dokes bathed in champagne that night and celebrated his place atop the boxing world.

''I forgot about that,'' Dokes said of his champagne bath. ''It cost me something like $20,000.''

When will these guys learn? Use Korbel for champagne baths, not Cristal.

[Bricks]

Dokes blew his life and career on drugs and drink and excess and women.He didnt learn so many times. He pulled himself back together in the late 80's and than again after the ruddock brutalisation.

The business of boxing and the disease and plague of hangers on, cheating promoters and managers and lawyers is enough to leave even the clean living boxer ripped off and shorn of his due, but I still think given what Dokes had in his hands, his talent and opportunities he is responsible for his own actions such as the beating on the woman that got him 10 years in prison.

I pray God blesses him with better health and to beat this horrific cancer he has. Don King should look at his conscience and help Dokes out for his treatment but he wont.

If that picture in the main news story is Dokes it is truly shocking he looks very frail and old waaay beyond his chronological age.

[bollox]

Geezuz, Michael does not look well

[HomicideHenry]

So much for the pro wrestling comeback....

[hhaehre]

I pray God blesses him with better health and to beat this horrific cancer he has. Don King should look at his conscience and help Dokes out for his treatment but he wont.

There are quite a few ex fighters King should lend a helping hand as an act of common decency but Dokes is not one of them imo. Any man who beats up his woman to the point of getting charged and convicted for attempted murder deserves no help from anyone.

By the look of Dokes in that picture and considering the type of cancer that he has got I doubt he'll be around for much longer no matter how much help he gets. What a monumental waste of talent and life.

[The Great John L]

Since I live in Akron I had the pleasure of watching Michael as he defined himself as an amateur back in the 70’s. While many may blame his problems on DK, I’m pretty sure he developed many bad habits at a pretty young age. He was a massive celebrity here as he walked over the competition in the GG and quickly established himself on a national level. Even during the early years he had a very large following here and there were rumors of lack of discipline even when he was in his teens.

It’s not surprising to read his confessions about not exactly being at his best for Coeztee. My neighbor at the time worked security at one of Michaels parties just a few days before the Coetzee fight and he told me that there were drugs at the party and he thought Michael looked pretty wasted when he spoke with him. It was quite a letdown for us all when he was stopped, but certainly not a total surprise.

Interestingly, from what I heard he still wasn’t really clean even during the late 80’s, which makes his performance against Holyfield so much more impressive. While he could probably have accomplished much more with his skills, he certainly should be proud of what he has accomplished.

[HomicideHenry]

Dokes was one of those guys who was on the cusp of possibly being a great fighter, if not an all time great. drugs and bad decisions proved otherwise; but at his peak the man probably would have eaten Holyfield alive and kayoed Douglas and given Tyson hell.

[Darling]

Dokes was one of those guys who was on the cusp of possibly being a great fighter, if not an all time great. drugs and bad decisions proved otherwise; but at his peak the man probably would have eaten Holyfield alive and kayoed Douglas and given Tyson hell.

Hilarious stuff.

[dempseyfire]

Dokes was a guy blessed with great natural speed and athleticism who could look amazing vs the likes of a Gardner but as a result never learned to pace himself or adjust his gameplan vs an opponent who wasn't budging from his initial early round explosion. That said, he was a pretty good fighter. I'm one of the minority who thought the Weaver draw was a more than just decision (I actually had Michael outworking Weaver and winning the fight), but his struggles with Cobb and his beating by Coatzee showed he lacked the discipline to ever be a great fighter.

Can you imagine the hype Dokes would get nowadays? There isn't a current HW prospect who looks even half as good as Dokes did early in his career . .

[Darling]

I'm one of the minority who thought the Weaver draw was a more than just decision (I actually had Michael outworking Weaver and winning the fight)

It was a close fight; I thought Weaver just did enough. But a draw was OK with me.

It's a great fight too. Rarely mentioned but one any real fan would enjoy.

[hhaehre]

I'm one of the minority who thought the Weaver draw was a more than just decision (I actually had Michael outworking Weaver and winning the fight)

It was a close fight; I thought Weaver just did enough. But a draw was OK with me.

It's a great fight too. Rarely mentioned but one any real fan would enjoy.

I'd say reasonably close but a clear win for Weaver none the less. As for Dokes beating Holyfield, knocking out Douglas and giving Tyson hell I say hell no, probably not and hell no.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I didn't think the Weaver decision was that bad either, but the Draw with Ocasio was terrible. Michael took a beating that night. You don't see too many guys robbed at home.

[yancey]

Dokes was one of those guys who was on the cusp of possibly being a great fighter, if not an all time great. drugs and bad decisions proved otherwise; but at his peak the man probably would have eaten Holyfield alive and kayoed Douglas and given Tyson hell.

Exaggerate much, HH?

[Darling]

Ah, the supreme irony of Gran Jnr accusing someone of exaggeration.

[Bricks]

Dokes was one of those guys who was on the cusp of possibly being a great fighter, if not an all time great. drugs and bad decisions proved otherwise; but at his peak the man probably would have eaten Holyfield alive and kayoed Douglas and given Tyson hell.

Hilarious stuff.

i've never seen a HW punch so fast as that first round of the dokes-Weaver rematch. Dokes came out blisteringly fast!

[Nile4000]

I liked Michael, though he was a talented, good fighter, but not on the level of a Page, but had more desire and will than Greg ever did.He lacked Cooney's power, but definitely had heart.That speed was phenominal, probably the fastest heavy when he was good.He actually had George Chaplin down in the first round of their fight, the ref didn't catch it.

[Bricks]

I pray God blesses him with better health and to beat this horrific cancer he has. Don King should look at his conscience and help Dokes out for his treatment but he wont.

There are quite a few ex fighters King should lend a helping hand as an act of common decency but Dokes is not one of them imo. Any man who beats up his woman to the point of getting charged and convicted for attempted murder deserves no help from anyone.

By the look of Dokes in that picture and considering the type of cancer that he has got I doubt he'll be around for much longer no matter how much help he gets. What a monumental waste of talent and life.

It was only made into attempted murder as the prosecutors argued since Dokes used his hands and he was a former world champion prizefighter his hands were technically lethal weapons. Dokes had little or no decent legal defence. He just pleaded guilty and they threw the book at him.We dont know if he was provoked or what kind of women he beat. Maybe he was attacked first. I have seen in England, women do some horrendous attacks on men. Its always in the newspapers here.

Dokes doesnt deserve cancer very few people do its a terrible sadness to see him like this. Marty Cohens estate are the ones who should pay a little out of the ex billionaires estate to make Dokes life a little easier regardless of how long he has left. Only God can decide that.

[mrshot]

dokes was a good fighter,

[hhaehre]

I pray God blesses him with better health and to beat this horrific cancer he has. Don King should look at his conscience and help Dokes out for his treatment but he wont.

There are quite a few ex fighters King should lend a helping hand as an act of common decency but Dokes is not one of them imo. Any man who beats up his woman to the point of getting charged and convicted for attempted murder deserves no help from anyone.

By the look of Dokes in that picture and considering the type of cancer that he has got I doubt he'll be around for much longer no matter how much help he gets. What a monumental waste of talent and life.

It was only made into attempted murder as the prosecutors argued since Dokes used his hands and he was a former world champion prizefighter his hands were technically lethal weapons. Dokes had little or no decent legal defence. He just pleaded guilty and they threw the book at him.We dont know if he was provoked or what kind of women he beat. Maybe he was attacked first. I have seen in England, women do some horrendous attacks on men. Its always in the newspapers here.

Dokes doesnt deserve cancer very few people do its a terrible sadness to see him like this. Marty Cohens estate are the ones who should pay a little out of the ex billionaires estate to make Dokes life a little easier regardless of how long he has left. Only God can decide that.

This is from the LA Times on the sentencing of Dokes:

"Former heavyweight champion Michael Dokes was sent to prison Monday for a night of terror in which he beat and sexually assaulted his live-in girlfriend in 1998.

A tearful Dokes, 41, apologized for his actions, but it wasn't enough to prevent a Las Vegas judge from giving him up to 10 years in prison for an attack that left the victim's face so beaten that an arresting officer said he couldn't recognize her from a driver's license photo."

Sounds to me like he got what he deserved. As for the cancer I think it is sad and I don't wish it on anyone but better men than Dokes have died from the decease. If someone steps in to make his life a bit more comfortable I applaud it but boxing owe him nothing.