BoxRec

Sad news as yet another 80s generation heavyweight dies young. Michael Dokes, just 54, died last night after several years of battling stomach and liver cancer:

http://www.boxing.com/ten_count_for_michael_dokes.html

Dokes was an amateur prodigy, fighting the likes of Teofilo Stevenson and sparring with Muhammad Ali, and as a pro his fights with Ossie Ocasio, Tex Cobb, John L Gardner, George Chaplin, Jimmy Young, Lynn Ball, Mike Weaver and Gerrie Coetzee were tremendous. Drug problems ruined his talents but he was able to dredge up what he had left to engage in one of the all-time heavyweight punchups with the great Evander Holyfield.

Dokes was fearless, had blurring hand speed, a big punch, a steel chin and a 78 inch reach - the same as Vitali Klitschko! A real beast and an incredibly entertaining fighter.

RIP. A lot of the 80's heavies have died, Leroy Jones, Scott LeDoux, Trevor Berbick, Anders Eklund, James Broad, Leroy Boone, Jeff Sims, Greg Page and now Dokes.

Sad news.

Dokes was a waste of talent. When Mike Weaver held him to a 15-round draw in a rematch in 1983, a man Dokes had previously stopped in a minute, it was one of those head-scratching moments. Dokes was clearly not living the right sort of life. A fight later, in his home city of Akron, he allowed a whie South African at the height of Apartheid to smash him to defeat in 10 shocking rounds. Michael's short reign as WBA heavyweight king was over.

Sad news I remember growing up watching World of Sport when they showed all the heavyweight title fights including Michael.

RIP.

People say the use of oral steroids during that era was off the charts.

Obviously the trappings of 80's fame would shorten your life too.

RIP - he was a very fast handed boxer and boxed top level for years; I reckon he had THE best perm in boxing when he boxed; very distinct. He was tough as well, it's a shame.

R.I.P

There is some footage of an Dokes fighting Ali in an exhibition in 1977. He was only 18 I think at the time, clearly a talented fighter.

Blistering handspeed and his fight with Holyfield is much forgotton.

RIP.

I wonder how Tyson would have done if the lost generation hadn't gotten lost. Were there guys who could have taken the Tyson of the mid 80's?

thepocketrocket wrote:I wonder how Tyson would have done if the lost generation hadn't gotten lost. Were there guys who could have taken the Tyson of the mid 80's?

Excellent question - personally I think Tyson was on another level irrespective of their problems but we will never know just how good they were. Dokes was my favourite of the lost generation.

I remember reading in the early 90s what a mess he was. Drugs, booze and food. Somebody said they saw him eating mayonaise out of a jar, using his hands on a plane flight to a fight around that time.

Im amazed he lasted until now.

Talented fighter tho.

stujones wrote:

thepocketrocket wrote:I wonder how Tyson would have done if the lost generation hadn't gotten lost. Were there guys who could have taken the Tyson of the mid 80's?

Excellent question - personally I think Tyson was on another level irrespective of their problems but we will never know just how good they were. Dokes was my favourite of the lost generation.

Thanks Stu. I have always wondered who had what skill, who the best was ect. I have heard Dokes was the best also, but if anyone has any other ideas fire away

Brilliant fighter, his knock out of our own John L Gardner was just just stunning, frightening too. I remember watching it on TV as a kid...scroll through to 4.30 and brace yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9_5F4_Gpgs

Dokes used to throw red roses to the women in the crowd after his wins - he really had it all, speed, punch power, great chin and a huge heart ( as he showed in his comeback ) but the coke finished him off fast, and he was almost past it before he even won the title...

His eventual fight with Bowe was one of the most cynical HW title mismatches seen in years. I think it was the late great Harry Mullan, who said he bumped into Mike in the hotel lift, a few days before his "fight" with Bowe, and Mike didn't even seem to know where he was.....and a sad twist that Riddick eventually ended up in a similar postition to Dynamite Dokes a few years later.

Vaudeville Villain wrote:RIP Dokes, one of my favourite boxers of all time. Epic war with Holyfield and he was still trying to pull the trigger when Ruddock and Bowe did him.

I fornicating love this description, you are absolutely right with that last line. One of the reasons Ruddock and Bowe took the remnants of Dokes out fast is because he was so insanely, freakishly hard he was literally trying his best to decap them when they ended it. A terrifying guy to fight, dangerous man.

Another 80's heavy gone, Dokes certainly had talent and should of had a better life, but drugs don't care who you are.

Life seems to have been hard on the heavies from the 80's, but they all make their own decisions in life.

Uploaded Dokes vs Lynn Ball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLplpSXluqc

Old bones Ian wrote:Another 80's heavy gone, Dokes certainly had talent and should of had a better life, but drugs don't care who you are.

Life seems to have been hard on the heavies from the 80's, but they all make their own decisions in life.

It was cancer that got to him in the end not drugs and before that the BS attempted murder rap. he was still active in the late 90s till that happened.He was a brave tough man who fought these things hard.RIP

yep it was the cancer that got him in the end, but his life was in tatters through drugs.

Very talented chap; didn't so much live the high life as a stratospheric one when he had the dough.

Sad news. Dokes was an entertaining talent to watch.

Good call Mightywarrior. Dokes really let his fists do the talking against Gardner. Amazing speed and accuracy.