# Michael Dokes

Michael Marshall Dokes (August 10, 1958 – August 11, 2012) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 1997, and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1982 to 1983. As an amateur he won a silver medal in the heavyweight division at the 1975 Pan American Games.

## Amateur career

Dokes won a silver medal at the 1975 Pan American Games. He lost a 5–0 decision to Teófilo Stevenson in the finals. He also lost a close decision to John Tate in the Olympic trials in 1976, after which he turned professional.

### Amateur accomplishments

* 1975 National AAU Heavyweight Champion
* 1976 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, beating future pro champs John Tate and Greg Page en route.
* As an underage 15-year-old, made it to the finals of both the 1974 National Golden Gloves and the National AAU tournaments. He lost to Leon Spinks in AAU final, and future Mike Tyson trainer Bobby Stewart in the Golden Gloves final.
* Won 1974 North American championships.
* Beat Marvin Stinson, who won the 1976 National AAU Heavyweight Championship.

## Professional career

Dokes turned professional in 1976. He received national exposure in a televised exhibition with Muhammad Ali in 1977, which saw Ali clown and mug while slipping Dokes's punches, but also revealed glimpses of Dokes's potential. He came to real prominence in 1979 by defeating veteran contender Jimmy Young. His career faltered slightly after fighting to a draw with Ossie Ocasio, but Dokes returned to knock out Ocasio in one round soon thereafter. By early 1982, after a first-round knockout of Lynn Ball to win the NABF title, Dokes was in line for a title shot. He was ranked #2 by the WBC and #3 by the WBA. Dokes became WBA heavyweight champion in 1982 by knocking out Mike Weaver in the first round in a match held weeks after the Ray Mancini-Duk Koo Kim lightweight title fight that ended in Kim's death. Because of Nevada State Athletic Commission instructions to referee Joey Curtis regarding the stoppage of the fight in light of the incident, some felt it was premature. In the rematch, Dokes retained his title on a majority draw (tie).
Dokes's reign as the WBA title holder was short-lived. He lost his title by a tenth-round knockout to Gerrie Coetzee. He was later knocked out by future champion Evander Holyfield.
Dokes was knocked out by Donovan Ruddock in 1990. In 1993, Dokes faced newly crowned heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe in his first title defense since defeating Evander Holyfield. Bowe won by TKO in the first round. Although Dokes and his team protested that the fight was stopped prematurely, it was obvious that Dokes was in no condition to continue after taking a vicious barrage of punches from the heavy-hitting Bowe. After a nearly three-year hiatus, Dokes returned to the ring winning three of five matches over a two-year period before retiring for good in 1997.

## Life after boxing

In 1999 Dokes was sentenced to between four and 15 years in prison after being convicted of an attack on his fiancée in August 1998. Late in 2008, Dokes was released on parole. Dokes died of liver cancer at a hospice in Akron in August 2012, a day after his 54th birthday.

## Professional boxing record

| 61 fights | 53 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 34 | 5 |
| By decision | 19 | 1 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 61 | Loss | 53–6–2 | Paul Phillips | TKO | 2 (10) | Oct 11, 1997 | Peels Palace, Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 60 | Loss | 53–5–2 | Louis Monaco | PTS | 10 | Apr 5, 1997 | Aztlan Theatre, Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 53–4–2 | Doug Davis | PTS | 10 | Dec 10, 1996 | Tempe, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 52–4–2 | Dave Fiddler | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 27, 1996 | Lucky Eagle Casino, Rochester, Washington, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 51–4–2 | Dave Slaughter | KO | 3 | Nov 18, 1995 | Aurora, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 50–4–2 | Riddick Bowe | TKO | 1 (12), 2:19 | Feb 6, 1993 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For WBA and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 55 | Win | 50–3–2 | Barry Forbes | UD | 10 | Oct 27, 1992 | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 49–3–2 | Jose Ribalta | UD | 10 | Oct 6, 1992 | Mahi Shrine Temple, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 48–3–2 | Jesse Ferguson | UD | 10 | Jul 28, 1992 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 47–3–2 | Danny Sutton | KO | 3 (10), 2:54 | Apr 16, 1992 | Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 46–3–2 | Percell Davis | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Mar 21, 1992 | CSU Convocation Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 45–3–2 | Danny Wofford | TKO | 9 (10), 2:10 | Feb 14, 1992 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 44–3–2 | Danny Stonewalker | TKO | 6 (10), 2:39 | Jan 21, 1992 | Union Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 43–3–2 | Tyrone Armstrong | KO | 4 (10), 1:32 | Dec 27, 1991 | Union Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 42–3–2 | John Morton | PTS | 8 | Nov 29, 1991 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 41–3–2 | Donovan Ruddock | KO | 4 (12), 0:53 | Apr 4, 1990 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 45 | Win | 41–2–2 | Jorge Alfredo Dascola | TKO | 11 (12), 1:05 | Feb 5, 1990 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 44 | Win | 40–2–2 | Lionel Washington | TKO | 8 (12), 0:49 | Nov 13, 1989 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 43 | Win | 39–2–2 | Wesley Watson | TKO | 3 (10), 2:25 | Aug 24, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 38–2–2 | Bobby Crabtree | KO | 1 (10), 1:46 | Jul 13, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 37–2–2 | Evander Holyfield | TKO | 10 (12), 1:41 | Mar 11, 1989 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
| 40 | Win | 37–1–2 | Rocky Sekorski | UD | 12 | Dec 9, 1988 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
| 39 | Win | 36–1–2 | Curtis Isaac | TKO | 4 (10), 2:21 | Oct 27, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 35–1–2 | Manoel De Almeida | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | Jul 28, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 34–1–2 | Andrew Stokes | TKO | 1 (10), 2:58 | Jun 27, 1988 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–1–2 | James Pritchard | TKO | 7 (12), 2:32 | Apr 28, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
| 35 | Win | 32–1–2 | Eddie Richardson | TKO | 10 (10), 2:15 | Feb 24, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–1–2 | Ken Lakusta | TKO | 7 (10), 2:52 | Jan 22, 1988 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–1–2 | Kevin Porter | TKO | 5 (10), 0:25 | Dec 17, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 29–1–2 | Randall Cobb | TD | 4 (12), 1:03 | Mar 15, 1985 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title; Majority TD after Dokes was cut from an accidental head clash |
| 31 | Win | 28–1–2 | Young Louis | TKO | 2 (10), 2:29 | Feb 16, 1985 | Andy Murphy Midtown Neighborhood Center, Kingston, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 27–1–2 | Mike Jameson | UD | 10 | Aug 31, 1984 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 29 | Loss | 26–1–2 | Gerrie Coetzee | KO | 10 (15), 3:08 | Sep 23, 1983 | Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S. | Lost WBA heavyweight title |
| 28 | Draw | 26–0–2 | Mike Weaver | MD | 15 | May 20, 1983 | Dunes, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBA heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–0–1 | Mike Weaver | TKO | 1 (15), 1:03 | Dec 10, 1982 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBA heavyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–0–1 | Tommy Franco Thomas | KO | 5 (12), 1:33 | Mar 20, 1982 | Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Lynn Ball | TKO | 1 (12), 2:56 | Jan 30, 1982 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won NABF heavyweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | George Chaplin | UD | 10 | Nov 6, 1981 | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Harry Terrell | KO | 1 (10), 1:25 | Aug 9, 1981 | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | John L. Gardner | KO | 4 (10), 1:54 | Jun 12, 1981 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Randall Cobb | MD | 10 | Mar 22, 1981 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Tom Fischer | TKO | 7 (10), 1:17 | Oct 2, 1980 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Ossie Ocasio | TKO | 1 (10), 2:33 | Jun 27, 1980 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 18 | Draw | 17–0–1 | Ossie Ocasio | SD | 10 | Apr 19, 1980 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Lucien Rodriguez | UD | 10 | Feb 10, 1980 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Earl Tripp | KO | 1 (10), 2:59 | Jan 13, 1980 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Jimmy Young | UD | 10 | Sep 28, 1979 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Willie McIntyre | KO | 2 (10), 2:56 | Jul 20, 1979 | Auditorium, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Greg Sorrentino | KO | 3 (10) | May 12, 1979 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Wendell Bailey | SD | 10 | Mar 23, 1979 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Ira Martin | TKO | 8 (8), 1:51 | Dec 8, 1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Eugene Green | UD | 8 | Oct 27, 1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Terry Mims | UD | 8 | Sep 26, 1978 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Dan Johnson | UD | 6 | Apr 29, 1978 | The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Abdul Khan | UD | 8 | Mar 25, 1978 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | George Holden | KO | 2 (8) | Mar 3, 1978 | Rif Stadion, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Ed Turner | PTS | 6 | Apr 10, 1977 | Fontainbleau, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Charlie Jordan | TKO | 3 (4) | Mar 6, 1977 | Correctional Facility, Marion, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Dave Wilson | PTS | 4 | Jan 29, 1977 | Fontainebleau, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sergio Rodriguez | TKO | 2 | Jan 16, 1977 | USS Lexington (CV-16), Pensacola, Florida, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Al Byrd | RTD | 2 (4), 3:00 | Oct 15, 1976 | Hollywood Sportatorium, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. | |

## Exhibition boxing record

| 1 fight | 0 wins | 0 losses |
| Non-scored | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 1 | — | 0–0 (1) | Muhammad Ali | — | 3 | Apr 16, 1977 | Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | Non-scored bout |