Michael Marshall Dokes was an American professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 1997, and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1982 to 1983.
11 Facts About Michael Dokes
2.
Michael Dokes lost a close decision to John Tate in the Olympic trials in 1976, after which he turned professional.
3.
Michael Dokes received national exposure in a televised exhibition with Muhammad Ali in 1977, which saw Ali clown and mug while slipping Dokes' punches, but revealed glimpses of Dokes' potential.
4.
Michael Dokes came to real prominence in 1979 by defeating veteran contender Jimmy Young.
5.
Michael Dokes's career faltered slightly after fighting to a draw with Ossie Ocasio, but Dokes returned to knock out Ocasio in one round soon thereafter.
6.
Michael 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.
7.
Michael Dokes lost his title by a tenth-round knockout to Gerrie Coetzee.
8.
Michael Dokes was later knocked out by future champion Evander Holyfield.
9.
In 1993, Michael Dokes faced newly crowned heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe in his first title defense since defeating Evander Holyfield.
10.
In 1999 Michael Dokes was sentenced to between four and 15 years in prison after being convicted of an attack on his fiancee in August 1998.
11.
Michael Dokes died of liver cancer at a hospice in Akron in August 2012, a day after his 54th birthday.