Was Michael Dokes really that talented?

Dokes was extremely talented, but like a lot of guys he let success go to his head and started living a wild lifestyle, which cost him his career.

Here is a piece with Dokes' on and off again manager talking about Dokes not taking his career seriously.

The news that Michael Dokes, the former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, had been indicted in Nevada this week on charges that included drug trafficking and possession of marijuana did not surprise Marty Cohen.

Dokes pleaded not guilty yesterday in Las Vegas. Judge Earle White Jr. set a Jan. 19, 1987, trial date for Dokes.

Cohen, the 89-year-old adviser to Hector Camacho, the World Boxing Council lightweight champion, once served Dokes in the same capacity and said he saw troubled times coming for Dokes.

''The past few years he was moving in the very fast lane,'' said Cohen. ''And with very, very bad company. The people around him were just no good. Which I told him I don't know how many times.''

While he still held the title - Dokes lost it to Gerrie Coetzee in 1983 -Cohen removed the fighter from Lauderhill, Fla., where Dokes had his home, and his temptations. He sent Dokes to Sydney, Australia, to train for two months and then to Toronto for a month and a half.

''While away from the company he had been keeping, he was fine,'' said Cohen. ''And straight. But as soon as he was back to Vegas and Lauderhill, he was back into his old habits with this high-flying crowd.''

There were moments when Cohen was amused by Dokes's behavior. Dokes, who owned and wore four fur coats (average price: $10,000), regularly took one of the garments out of storage for the woman he was courting. When the fighter decided the affair was over, he would take back the fur and give it to the next woman he fancied.
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/23/...iser-recalls-dokes-bouts-with-temptation.html

 

He's a legit 6'3 or just a shade under it IMO.

Staredown with Holyfield @1:35 you can see Dokes is clearly taller than Holyfield who's listed at 6'2.

This content is protected

 

Like a radio station said one time, 6' 1 1/2 ".

 

I never understood why people thought Pinky could take a Holmes because all he had was basically a,jab and he wouldn't be able to out jab Holmes.
Some times I think people were reaching hoping Pinky could fill the talent void.

 

To be fair Carl Williams out jabbed Holmes in their fight.

I'm a big fan of Holmes but he was ready to be taken at that point in his career.

And someone like Thomas who had a great jab, potent fight hand, iron chin, and at that point was fresher in 1984-1985 i think I'd favour Thomas.

Of course a prime Holmes would outpoint Thomas but 1985 was far from a prime Holmes.

 

From memory I thought Williams outjabbed Holmes in the first 9 rounds or so.

And that it was actually Holmes's body punching that turned the fight around and allowed Holmes to win the later rounds as Williams started to tire.

Williams was 6'5 with a ridiculously long reach at 85 inches.

His youth, speed, and extra length on the jab is understandable in regards to why Holmes had trouble with Williams at that stage in his career.

For what its worth i scored the fight a draw.


Larry Holmes vs Carl Williams

1 Williams
2 Williams
3 Even
4 Holmes
5 Williams
6 Williams
7 Holmes
8 Holmes
9 Holmes
10 Williams
11 Williams
12 Holmes
13 Williams
14 Holmes
15 Holmes

143-143 Draw

 

He looked as a very special fighter when he was a teen. His famous exgibition vs Ali at 18 where he showed speed and skills.

But it was no surprise if you study his amateur career.

At 15 Dokes fought Leon Spinks who was already 21.
At 16 and 17 he scored two wins over Trevor Berbick who was 20 and 21 respectively.
At 17 he beat John Tate, 21.
Also at 17 he lost to the legendary Teofilo Stevenson, 23, who was already a World amateur champion and Olympic Gold medalist. But Dokes lasted the distance against the ATG Cuban despite 6 year gap in age.

That's a very impressive career considering he was fighting grown men who were 4-6 years older.

 

He had more than a jab.

 

I remember watching this one live on TV as a kid. I thought Williams was going to take over the division after this performance.

 

And then Weaver coldcocked him.

 

And then they figured he didn't know how to defend a left hook. And they all figured it out.