I remember that cobb fight falling apart. That would have been an easy defense for Mike back then. Easier than fighting the house fighter so consistently. He's correct about that in the interview also. Tex pulls out and gets a Holmes fight. If there was 1 guy Cobb should never ever fight it was Holmes. And I still think at the end of the day, Rappaport and Jones don't follow through with their guy in a Weaver match. It would have fallen apart at some junction. They wanted the title alright, but kind of wanted it awarded to their guy but not going thru Mr Holmes or Mr Weaver to get it. With hindsight--which they didn't have--They should have fought another Leon Spinks type guy and then waited for the IBF to come about and get their guy named as champ--after generous donations of course.
It's amazing what genetics can do as well. That guy had a body that anyone would kill for, and he never even used weights.
Loved watching his fights, watch his Tillis, Tate, and Holmes fights recently Great turn around after such a rough start
I'm sorry, but I take exception to that. That's 100% pure speculation and based off what? His physique? Did Ken Norton or Harold Johnson also use PED's then?
Yes , it woz jast e spekuleishen , bat from e LHW (178 ) in d army 2 ebaut 195 in d pros shud raiz sam sots . Haw mach du u sink hi kat in d ams? or did hi sadenli grow biger ? I du biliv det panching elown ken meik 1's macels biger . Det 1 iz in Weaver's difens
His fight w/ Coetzsee is still one of my fav heavy title fights ever as is his 2nd w/ Dokes. Which i thought he won at least 11 rds of. Don King fix was in for sure. I remember that night liken yesterday. I thought Holmes won that night too. by 9-3 over Witherspoon.
the most disappointed I was in the early 80s was the Cobb fight being cancelled. What a fight is would have been. Right there w/ my fav Fletcher not fighting Hagler.
But you're jumping to conclusions based purely off the guy's physique. That's crazy. If PED's were so freely available back then (and before) why didn't everyone else look like Weaver? I do agree that now especially, PED's are in widespread use, but to claim that an athlete uses them based purely on his physique is a little nuts if you ask me.
I agree with the fact that a physique of Weaver's type is not any indication of PED use. People who make the connection between drugs and muscular physique are misinformed (unless we are talking about TRULY FREAKISH bodybuilder physiques). Lots of guys with fat, soft physiques are on PEDs too. So, you're right, looking at someone's physique is a little nuts. But steroids were all over the place in the 1970s and '80s. Easily available. certainly in California !
Great interview. :good Weaver's a decent guy. Doesn't make any weird excuses for losing particular fights, just tells it like it is.
Always enjoyed watching Weaver fight. When he was focused and wanted it he was a dangerous opponent. His fights with Tate, Coetzee, Williams and Holmes were entertaining to say the least. His fight with Ledoux showed that Mike could make use of a good stiff jab and box a bit as well. As far as all the talk regarding his PED use, I don't think Mike used any. I think he was genetically gifted and would have have put muscle on just tying his shoes. Someone mentioned Harold Johnson in an earlier post and it's a good comparison. Mike could go the distance without gassing and if he did it was due to poor training not weight lifting and PED's. Like many fighters he was inconsistent and didn't seem driven to be the best at all times. He seemed a little too laid back at times.