Michael Dokes

It's probably an extreme view, but I think with the right trainer, the right trainer and the right management, he could have been the next Joe Louis. All the tools were there: amazing handspeed, excellent fundamental skills, combinations, punching power (early in his career) and excellent ring generalship. As you say, his essential problem was commitment, which aggravated his other more natural problems ie. poor stamina.

If you think this is overstated Dokes's ability, watch the end of the Gardner fight. That's a series of punches worthy of the Brown Bomber, which is saying a lot.

 

i just watched the fight with gardner and wow he was good,
damn so much potenial
and he such nice movies in the ring

sad, how it turned out

 

His main assets were great handspeed, good technical skills, and an iron chin. He never really was convincing as a champion, though. He won his title on one of the most controversial stoppages ever against Mike Weaver. See for yourself and decide:
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They had a rematch, and this time Weaver survived Dokes' early onslaught and battled him to a draw, but that allowed Dokes to retain his title. After that, he defended his title against Coetzee and was heavily favored to win, but Coetzee overpowerd him and brutally KO'd him late. The outcome was The Ring's Upset of the Year. Here's that fight:
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Personally, I'd say he was a good, solid fighter, but the Coetzee loss exposed some of his limitations.

 

When he got off his toes, he become a far less effective fighter.

 

I think he was pretty messed up with cocaine addiction by the time he faced Coetzee. Looks like a guy who hasn't slept well for days in that fight.
He got clean around '87 and made a decent comeback, was looking very sharp against secon-raters but then lost that war with Holyfield, and he ended up back on the drugs and alcohol sometime as the 90s rolled in.

 

His fight with Holyfield is one of the best heavyweight fights ive ever seen.

 

Along with Greg page and Tim Witherspoon,he was one of those fighters that could have been placed alongside Tyson and Holmes as the heavyweights of the 80's. If those three had lived up to their potential.

 

tim witherspoons hardest opponent was don ****in' king

 

Yeah, Turpinr, Don F. King... He killed the goose - boxing - that laid the golden eggs. Look at what he had, especially in the 80's, with his heavyweight stable, his influence over sanctioning bodies, his power, his money & resources... King had so much influence. If he had run things right boxing would be huge today and guys like Dokes would be set for life. It's amazing how someone so successful - Don King - is also such a failure.

 

Drugs, conditioning and just not a big puncher ... Witherspoon had more ability and potential ...

 

He was talented although I'd have to say that having watched his fight against Jimmy Young recently, I don't think he was that talented. Young, even a very out of shape Young as he was in this particular fight, could make anyone appear bad but he looked really bad. Dokes was in peak shape too while Young obviously was not.

 

no he was that talented....

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1a2M6SIiz8[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9_5F4_Gpgs&feature=related[/ame]

 

After he matured, planted his feet more and filled out Dokes IMO was a very underrated puncher.