Mike Weaver VS. Michael Dokes 1 and 2

As I remember it, it was a fast stoppage, Weaver was robbed of his chance to continue

 

yea, that's how I remember it, I think Weaver won the second one, probably worth watching again. Didn't they score it a draw?

 

Three words describe it alll DON KING FIX.
Weaver kicked Dokes ass in May 18, 1983. 11-4 and they called draw. Vegas corrupt even then.

 

Oh yea, it was King! Think of all the other boxers that were screwed because of corruption. Its sad.

 

Quite a few thought the fix was in. Weaver was a notiously slow starter and Dokes uncustomarily came out looking for a fast KO. Thoughts may differ now but at this particular time (era) it was considered to be stopped a little soon.

You will see in the rematch that Weaver came into the ring sweating and well warmed up, unlike the first bout. Dokes came out all guns blazing again but Weaver was able to fight back effectively.

For the record the rematch was not exactly highway robbery, it was a close competitive fight. Many had it for Weaver by a point, some had a draw and the odd one had Weaver by two and not many at all scored it for Dokes. So tho close it is fair to say that a fair result would have found Weaver winning a close one. It was one of those rare fights that was extremely close but really only should have had one winner.

 

The first fight was definitely a funny one. And by funny I mean something smelled. The referee Joey Curtis was an old school referee who had a reputation for letting fights go on too long. If there was any doubt on that then you guys need to check out the Wilfredo Gomez - Derrick Holmes fight where Gomez decked Holmes 8 times and broke his jaw before Curtis stopped it. Or the Sugar Ray Leonard - Pete Ranzany fight where Ray was allowed to bludgeon Pete before Joey stopped it. And then he mysteriously stops Weaver-Dokes 1 in what appears to be only mild distress. Hmmmmm!

As for the second fight, this was my scorecard.

Round 1: 10-9 Dokes
Round 2: 10-9 Weaver
Round 3: 10-9 Dokes
Round 4: 10-9 Weaver
Round 5: 10-9 Dokes
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: 10-9 Weaver
Round 8: 10-9 Weaver
Round 9: 10-9 Weaver
Round 10: 10-9 Weaver
Round 11: 10-9 Dokes
Round 12: 10-9 Weaver
Round 13: 10-10 Even
Round 14: 10-9 Weaver
Round 15: 10-9 Weaver

Total: 146-141 Weaver

Obviously I felt Weaver deserved it, but I will say that last five rounds became very sloppy and it's up to the one scoring on whether they see it for the harder puncher or one scoring with a bit more frequency.

 

Weaver has to own some responsibility for the early stoppage in the first fight.

He got knocked down (a lot of people forget this) and didn’t throw a punch after getting up, while Dokes was going all out. Dokes threw 26 unanswered punches (some of them not landing, some not landing clean, but several did) with not a peep of response from Hercules.

I thought it was a bad stoppage. I also thought Weaver could have thrown something back and avoided that fate. When I trained amateur and pro boxers, I always coached them that the ref doesn’t know what’s going on in your head, if you get rocked and don’t throw back he will assume you CAN’T throw back. You have to show him you’re OK if you are OK.

 

Dokes was highly regarded going into the first fight, because of his combination of hand speed and solid power, but in reality he'd always shone uneven form. While he blasted out Ossie Ocasio in their second fight, in the first fight he languished to a draw. He should have done better in both fights with Tex Cobb, and after losing the title his effort became even more up and down.

This inconsistency is likely due to his personal problems, which are well documented.

As for why the immediate rematch? It probably made sense. The first fight was controversial, Weaver was pretty well regarded after a string of dramatic wins/credible losing effort to Larry Holmes, and it wasn't like there were a ton of options available for either guy.

 

You are correct about the fights although I think Dokes was a good fighter that blew it on drugs ..

 

Dokes had great hand speed, but his power was at best respectable.

 

Good post except I do feel Weaver deserved the rematch .. Does was a big King fighter at the time so who knows ?

 

The rematch happened because of public outcry over the fast stoppage.....Weaver was a notoriously slow starter and Dokes jumped on him.....it was hard to justify the stoppage after review Weaver did get stunned but was clear headed but riding out the storm at the time of the stoppage....Dokes was Uber talented but was not really a ko puncher of world class types