Mike Weaver VS. Michael Dokes 1 and 2

Weaver was the best guy in the division fighting off the ropes, at that time. The problem is most heavies are in big big trouble when their back hits the ropes. Not Mike.

But any kind of controversy in a DKP co-promotion, just guess which side always comes out unscathed?

 

The stoppage in the first fight by Joey Curtis (who was a long in the tooth, indesisive ref) was seen by most observers as premature. Mancini had killed Kim just a few weeks earlier and may have subconsciously affected Curtis. Weaver was hurt but had his hands up blocking a lot of the blows. So, a rematch was ordered. If it was the WBC title at stake, Weaver likely would not have gotten a rematch as Don King controlled Dokes and, arguably, Jose Suiliman. Since the WBA had a modicum of a sense for fair play, it gave Weaver an immediate rematch. This proved justified when Weaver gave Dokes all he could handle in a 15 round fight that Weaver arguably should have won.

 

Agreed. Weaver got screwed both fights, one by horrible refereeing, two by corrupt judging. Sadly this same type of BS still goes on today.

 

Later on, he failed to stop James Tillis/Marvis Frazier when Tillis had Frazier out of it on the ropes, not firing back. He reverted to form when DK was not involved. LOL.

 

I wish the same interviewer was around to say to him, "but Joey, what about having another Du-Koo Kim on your hands?"

 

Bump s

 

Yup, this is the correct answer.

 

Agree 1000% . My old coach always reminded us during sparring don't
let the opponent just "tee off" on you. Hold, move, or make an effort to
fire back.

 

I didn't think the stoppage in the 1st fight was quite as controversial as everyone made out, Dokes dropped Weaver and had him hurt along the ropes for quite a long period, walling away at him without Weaver responding. Was it a bit premature and controversial ? absolutely. But i didn't think it was quite as bad as everyone else seemed to think it was. Weaver could be vulnerable early on and Dokes just caught him cold and in my mind would of finished him off.

I actually feel a bit bad for Dokes as he was robbed of good stoppage over a solid Heavyweight. It also didn't help that this fight came shortly after the tragic Mancini/Kim fight, which probably swayed the referee to stop it early and i don't blame him TBH.

I think people tend to leave out the handspeed and the aggression, in those first 60 seconds from Michael Dokes, is one of the most impressive starts to a Heavyweight title fight i've ever seen.

As for the rematch i don't remember how i scored it and i've only seen the fight once, but alot of respected posters here seem to have Weaver edging a close fight. So i'll go with their opinion that Weaver was probably unlucky, but i would like to revisit the fight someday and have my own opinion on it.

 

The first fight was stopped too soon, though Weaver could have tried harder to punch back. Dokes missed the majority of his "finishing" blows and Mike really wasn't that hurt. It was widely raged against at the time.

I had the second fight for Weaver by three points, I was pretty surprised at the draw. That fight was when I started seeing Dokes as a cut below guys like Thomas, Page, Witherspoon...even Berbick. Obviously Coetzee. He was always just a small step above mediocre imo.