Troubled ex-champ ‘Dynamite’ Dokes dies
AKRON, Ohio - Michael Dokes, a former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, has died. He was 54.
The Rhoden Memorial Home in Akron said Dokes died Saturday. The Akron Beacon Journal reported the boxer died in an Akron hospice from liver cancer.
Dokes, nicknamed "Dynamite," had a career professional record of 53-6-2 with 33 knockouts. He fought in Las Vegas 16 times.
His biggest fight was Dec. 10, 1982, when he won the WBA heavyweight title at Caesars Palace, scoring a first-round technical knockout over Mike Weaver. There was controversy surrounding the way the fight ended with Weaver's corner complaining referee Joey Curtis stopped the fight too early.
The WBA agreed with Weaver and ordered a rematch. The two fought again on May 20, 1983, at the Dunes with the 15-round fight ending in a majority draw and Dokes retaining the title. Ten months later, Dokes lost the belt to Gerrie Coetzee.
Dokes, who had prior brushes with the law and struggles with cocaine addiction before he became world champion, began a downward spiral after losing the title. On Oct. 6, 1986, he was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for possession and trafficking of cocaine. He was given two years' probation after striking a plea deal with prosecutors.
In 1991, he was arrested a second time in Las Vegas for cocaine possession. It was the third time he had been arrested on drug charges and he was given a suspended sentence and five years' probation.
He was arrested again by Metro in 1998. This time the charges were attempted murder, kidnapping and intent to commit sexual assault on his then-girlfriend. Two years later, Dokes was sentenced to 10 years in prison and wasn't released until 2008.
He was already broke when his health problems arose following his release, and Dokes was unable to pay for his hospital care at University Medical Center.
In 2010, Dokes returned to his hometown of Akron where he lived out his final two years. He turned 54 last Friday.
Last week, Nevada Assemblyman Harvey Munford visited Dokes, who was in the final stages of his battle with cancer.
Munford, D-Las Vegas, has been pushing for support of a bill that would provide health insurance for boxers. Munford told the Review-Journal his proposed legislation would be in honor of Dokes.
Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Steve Carp contributed to this story.
