42 years ago
Mike Weaver vs Michael Dokes
Date: 10th December 1982
Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Title: WBA World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Don King Productions
Tv: HBO World Championship Boxing
Mike Weaver
(
24
-
9
-
0
)
Weight: 209¾ lbs
Michael Dokes
(
25
-
0
-
1
)
Weight: 216 lbs
On December 10, 1982, Michael Dokes challenged Mike Weaver for the WBA World Heavyweight Title at the Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight, promoted by Don King and televised on HBO World Championship Boxing, ended in a controversial first-round technical knockout victory for Dokes.
Dokes came out aggressively from the opening bell, charging at Weaver and throwing combinations. Weaver, known for being a slow starter, managed to stun Dokes with a left hook, but Dokes quickly regained the upper hand. Dokes staggered Weaver with a left hook to the chin and followed up with another left hook that sent the champion to the canvas. Weaver got up and received the mandatory eight count from referee Joey Curtis.
After the knockdown, Weaver found himself pinned against the ropes, with Dokes unleashing a barrage of punches from various angles. As Weaver attempted to cover up, Curtis stepped in and raised Dokes' hand, signalling the end of the fight at 1:03 of the first round. The sudden stoppage was met with boos and chants of "Bullshit!" and "Fix!" from the crowd while a brawl broke out in the ring between the two fighters' camps.
Several factors fuelled the controversy surrounding the stoppage. Curtis later revealed that earlier that day, the Nevada State Athletic Commission had stressed the importance of stopping fights earlier to ensure boxer safety, citing the recent death of Korean lightweight Duk Koo Kim. Additionally, ringside physician Dr Donald Romeo and HBO commentator Sugar Ray Leonard felt the stoppage was premature. Romeo stated that Weaver was "fine", and Leonard suggested that Curtis had "panicked."
In the fight's aftermath, Weaver and his team accused Don King of fixing the bout, prompting the WBA to launch an investigation. Although the result was not overturned, the WBA ultimately ordered an immediate rematch between Weaver and Dokes.
The Weaver-Dokes controversy remains a notable moment in boxing history. It highlighted the challenges referees face in making split-second decisions to protect fighters while ensuring a fair outcome. The fight also underscored the intense scrutiny and suspicion that can arise when a high-profile bout ends unexpectedly or unsatisfactorily.