Mike Weaver

Biography

Few heavyweight stories capture the essence of perseverance quite like that of Mike "Hercules" Weaver. Beginning his professional journey in the shadows of obscurity on September 11, 1972, at the Valley Music Theater in Woodland Hills, California, Weaver suffered a third-round knockout loss to Howard Smith - an inauspicious start that gave no hint of the remarkable career that would follow.

A former U.S. Marine who discovered boxing while serving his country, Weaver's early career was a testament to learning on the job. He accumulated many victories and defeats, fighting virtually anyone willing to step into the ring. This baptism by fire included early losses to Larry Holmes and Stan Ward, experiences that would prove invaluable in his development as a fighter.

The turning point came when Angelo Dundee, one of boxing's most revered trainers, saw potential in the muscularly-sculpted heavyweight and took him under his wing. Under Dundee's guidance, Weaver transformed from a raw puncher into a more complete fighter, though he always retained the devastating power that would become his calling card.

On March 31, 1980, at the Stokely Athletics Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, Weaver authored one of boxing's most dramatic chapters. Challenging WBA Heavyweight Champion John Tate, Weaver was behind on all scorecards heading into the fifteenth and final round. With just 45 seconds remaining, he unleashed a thunderous left hook that knocked Tate unconscious, claiming the world title in one of the most spectacular come-from-behind victories in heavyweight history.

Weaver's first defence came against South African Gerrie Coetzee, whom he stopped in the thirteenth round with another display of fight-ending power. However, his reign would come to a controversial end against Michael Dokes on December 10, 1982, at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The bout ended in just 63 seconds, with many observers feeling referee Joey Curtis had stopped the fight prematurely. Their rematch in May 1983 saw Weaver give a better account of himself, battling to a fifteen-round draw that many felt he deserved to win.

Throughout the 1980s, Weaver remained a dangerous contender, facing a who's who of heavyweight boxing. He challenged Pinklon Thomas for the WBC title in 1985, going the distance but losing a decision. Battles against top contenders like Carl "The Truth" Williams, Johnny DuPlooy, and James "Quick" Tillis followed, with Weaver's power always making him a threat.

In an era when heavyweight boxing was at its competitive peak, Weaver faced future Hall of Famers Larry Holmes and Lennox Lewis. However, both encounters came at different points in his career - Holmes early when Weaver was still developing, and Lewis near the end when time had taken its toll.

The final chapter of Weaver's professional career came on February 12, 2000, when he, at 48, lost to Cuban heavyweight Angel Mirabal in Lincoln City, Oregon. His career record was 41-18-1 with 28 knockouts, but these numbers don't tell the full story of a man who fought virtually every significant heavyweight of his era.

Weaver's legacy is defined not just by his spectacular world title victory or successful defences but by his role as one of boxing's ultimate survivors. From his disastrous pro debut to becoming the world heavyweight champion, from controversial losses to stunning victories, Weaver embodied the fighting spirit. His left hook remained one of boxing's most feared weapons throughout his career, and his physique—which earned him the nickname "Hercules"—set new standards for heavyweight conditioning.

Today, Mike Weaver's career reminds us that the path to glory in boxing, as in life, isn't always straight. His journey from the Marine Corps to the heavyweight championship, marked by setbacks and triumphs, remains one of boxing's most compelling tales of persistence and power.