=== Former heavyweight champion Michael Dokes dies ===
 
 Akron,  OH (Sports Network) - Former heavyweight champion Michael Dokes passed
 away on Saturday. He was 54.
 
 The  World Boxing  Association announced Dokes, known as "Dynamite," died from
 liver cancer.
 
 He  captured  the WBA crown  on Dec. 10, 1982  when he grabbed a controversial
 first-round  technical knockout  of Mike  Weaver. Dokes  won that  fight after
 what many boxing pundits believed was a quick stoppage by referee Joey Curtis.
 Dokes retained his belt with a majority draw in a rematch five months later.
 
 Dokes,  who  had a  career record of  53-6-2 with 34  knockouts, lost his belt
 after  being KOed in  the 10th round by Gerrie Coetzee in Sept. 1983. He later
 fought  and  lost to  Evander Holyfield  in 1989  and also  was throttled in a
 first-round TKO by Riddick Bowe in his last chance for a title in 1993.
 
 Dokes also was hampered late in his career and after retirement by cocaine and
 alcohol abuse. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of
 attacking his fiancee. Dokes was released on parole in 2008.
 
 
 
 08/13 19:54:40 ET

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