R.I.P. MICHAEL "DYNAMITE" DOKES

According to the WBC, former WBA heavyweight champion Michael Dokes passed away in Akron Ohio at the age of 54 years. Dokes, who lived a troubled life outside the ring, was known to have been battling cancer since his release from prison.  Dokes won the WBA heavyweight championship in 1982 with a first-round stoppage of Mike Weaver. He retained the title with a fifteen-round draw in a rematch, but then got knocked out by South Africa's Gerrie Coetzee in 1983. In 1989, Dokes lost a tremendous war to a young Evander Holyfield that is well worth a watch by any boxing fan. In 1990, Dokes suffered one of the most devastating knockouts ever when Razor Ruddock put him to sleep with a single punch in Madison Square Garden. A 1993 one-round blowout loss in a world title shot against Riddick Bowe finished Dokes on the world stage, although he fought on until 1997, when incarceration ended his career at 53-6-2. May he rest in peace.--Scott Shaffer